I was particularly sorry not to have been able to get to Joe Walsh’s funeral.

He had been Minister for a long time and, as editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, I found him unfailingly courteous, extremely helpful and at the same time willing to accept criticism.

In many ways, he was before his time in that as Minister for Food, in the days before BSE and foot-and-mouth disease, the sky seemed to be the limit for Irish beef and speciality foods. He organised a series of outstanding food events in Kinsale, where the main buyers from all over Europe and beyond were invited and gladly came.

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It was unfortunate that his good work was cut short by critical animal disease issues that forced us back into a reliance on community supports in the beef sector.

He has already received full praise for his extremely sound handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis but that sureness of touch was present in all his dealings with the sector.

May he rest in peace.