Taoiseach Micheál Martin is currently considering who to appoint as Minister for Agriculture for the third time in two months. Dara Calleary’s resignation last Friday means that farmers face an unprecedented situation where there will have been four ministers heading the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the space of less than 60 days.
The need is pressing, with a meeting of the council of EU agriculture ministers taking place next Monday and Tuesday. The Taoiseach initially indicated that he would take on the portfolio himself for a three-week period until the Dáil reconvened.
With the Dáil now being recalled for next week, the expectation is that a successor to Calleary will be put to the Dáil on Wednesday next.
Clockwise: Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, Galway east Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte and Roscommon-Galway independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice speak in the Dáil this Wednesday.
The Taoiseach is likely to have a ready-made shortlist for the role, as it was only in July that he looked outside his cabinet for someone to replace Barry Cowen. Charlie McConalogue is likely to be at or near the top of that list. The Donegal TD, currently the Minister of State for Law Reform, was the Fianna Fáil spokesman for agriculture in the last Dáil. His four years dealing with the role means he wouldn’t need much lead-in time before tackling the many challenges facing farming.
Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill similarly is well-versed in the political machinery of agriculture.
Jackie Cahill Fianna Fáil TD speaking on the fodder crisis in Dáil Éireann
His time as ICMSA president gives him experience in Brussels as well as Dublin. The fact that Cahill was critical of being previously passed over is not likely to impede his chances, given the pressing need for the right appointment.
Anne Rabbitte is the third name likely to be on that short-list. The Galway TD was prominent last year during the beef factory protests, and has been vocal on farming issues. She has less experience than either McConalogue or Cahill, but can’t be ruled out.
Domestically, we are only six weeks from Budget Day
Whoever is appointed to the job faces a daunting set of challenges. CAP reform is gathering pace, and Ireland has surely been disadvantaged in its ability to forge alliances and agree policy platforms by all the recent political instability. Domestically, we are only six weeks from Budget Day. One of McConalogue’s early political successes was a Dáil vote calling for a tillage crisis fund in 2016. Another wet fortnight would lead to calls for something similar this year. The Beef Taskforce still has work to do. Then there’s Brexit in four months to boot. A full plate for the new minister.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is currently considering who to appoint as Minister for Agriculture for the third time in two months. Dara Calleary’s resignation last Friday means that farmers face an unprecedented situation where there will have been four ministers heading the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the space of less than 60 days.
The need is pressing, with a meeting of the council of EU agriculture ministers taking place next Monday and Tuesday. The Taoiseach initially indicated that he would take on the portfolio himself for a three-week period until the Dáil reconvened.
With the Dáil now being recalled for next week, the expectation is that a successor to Calleary will be put to the Dáil on Wednesday next.
Clockwise: Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, Galway east Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte and Roscommon-Galway independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice speak in the Dáil this Wednesday.
The Taoiseach is likely to have a ready-made shortlist for the role, as it was only in July that he looked outside his cabinet for someone to replace Barry Cowen. Charlie McConalogue is likely to be at or near the top of that list. The Donegal TD, currently the Minister of State for Law Reform, was the Fianna Fáil spokesman for agriculture in the last Dáil. His four years dealing with the role means he wouldn’t need much lead-in time before tackling the many challenges facing farming.
Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill similarly is well-versed in the political machinery of agriculture.
Jackie Cahill Fianna Fáil TD speaking on the fodder crisis in Dáil Éireann
His time as ICMSA president gives him experience in Brussels as well as Dublin. The fact that Cahill was critical of being previously passed over is not likely to impede his chances, given the pressing need for the right appointment.
Anne Rabbitte is the third name likely to be on that short-list. The Galway TD was prominent last year during the beef factory protests, and has been vocal on farming issues. She has less experience than either McConalogue or Cahill, but can’t be ruled out.
Domestically, we are only six weeks from Budget Day
Whoever is appointed to the job faces a daunting set of challenges. CAP reform is gathering pace, and Ireland has surely been disadvantaged in its ability to forge alliances and agree policy platforms by all the recent political instability. Domestically, we are only six weeks from Budget Day. One of McConalogue’s early political successes was a Dáil vote calling for a tillage crisis fund in 2016. Another wet fortnight would lead to calls for something similar this year. The Beef Taskforce still has work to do. Then there’s Brexit in four months to boot. A full plate for the new minister.
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