The secretary general at the Department of Agriculture is retiring. Brendan Gleeson will retire on 1 October after serving in the role for a day shy of seven years. He told the ASA conference last week that the role has been a tremendous privilege. While he said he will miss the work, he’s looking forward to a bit of a break. There are whisperings that a nitrates chair in Northern Ireland is vacant. Could Gleeson go north?

Talk at the ASA banquet turned to his successor, with names such as Sinéad McPhillips, Paul Savage, Colm Hayes and Rob Doyle in the running for the top job in Ag House.

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