No time to lose for new agriculture minister

On the day that he has been appointed as the newest of the new ministers, Dara Calleary has been reminded that with key meetings for Irish farming looming, there's no time to waste.

Minister Calleary's appointment brings closure to a chaotic period in which Barry Cowen repeatedly defended his position on an historic drink driving offence, apologise in the Dáil, win the support of his Taoiseach, only to be sacked last night. The IFA were eager to bring the focus back to the pressing issues facing farmers.

“It is important that the new Minister hits the ground running,” said IFA president Tim Cullinan, having congratulated Minister Calleary on taking the helm at Agriculture House.

“The EU Council on Friday and Saturday where the EU and CAP budgets for the next seven years will be discussed is absolutely critical for Irish farming.

"It is vital that the new Minister stresses the importance of this to the Taoiseach who will be representing Ireland at the meeting.

“We also need to get the €50m COVID beef payment out to farmers as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Deputy Matt Carthy echoed these sentiments saying government must focus on the "very real and big concerns" affecting Irish family farmers.

“On a personal level, I extend my best wishes to the Cowen family," said Deputy Carthy. “Many questions remain regarding the role of the Taoiseach in relation to the events which led to the dismissal of Barry Cowen as Minister.

“However, these cannot be allowed to distract from the work at hand. For example, Irish agriculture is facing unprecedented challenges over the coming months from the prospect of a Brexit fallout, the ongoing Coronavirus implications, impending EU trade deals such as with the Mercosur block and upcoming CAP negotiations.

“We need government’s attention to be focused on delivering in these areas and on other policies that protect families and workers during these turbulent times. There is no evidence that they are up to that task particularly in the area of agriculture.

“I congratulate Dara Calleary on his appointment. I hope that he will be willing to engage with me as lead opposition spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and Marine, to deliver solutions to the concerns of Irish family farmers.

“Our family farmers need to see policies and measures that will deliver fair prices, a fair CAP and fair play. For our part, Sinn Féin will engage constructively with government to provide the legislative proposals to do just that. We will hold the Minister and government to account when they don’t act in the best interests of family farms and our rural communities."

“The new Minister and the government now need to move beyond the distractions and focus on those issues that matter to our farming families”.