Minister must rally to cause

THE Government’s cabinet hopefuls won’t be falling over themselves to fill the Agriculture Ministry seat which will be vacated by Joe Walsh next month.

Although still a vital part of the economy, agriculture has been left standing still by the economic boom in other sectors.

Statistics from the Central Bank of Ireland (2003), showed that 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.