The three ministers for agriculture were conspicuously absent from Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae and Minister of State Noel Grealish were not in attendance at the official opening of the show at 12pm on Sunday at the Butterfield Estate in Offaly.
Tánaiste Simon Harris was the most senior figure from the Government present on the day.
He was joined by midlands north west MEP for Fine Gael Nina Carberry and midlands north west MEP for Fianna Fáil Barry Cowen.
Speaking at the launch of the show, the Tánaiste said that there are far too many people in politics that make a living out of saying that rural Ireland is dead and talking down rural Ireland.
“Well look out here today and tell me rural Ireland isn’t thriving, it’s not the heartbeat of this country. We’re proud of rural Ireland and we’ll always back rural Ireland as well,” he said.
Agriculture is essential
“Agriculture isn’t a nice to do. It’s not nice to support agriculture. It’s not a useful thing to do. It’s absolutely essential.
"If we’ve learned anything in the last few months about Trump, trade and tariffs, some things come and some things go.
"In good times and in bad times, agriculture and farming keeps this country going, keeps the economy going and provides jobs and employment in every community across Ireland, so we must back farming, back it to the hilt, back it with a proper Common Agricultural Policy, back it when it comes to the nitrates derogation, back it when it comes to Mercosur,” he said.
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