Walsh retirement - Minister was a safe pair of hands

AGRICULTURE Minister Joe Walsh’s retirement was on the cards once the prestigious post of Ireland’s EU Commissioner went to Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy.

No eyebrows were raised when the West Cork deputy, who had a first-hand knowledge of the machinations in the corridors of power in Brussels, signalled his interest in the EU agriculture job. With a Cabinet reshuffle looming, his days at the department were numbered and his retirement has pre-empted the axe.

He was often a target of criticism from the agri-lobby, but farmers privately admit he tried to turn EU reforms to their advantage. A classic example was the historic decoupling of direct payments from production. Ireland has effectively led the way in pushing through the reforms in a manner broadly acceptable to farmers.