New minister hits ground running

THE new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, will hit the ground running as his French counterpart Michel Barnier flies into Dublin today for key strategy talks on the world trade deal now being negotiated in Geneva.

France, Ireland and Germany are leading a campaign within the Council of Ministers to protect European agriculture from the proposals.

The trade talks, and the health check being conducted by the European Commission on the Common Agricultural Policy, will be the main immediate challenges facing Mr Smith, who is a former minister of state for food and horticulture.