After 16 months since RTÉ last had a dedicated reporter for the agriculture sector, the Dealer is delighted to find out that bosses in Montrose have advertised internally for an agriculture and environment correspondent.

Those thought to be in the running include Joe Mag Raollaigh, Fran McNulty, Tomás Ó Mainnín, Emma McNamara, Ciaran Mullooly and Damien O’Reilly.

Mag Raollaigh has been acting for the de facto ag reporter for a number of months.

McNulty has a strong pedigree for the job. Coming from a farming background in Longford, he served as farming editor of local radio station Shannonside before moving to RTÉ.

Former TG4 reporter Ó Mainnín is seen as a dark horse in the race while Countrywide presenter Damien O’Reilly would be a popular choice but it is understood that his first love is radio so he may not apply for the post. Emma McNamara from the business desk is thought to be keen on the job.

The advert says that the appointment “will be for two years initially, renewable once for a maximum of three additional years”, meaning we’ll be looking for a new farming reporter in five years.