In a clear shot at the €200/cow payment proposal made by Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson Éamon Ó Cuív last week, Coveney said the approach taken by Fianna Fáil over the years had been to throw money at agriculture like it was a charity case so farmers would just look after the land.

Coveney made the comments when speaking at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis taking place this weekend in Citywest Hotel, Dublin. The minister added that agriculure is the heartbeat and there is no such thing as a low-profile minister for agriculture when Fine Gael are in power.

Farm emissions

On climate change, Coveney said that agriculture has got a lot of stick on carbon emissions from some commentators but that the sector was not looking for an easy ride.

“Since 1990, Irish farm emissions have reduced by 10% while transport emissions have risen by 120%," said Coveney. He added that any fool can produce more food or have less animals in the same field next year but that the real challenge will be to produce more food in a sustainable way that generates an economic return for producers.

Agricultural colleges

The minister also mentioned agricultural colleges in his address to party members. He said that certain people wanted to close agricultural colleges in Ireland in years gone by as they saw it as a twilight sector.

“If they had got their way there would be no agricultural college in the west of Ireland at Mountbellew. But we have not closed the colleges and I’m now being asked to fund more staff and more numbers,” said the minister.