European agriculture ministers from like-minded centre-right parties met in Brussels on the side of the latest EU council and elected Michael Creed as co-chair of their group.

By The Dealer’s latest count, this includes the ministers of Bulgaria (the aptly named Rumen Porodzanov), the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain.

Commissioner Phil Hogan, by virtue of his Fine Gael membership, also attends the meetings.

By Creed’s own admission, he felt “elevated by [his] new lofty status amongst European politicians” – though there may be some irony there, as the informal group holds no real power. Still, any additional Irish influence in the corridors of Brussels during Brexit and CAP negotiations is welcome.