A new agriculture minister is expected to be in place by next week.

Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary resigned the role in the wake of the Golfgate scandal last week, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin taking it on in an acting capacity.

He had only been in the role a matter of months after taking over from Barry Cowen – who was fired from the role following revelations about his 2016 drink driving ban.

Over the weekend, farmers organisations warned that, with Brexit a matter of months away, the role needed to be filled as a matter of urgency.

Pictured are (l to r) IFA Director General Damian McDonald, IFA President Tim Cullinan and IFA Deputy President Brian Rushe on their way into Leinster House to meet then-Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary, 24-07-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

In a statement, the Irish Farmer’s Association said it met the Taoiseach last night and was assured that a new minister would be in place by next week.

“We are very concerned about the disruption caused by the loss of two Ministers for Agriculture since the new Government was formed and reports that a new Minister would not be appointed for three weeks,” said IFA President Tim Cullinan.

“The Taoiseach confirmed to us this evening that he intends to appoint a new Minister next week.”

He had only been in the role a matter of months – taking over from Barry Cowen, who was fired from the role following revelations about his 2016 drink driving ban.

Mr Cullinan said he emphasised the importance of having a dedicated minister in place to represent farmers on crucial issues such as CAP, Brexit and the national Budget in October.

File photo of then-European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, 12-05-2017. Image: Liam McBurney/PA Archive/PA Images

The fallout from the Golfgate dinner is continuing this afternoon with the EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan due to submit a “detailed report” on his actions to the EU President Ursula Von der Leyen this lunchtime.

The Taoiseach asked him to consider his position over the weekend and opposition parties are continuing to call for his resignation.

Mr Cullinan warned that having an Irish man in the trade portfolio at EU level is extremely important for Ireland as Breixt looms.

He said the current outlook from the UKs exit very bleak – with over €4bn in Irish food exports going to the UK last year.

“In this context, we made the point to the Taoiseach that the Trade portfolio in the EU Commission is particularly important to Ireland,” he said.