Glowing tributes paid to ‘superb’ minister

GLOWING tributes were paid last night to Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh on his decision to retire.

Fine Gael’s Billy Timmins said Mr Walsh has been to the forefront of Irish agriculture for almost two decades and had overseen the many changes which the industry had undergone.

He said the minister will be best remembered for his handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis, which posed the greatest threat to agriculture in recent times.