Where does the time go? It only seems about six weeks ago that I was breaking the news that George Lee was being appointed as agriculture correspondent for RTÉ. In fact, it was five years ago, and his contract is just about up. It’s unclear at this point whether George, who has proven able and affable in the role, will seek a second stint. His background is in economics and business, and it just so happens that there is a vacancy in that area. Sean Whelan has just been announced as RTÉ’s new London correspondent, so RTÉ needs a new economics correspondent.

I understand that the definition of the role will be changed. Agriculture and environment are seen by some as uneasy bedfellows. There is pressure for greater dedicated coverage of climate change and environmental issues. As I’m hearing it, agriculture is to be combined with consumer affairs. Is this an upgrade or downgrade? It’s hard to say. They certainly can’t expect to earn the near €180,000 George Lee was earning when he took up the role. That was a legacy of his previous position and placed him among RTÉ’s top 10 earners.

Who will this job attract? Damien O’Reilly, Fran McNulty Emma McNamara and Ciaran Mullooly were all understood to be interested in the role last time out. Big Week on the Farm presenter Áine Lawlor anchors the News at One, so is unlikely to be tempted, but Ella McSweeney might well be attracted to the job. Her fellow Ear to the Ground presenters Darragh McCullough and Helen Carroll are no strangers to the camera. Marty Morrissey is box-office and a dab hand at the rural stuff when filling in for Damien on Countrywide, but would surely never leave the sports department. However, John Cooke, an equally able Countrywide presenter, might be a candidate.

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Speaking of Big Week – where is it? With calving and lambing well under way on farms around the country, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one wondering why the RTÉ farming showcase was missing. Has the national broadcaster had been swept along by the vegan trend and shelved the week-long TV event?

No. I’m reliably informed that Big Week will be back – albeit not for a couple of months. I’m told that RTÉ and production company Indiepics are planning a harvest-themed week for the autumn. Last year 246,000 people watched the Friday finale of the farming-focused programme.