I see that Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has been called into Longford District Court – and it’s not for jury duty.

Instead, he’s been invited by judge Seamus Hughes to explain his Department’s response to fears of how a rising cohort of “rogue farmers” are undermining Ireland’s beef industry for financial gain.

The case relates to a farmer who allegedly got medication for cattle without the required prescription.

Department vet Louis O’Riordan told the court that such incidences were becoming more difficult to detect due to government cutbacks: “I think there is an absence of political will. In my view, it’s a case of don’t look, don’t find,” he said.

The judge took exception to this and invited Creed to court to explain the issue.