THE IRISH Government have elected the new Minister for Agriculture; the third in just 67 days.
Donegal TD and Fianna Fáil politician Charlie McConalogue was appointed to the position yesterday, 2 September, after the Dáil was recalled early to deal with issues surrounding the coronavirus crisis.
He replaces Dara Calleary, who resigned after just 37 days due to public backlash following his attendance at the Oireachtas 'golfgate' event in Clifden.
Mr Calleary had initially replaced the first Minister for Agriculture, Barry Cowen, who was sacked after 17 days in office when controversy surrounding a 2016 drink-driving ban "created a situation where legitimate doubts and additional questions are being raised", the Taoiseach said at the time.
Charlie @McConalogue has been appointed as Minister for @agriculture_ie and was presented his seal of office by @PresidentIRL following nomination by Dáil Éireann pic.twitter.com/xHuqtOETWI
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) September 2, 2020
The appointment of Charlie McConalogue as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine was a priority for the Dáil sitting yesterday, and he was discharged from his position as Minister for Law Reform in order to take up the appointment.
"Deputy McConalogue's knowledge of this area is both broad and deep," the Taoiseach said of the new Minister, who comes from a farming background and was the Fianna Fáil spokesperson for agriculture in the previous Dáil.
He received his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins at a ceremony yesterday afternoon.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated him on his appointment and said the new Minister and his department "face a number of urgent challenges which are central to securing the long-term future of rural Ireland, and the industries which are at its heart".
“We must prepare for whatever the post-Brexit trade situation brings. We must negotiate a final CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) which serves the interests of our communities. And we must redouble efforts to achieve a sustainable and prosperous rural economy.”
The Government faced criticism from opposition parties, including from Deputy Mick Barry of Solidarity-People Before Profit, who said "The Taoiseach's Government is 67 days old today and here he is asking the Dáil for the third time to approve the nomination of a Minister with responsibility for agriculture.
"Never before in the history of the State has this happened. Never before in the history of the State has the Government been reduced to such a shambles."
Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, said the loss of two ministers in 67 days was the result of "a deep dysfunction at the heart of this Government.
" We faced outbreaks of Covid-19 in meat processing plants and food production and we faced those without a Minister for Agriculture and the Marine.
"Controversy, chaos and confusion have consumed this Coalition. This has not happened by accident. It is the consequence of the culture of entitlement and rivalry that still prevails within Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael."
The Dáil is again sitting today to discuss issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, including statements regarding the return to school by Education Minister Norma Foley and Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris.
