“For years, there has been an imbalance in agriculture. The conglomerates, through previous governments, have been looked after year upon year.”
Those were the words of independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, as he addressed newly-appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dara Calleary earlier this week.
“The minister comes from an area where small family farms keep the community viable and where the butcher shop and local shop are kept going by the local farmers.” said Fitzmaurice who added that Calleary has a “job at hand”.
“Now is your opportunity to leave a mark in agriculture over the next few years, for the farmers of the west and the north-west who have been forgotten for many years. I wish him the very best of luck in the future.”
Fitzmaurice described the remove of Barry Cowen from the position as “a trial by media”, adding that he was both “shocked and saddened” by the Taoiseach’s actions.
Ministerial map ‘rebalanced a small bit’
Fitzmaurice said that with these recent appointments, the ministerial map is “at least being rebalanced a small bit for the west of Ireland”.
“I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, whose mother hails from Castlerea, the best of luck, and likewise the incoming Minister of State, Deputy Fleming.”
