Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney’s current desire to inform anyone who will listen that he is preparing to depart Agriculture House in the coming weeks is not going down well in agri- political circles.

For example, speaking yesterday at an agri-innovation conference in UCD, the Minister said “this might be my last time to speak here as Minister for Agrculture”, echoing similar public and private comments recently. While this could be based on a word in his ear from Enda, it is more likely part of a campaign to boost his long-term party leadership CV with a posting in Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

However, agricultural issues have not gone away and farm organisations are getting impatient. The beef situation is dire – a €180m fine from the EU is proposed, commonage farmers want answers on GLAS and the massively important detail in the Rural Development Programme must be submitted by June.

The Minister, who has always accommodated interest groups at short notice, is no longer as willing to commit dates in the diary.

Enda is not known for radicalism so the re-shuffle may be less dramatic than some expect. While he looks set for a new role, don’t rule out Simon Coveney being left where he is.