Moran received the accolade for promoting a positive relationship between France and Ireland in the area of agriculture and agrifood business. The ceremony took place in the Residence of France in Dublin.

With a trade relationship exceeding €730m per year, the former secretary general stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries in his acceptance speech. Moran, who also speaks French, retired from the Department in 2014 after working there for 30 years.

The Ordre du Mérite Agricole was established in 1883 and is awarded by the French Ministry for Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry to people both in France and abroad who rendered exceptional services to agriculture.

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Tom Moran will now chair the newly established Irish Association of the Ordre du Mérite Agricole, which brings together people who have received this award to help promote exchanges between Ireland and France.