Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen has received the backing of both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
The driving ban he received in 2016 for a drink driving offence gained traction when it emerged that he was on a learner permit at the time. Minister Cowen made a statement to the Dáil on Tuesday evening, describing the decision to drink drive as “a stupid, stupid mistake”, for which he was profoundly sorry.
Road safety campaigners want more details of Barry Cowen’s driving history, with PARC’s Susan Gray stating that the Minister told her he had never sat a driving test prior to that incident.
With the support of the Government’s leadership, he seems set to remain as Minister. However, this is not the start he – or anyone in Irish agriculture – would have wished for.
Brexit
Before addressing the Dáil on Tuesday Minister Cowen met with European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan and with his Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister for Agriculture Edwin Poots, via video conference.
I had a very useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the current state of play in the EU-UK negotiations
Minister Cowen was joined by his colleagues, Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon.
Minister Cowen said said that Brexit was a common theme of both discussions.
“I had a very useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the current state of play in the EU-UK negotiations, and took the opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s agri food and fisheries concerns, including in relation to the potential economic impact post-December 2020, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
“Similarly, my conversation with Minister Poots was very constructive, and covered North-south trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol, and the prospects for the wider EU-UK discussions on the future relationship,” he said.
Barry Cowen seems set to remain as Minister for Agriculture. \ Philip Doyle
Mercosur
On the wider international trading environment, Minister Cowen discussed the need to be ready to respond to any market disturbance arising from the EU-Mercosur free-trade agreement with Commissioner Hogan.
On EU matters more generally, he reiterated Ireland’s position that the achievement of increased environmental and climate ambition through the Common Agricultural Policy must be matched by an adequate CAP budget.
On Wednesday the ministers met with Minister Cowen’s UK counterpart, secretary of state George Eustice, and on Thursday they will have separate discussions with EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.
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Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen has received the backing of both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
The driving ban he received in 2016 for a drink driving offence gained traction when it emerged that he was on a learner permit at the time. Minister Cowen made a statement to the Dáil on Tuesday evening, describing the decision to drink drive as “a stupid, stupid mistake”, for which he was profoundly sorry.
Road safety campaigners want more details of Barry Cowen’s driving history, with PARC’s Susan Gray stating that the Minister told her he had never sat a driving test prior to that incident.
With the support of the Government’s leadership, he seems set to remain as Minister. However, this is not the start he – or anyone in Irish agriculture – would have wished for.
Brexit
Before addressing the Dáil on Tuesday Minister Cowen met with European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan and with his Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister for Agriculture Edwin Poots, via video conference.
I had a very useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the current state of play in the EU-UK negotiations
Minister Cowen was joined by his colleagues, Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon.
Minister Cowen said said that Brexit was a common theme of both discussions.
“I had a very useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the current state of play in the EU-UK negotiations, and took the opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s agri food and fisheries concerns, including in relation to the potential economic impact post-December 2020, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
“Similarly, my conversation with Minister Poots was very constructive, and covered North-south trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol, and the prospects for the wider EU-UK discussions on the future relationship,” he said.
Barry Cowen seems set to remain as Minister for Agriculture. \ Philip Doyle
Mercosur
On the wider international trading environment, Minister Cowen discussed the need to be ready to respond to any market disturbance arising from the EU-Mercosur free-trade agreement with Commissioner Hogan.
On EU matters more generally, he reiterated Ireland’s position that the achievement of increased environmental and climate ambition through the Common Agricultural Policy must be matched by an adequate CAP budget.
On Wednesday the ministers met with Minister Cowen’s UK counterpart, secretary of state George Eustice, and on Thursday they will have separate discussions with EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.
Read more
Minister for Agriculture apologises for ‘stupid, stupid mistake’
Cowen on Fair Deal - 'I have cases in my constituency which are heart wrenching'
Cowen confirms €1.5bn REPS
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