Charlie McConalogue is the new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the fourth of 2020. Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal immediately after his appointment, he said his priority would be to ensure “a fair income for farmers”.

He identified the pressing issues facing him, which included CAP reform, having the agri-food sector prepared for Brexit and ensuring workers in the sector are safe from COVID-19.

The Donegal man’s appointment, announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday afternoon, was probably the least surprising thing that has happened in the position since Michael Creed’s departure. Having served as Fianna Fáil’s agriculture spokesperson for four years, he is well aware of the scale of the challenge facing him and his new department.

CAP reform is gathering pace and seems destined to be framed before the year’s end. This Government’s first budget will be delivered next month, with farmers closely watching new REPS funding in particular.

October will also be a crunch month for Brexit, with negotiations currently mired in difficulty.