Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has taken on a new role I see, as chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) agriculture ministers group.

His new role as chair comes after a change in the Austrian government which saw Andrä Rupprechter, the previous chair of the group, no longer holding the title of Austrian minister for agriculture and therefore no longer in the ministerial grouping.

It is good news for Irish farmers and for Minister Creed himself, in the context of the ongoing Brexit negotiations and CAP reform.

He will hold the position for as long as he is Minister for Agriculture.