The Dealer hears that a new appointment for chair of the National Milk Agency is set to be announced soon.

Denis Murphy, who has held the role since 1994, is to finish up shortly.

He wrote in the 2024 annual report that it would be his final report as chair. Word on the street is former TD and ICMSA president Jackie Cahill is in the running at short odds.

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Cahill stepped away from politics prior to the last general election and is milking cows below in Tipperary.

Other names in the mix I heard was another former ICMSA president and Tipperary farmer Pat McCormack.

Chair of the Fine Gael agriculture forum, former IFA president and Meath dairy farmer Eddie Downey also got a mention.

The Dealer was wondering, since it’s a ministerial appointment, why it wouldn’t be a blueshirt that got the job, but who knows what deals are being done in the coalition at the moment.