Agri-food the star of the show as ministers shuffle their seats

Only the Departments of Agriculture, Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform emerged from last week’s cabinet reshuffle with the continuity afforded by ministers being left in place.

But agri-food was given a starring role by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as he promised a relentless focus in the remaining months of his Government on restoring the economy for rapid job growth to return to full employment.

He estimated that with the right supports, 25,000 jobs can be created in the next seven years in agri-food — one of the specific sectors to be targeted for particular attention, over and above the existing action plan for jobs.