Split farming role an ‘insult’

The new president of the Irish Farmers Association has demanded the next agriculture minister be dedicated only to that portfolio.

Joe Healy claimed farmers saw it as an “insult” that incumbent Simon Coveney had to split his time between agriculture and other posts such as defence.

A dairy farmer from Athenry, Co Galway, he was the clear winner of the presidential contest as the IFA looks to move past the fall-out from last year’s damaging revelations over the pay packets of former presidents and its ex-general secretary, Pat Smith.