The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has moved to play down his possible departure from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this morning.

Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland this morning, he admitted that recent reports have him moving from agriculture in the imminent cabinet reshuffle. Just yesterday, at UCD, he publicly said it may be his last public speech as the Minister for Agriculture. However, this morning, he moved to downplay this. “Politicians take themselves a bit too seriously. Everyone knows there is a reshuffle next month. All I said yesterday is I live in uncertain times. I might not be in agriculture or the cabinet next month. I have no ideas of the Taoiseach’s thinking on this.”

However, he said Fine Gael and Labour needs to recalibrate the Government, but must wait for Labour to elect a new leader before it can do this. Labour is due to elect a new leader in the coming weeks.

He went on to say that he would like to remain in agriculture. “ I would like to say in agriculture (if I had a choice). I enjoy my job and am hugely committed to the agri-food industry.” He said it is a sector that is growing and one he has enjoyed working in. However, he said “if the Taoiseach has different plans for me, so be it.”