Cahill throws hat in the ring for vacant ministerial role
Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill has made contact with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin to inform him that he wishes to be considered for the appointment of Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Mr Martin has decided to carry out the duties of the role himself until September following the resignation of the incumbent Dara Calleary for his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway held in breach of Covid-19 regulations.
The portfolio has become somewhat of a revolving one as the Government has lost two Agriculture Ministers in just 54 days. Mr Calleary's resignation from the post comes just 37 days in the job following his appointment to succeed Barry Cowan who was sacked amid controversy over a drink driving offence.
Contacted by The Guardian on Monday, Deputy Cahill said he would dearly love to be appointed to the portfolio. "But I'm afraid I don't have the cutting of the cake on this one," he laughed.
The Thurles-based TD, who has a constituency office in Nenagh, said he was overwhelmed at the amount of people, especially farmers, who have contacted him in recent days to express the hope that he would be the one chosen for the cabinet post.
"The south of the country wants a minister in there that understands farming," said Deputy Cahill.
"I would love to get a crack at it because we are at a critical junction in terms of issues to tackle such as the Common Agriculture Policy and Brexit. I'd love to get in there and try to do certain things, but it is in the lap of the gods."
Deputy Cahill revealed that he had phoned the Taoiseach in recent days to request that he be considered for the job. "I have done that, so it's now up to him."
The Fianna Fáil TD has a deep knowledge of the sector, having served for two terms as National President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA). He also served on the Irish Dairy Board for eight years, for half of which he held the role as Vice Chairman.
Deputy Cahill is also a former member of the National Dairy Council, Bord Bainne and also served as Chairman of his local dairy co-op in Thurles. For most of his life before entering politics in 2016 he worked on his family's farm in Killinan, Thurles.
"I am a farmer and while my nails would not be as dirty as they would have been a couple of years ago our farm is still operating the same as it always did. I do know the industry inside out," he said.
Among others being mentioned as contenders include Deputy Cahill's Fianna Fáil colleagues Charlie McConalogue and Anne Rabbitte.