"We are very concerned about the disruption caused by the loss of two Ministers for Agriculture since the new Government was formed, and reports that a new Minister would not be appointed for three weeks," IFA President Tim Cullinan has said.

The comments came as the IFA met with an Taoiseach and acting Minister for Agriculture Micheál Martin on Monday.

Former Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary resigned from his role after 38 days at the Department of Agriculture, after it emerged he attended a golf dinner in the west.

He was one of a number of politicians, including European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan, who attended the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner at the Station House Hotel in Clifden, Co Galway.

The IFA sought a meeting with an Taoiseach following the resignation of the Minister.

New minister

Cullinan said: “We emphasised the importance of having a Minister in place to represent farmers on crucial issues such as CAP, Brexit and the national Budget in October.

“The Taoiseach confirmed to us that he intends to appoint a new Minister next week.”

Brexit

The IFA President also warned that the outlook on Brexit is currently looking very bleak with Irish agriculture standing with most to lose from a bad outcome.

“We made the point to the Taoiseach that the Trade portfolio in the EU Commission is particularly important to Ireland with over €4bn worth of food exports going to the UK last year”, Cullinan concluded.

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