Longford Westmeath TD Willie Penrose has been named as Labour’s spokesperson on agriculture.

Penrose was the obvious choice of the party’s seven sitting TDs. As part of the Labour-Fine Gael coalition, he was initially appointed as a super junior minister for housing, but did want the full senior agriculture portfolio.

He also served on the Joint Oireachtas Agriculture Committee and has a degree in ag science from UCD.

It will be a busy period for Penrose. As well as getting the agriculture portfolio, he is also the party’s chair and spokesperson for rural affairs and social protection.

The Ballynacargy, Co Westmeath, native will be flat out.