Three juniors in the running for problem Cabinet post

SOURCES in Fianna Fáil have said three junior ministers – Charlie McConalogue, Anne Rabbitte and Niall Collins – are being considered as the next Agriculture Minister.

A decision on the third person to take up this role in as many months is expected to be made next week, when the Dáil resumes – albeit for a brief session. Taoiseach Micheál Martin now faces making the decision of who will next take up the role of this seemingly ill-fated ministerial position.

Mr Martin has filled the role in an acting capacity since the resignation of Dara Calleary last week after it was revealed the latter attended the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Clifden, Co. Galway.

Mr Calleary was the second minister to leave this portfolio after Barry Cowen was dismissed by the Taoiseach from the position due to a drink-driving incident.

Yesterday, Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Tim Cullinan said the group had met with Mr Martin on Monday evening, outlining its concerns that the role be filled quickly in light of a number of pressing issues, including Brexit and the impact of the pandemic on the agriculture sector.

‘We sought the meeting with the Taoiseach following the resignation of Dara Calleary. We are very concerned about the disruption caused by the loss of two ministers since the new Government was formed, and reports that a new minister would not be appointed for three weeks,’ he said.

‘The Taoiseach confirmed to us... that he intends to appoint a new minister next week. We emphasised the importance of having a minister in place to represent farmers on crucial issues such as CAP [Common Agricultural Policy], Brexit and the national Budget in October.’

Mr Cullinan said the outlook on Brexit is very bleak. Irish agriculture has a lot to lose from a no-deal scenario, with more than €4billion worth of the country’s food exports going to the UK last year.

‘In this context, we made the point to the Taoiseach that the trade portfolio in the EU Commission is particularly important to Ireland,’ said Mr Cullinan.