Mary Coughlan's perspective

CHRISTENED as the Minister for Caring and Sharing during her time in charge of Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan moves from looking after the have-nots in Irish society to Agriculture, another sector the Celtic Tiger left behind.

She is only too familiar with the phenomenon of Ireland's recent economic success increasing relative income poverty in the country. Something similar has happened to agriculture, once an economic leader, now dwarfed by industry and services.

Income from agriculture, forestry and fishing grew by only 24.4% between 1990 and 2002, compared with a 200% increase in non-agricultural wages, salaries and pensions.