Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has been named as the next Minister for Agriculture.

He is a TD for Laois-Offaly and was the party’s spokesperson for public expenditure and reform.

There were a number of contenders for the position but some will be surprised by his nomination.

He takes over from Fine Gael TD Michael Creed, who has not been nominated for a role in the new Cabinet.

Cowen is formerly an auctioneer and valuer.

As Minister for Agriculture, he will face many challenges, including a predicted recession and Brexit.

Reaction

The IFA has already stated it will seek an early meeting with new Taoiseach Michéal Martin to outline its concerns around CAP and Brexit.

“This Minister has a huge task as farmers are frustrated with what they perceive to be fundamental unfairness in the food chain. They are being asked to do more and more for less return as processors and retailers maximise their profits at the expense of farmers,” IFA president Tim Cullinan said.

“In this regard, the creation of the new Food Ombudsman will be vital. This new body must have the scope to regulate the full food chain and have real powers to ensure a fair share of the retail price gets back to farmers,” he said.

Cullinan also congratulated Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett on her nomination as super Junior Minister with responsibility for Land Use Management and Biodiversity.

The ICMSA president Pat McCormack has welcomed Cowen’s appointment, saying that farm families would be relieved to have someone in the position who had a depth of understanding in regard to farming matters.

Political background

He comes from a well-known political dynasty. His father Bernard Cowen was a long-standing TD.

Following Bernard’s death, his son Brian Cowen retained a seat for the party in a byelection and rose to the position of Taoiseach in 2008.

Brian Cowen retired from the Dáil in 2011 and his brother Barry contested the seat and retained it in what was a difficult election for the party.

Overall, the Cabinet makeup is:

Taoiseach – Michéal Martin, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South-Central.

Tánaiste – Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael TD for Dublin West.

Minister for Health – Stephen Donnelly, Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow.

Minister for Education – Norma Foley, Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry.

Minister for Agriculture – Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly.

Minister for Housing – Darragh O’Brien, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Fingal.

Minister for Justice – Helen McEntee, Fine Gael TD for Meath East.

Minister for Finance – Paschal Donohoe, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Central.

Minister for Public Expenditure – Michael McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South-Central.

Minister for Higher Education – Simon Harris, Fine Gael TD for Wicklow.

Minister for Social Protection – Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan.

Minister for Culture, Arts, Tourism, Media and Sport – Catherine Martin, Green TD for Dublin Rathdown.

Minister for Climate Action, Communications and Transport – Eamon Ryan, Green TD for Dublin Bay South.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence - Simon Coveney, TD for Cork South Central.