Opposition parties and farmers organisations are warning that a new Minister for Agriculture must be appointed without delay.

Fianna Fáil Deputy Dara Calleary resigned the position yesterday after it emerged he breached COVID-19 restrictions by attending a golf dinner in Galway with over 80 other people.

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.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has so far resisted calls to recall the Dáil over the ‘Golf Gate’ scandal and will hold the role of acting Agriculture Minister until the new term.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arriving at the Convention Centre Dublin for a Dáil session, 29-07-2020. Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images

The Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told Newstalk that the role is too important to remain unfilled for the coming weeks.

“The Taoiseach is now the acting Minister for Agriculture at a time where we have had very serious clusters of infections in meat factories across the State with very serious consequences,” she said.

“The Government has been chaotic and public confidence has been damaged and now politics needs to step in and people need to see the political institutions working on their behalf.

“That means the Dáil needs to get back to business.”

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

Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said the Taoiseach had assured it that farmers won’t be left to suffer because of the lack of a minister.

IFA President Tim Cullinan said he met with Micheál Martin yesterday.

“We didn’t get into the finer details this morning but look, I have assurances from the Taoiseach that he will do everything in his power to ensure that whatever measures are needed to keep agriculture moving will be taken.

"That is very important for us in the farming sector.”

Agriculture

Pointing to a new Government report warning that Irish farms are facing a potential €1.6bn loss in income this year, he said the industry needs stability to recover:

“These are issues that have to be addressed and that is why we need a stable Government.

“We need people that we can sit down with on a weekly basis and discuss those issues and come up with solutions to those serious issues.”

Brexit

Meanwhile, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) said a new minister needs to appointed without delay.

“The Taoiseach has way too much to be doing to take on another ministry,” he said. “It really is nonsensical

“We need someone in there and they need to come in immediately. They can’t come in at the end of September and try to read into a ministry with only 18 weeks left until Britain, our main market, leaves the EU.”

The Dáil is officially due to return in three weeks’ time.