Walsh hotly tipped if Ireland wins EU farm portfolio
His elevation is contingent on the European Commission's new president José Manuel Barosso offering the agriculture portfolio - which includes fisheries and rural development - to Ireland, however.
Sources in Brussels predict that while France and Germany will lay claim to key economic posts, the agriculture portfolio, which accounts for 48% of the EU budget, could be offered to Ireland.
Observers say this would be a recognition of Ireland's successful EU presidency and the achievements of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in brokering agreement on an EU constitution and finding an acceptable candidate for the post of Commission president.
Mr Walsh, the longest serving and most experienced of EU agriculture ministers, is widely regarded as most likely to get the job should Ireland win the posting.
His main rival is believed to be Cees Veeman, the Dutch agriculture minister, who has just taken over as rotating president of the Farm Council.
But the Dutchman is seen as favouring greater reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which would reduce support for him from powerful members, such as France, and from new member states where farming is an important part of the economy.
France, which has a large and well-organised farm lobby, holds Mr Walsh in high regard, and presented him with the Legion d'Honneur two years ago on the personal recommendation of President Chirac, himself a former agriculture minister.
Spain has presented Mr Walsh with the Grand Cross, and the new member states, keenly interested in the welfare of their farmers, would be favourably disposed towards him.
In the past 10 days, senior agribusiness interests in Ireland are believed to have discreetly approached the Taoiseach and the Government, as well as farm bodies, suggesting that Ireland lobby for the farm commissionership.
ICMSA president Pat O'Rourke urged the Government publicly to seek the position actively.
Congratulating the Government on its successful EU presidency, Mr O'Rourke said that the time was right to seek the agriculture portfolio, which has the largest single budgetary allocation within the EU.
"The Commissioner for Agriculture will have a vital role in defending the positions of European agriculture and European consumers in the upcoming WTO talks."
When asked by broadcaster Damien O'Reilly on the RTE Farm Talk programme about the linking of his name with the post, Mr Walsh said he was chuffed.
However, he added: "I have not spoken to anybody about it, and nobody has spoken to me about it either for that matter."
Mr Walsh said he had a great deal of work in front of him at the Department of Agriculture and Food and he intended to see that out. It would, however, be very important for Ireland to have an agriculture commissioner.
He added that he would be delighted if the Irish commissionership - whoever it went to - was in agriculture.
Accepting that he had a lot of experience in Europe, he said he presided at the Farm Council as far back as 1990, when he was a junior minister.
But he said he wanted to make it clear that he had not sought the Commissioner's job.
"I am thoroughly enjoying my current role. I am privileged and honoured to have the role of Minister for Agriculture in Ireland and I have a lot of work in front of me to complete, and I would love to have the opportunity of completing that programme."
Pressed on whether he would consider taking the Commissioner's job or would just rule it out completely, if it was offered to him, Mr Walsh said he was advised a long time ago that he should never comment on speculative and theoretical questions.
"I think that is in the realms of speculation, and I do not wish to comment on it."
However, when the current EU Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler was asked during a visit to Dublin in May who his successor was likely to be, he urged the questioner to look towards his home territory. Asked if he meant Joe Walsh, he nodded and said yes.
EU Commission president designate Jose Manuel Barosso, has, meanwhile, warned prime ministers not to cross the line when pitching for the best commission jobs.
He said the distribution of portfolios was the Commission president's responsibility, but that he was ready to listen to suggestions.
