I see Maeve Dineen, formerly of this parish, the Farming Independent and Ear to the Ground fame, has landed herself a seat on the commission of the Central Bank of Ireland.

The UCD agricultural science graduate-turned-business hack (she was business editor at the Irish Independent during the financial crash) now runs a consultancy company advising pharma and agri-food giants on navigating “complex regulatory environments”. I doubt that has a cheap retainer.

Fresh from an eight-year stretch chairing the financial services watchdog, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, the Cork woman also sits on the Ireland’s National Competitiveness and Productivity Council.

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Seems those early days of farming journalism covering cattle and sheep prices has stood her in good stead.

I’m told Paschal Donohoe signed off on her appointment on one of his final days in his Irish office before heading off to his gig at the World Bank.