I see a very significant change is about to take place in the Department of Agriculture. The Kingdom’s finest, principal officer Paud Evans, is about to retire.

Every farmer in the country was affected by Evans’ work. He was instrumental in drawing up and operating the EU direct payments system, previously as the Single Farm Payment and now as the Basic Payment Scheme. More about that in the Irish Farmers Journal in coming weeks.

But I will say that the Department of Agriculture team is preparing to send farmers out a 70% advance of 2015 payments from 16 October, at the word from Minister Simon Coveney. Their counterparts in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – and in most other EU member states – are not in a position to do so.

Meanwhile, best of luck to Fintan O’Brien, who has now been appointed to replace Evans, coming across from the Department’s rural development division. He now takes up the position of principal officer in the direct payments unit.

Good timing

Elsewhere, I see that former agricultural attaché for Brussels JP Mulherin has got the move home. A cousin of Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin, he has landed himself a position as assistant principal officer working in the community division developing the policy and programme around the rural development programme (RDP) and LEADER.

The timing is good as the first wallop of LEADER cash from the new 2014 to 2020 RDP will land in the kitty from the end of the year. Further, the new posting also brings Mulherin back to a base in his native Co Mayo. He worked alongside current Department of Agriculture secretary general Aidan O’Driscoll when the boss was chief negotiator for the latest CAP. Mulherin will no doubt be a success in his new role.