There was quite a commotion back in 2010 when the then Government took the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association’s (ICMSA) seat on the European Economic and Social Council (EESC) and handed it to the environmental pillar. The decision was described as “pure cuckoo” when Birdwatch Ireland’s Siobhan Egan was confirmed as its nominee.

Following an intense lobbying campaign, the ICMSA received a pledge from then Taoiseach Brian Cowan that it would get its seat back. Much has changed since, but I understand the ICMSA has indeed got its seat back.

It is not instead of the environmental grouping, however, which is currently represented by Cillian Lohan of the Irish Natural Forestry Foundation.

Has the IFA lost its seat? No, John Bryan is in situ and is being re-nominated.

In all, there are nine positions for Ireland on the EESC – until now it was three each for employers, workers (unions) and “various interests”, under which Bryan, Lohan and Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link are included. My understanding is that the employers and unions are having one position each pruned from them, and the ICMSA is getting one of those.

I hear Pat O’Rourke is interested in filling the post, having missed his turn in a role normally allocated by the IFA and ICMSA to immediate past presidents. Jackie Cahill is now the immediate past president, although his status as a Fianna Fáil general election candidate may compromise him. O’Rourke is seeking a similar nomination in Longford/Westmeath.

However, the EESC’s own website states that John Comer has already been nominated. An ICMSA spokesperson confirmed that “the executive committee nominated John Comer for this position in accordance with the rules of ICMSA”, adding that there was time pressure to respond to the Government’s invitation.

The nomination will go before the next ICMSA national council meeting for ratification in the normal way, and would be decided upon in that forum.

Pat O’Rourke responded to this information by saying that the ICMSA president should have all his focus on the income crisis in dairy farming. If this nomination meant John Comer was stepping down as president, O’Rourke added that he would then support his ratification.

I think there may be mileage in this one.