They his experience as Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson is a positive.
Farming organisations are confident the new agriculture minister can hit the ground running.
Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue will be the third person to take charge of the portfolio in six months.
Brexit, CAP re-structuring and progressing the beef taskforce will be some of his initial challenges.
Edmond Phelan of the Portlaoise-based Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers' Association says his previous experience on the opposition benches is a positive and expects to meet him soon:
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