What next for Tom Moran after 34 years in the Department of Ag?

The great and the good of Irish agriculture congregated on the seventh floor of the Department of Agriculture last Thursday to wish Tom Moran well in retirement. The guest list included current ministers and two former secretaries general of the Department, Michael Dowling and John Malone. Another blast from the past was former Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan, who worked the room to great effect.

Tom Moran steps down after 34 years in the Department – a career which he described as being book-ended by the implementation and abolition of milk quotas.

Having given up a teaching career to take up a role as agricultural officer in 1980, he steadily moved up the ranks, spending the last ten years as secretary general, leading a team of over 3,500. During this period he also formed part of a four-person top-level appointment committee (TLAC) that spanned all Government departments.

He was never far from the thick of the action, having served as assistant secretary with responsibility for beef and dairy during the BSE and foot-and-mouth crises.

As secretary general, he led the Irish charge in two CAP reforms and had the difficult task of implementing severe budgetary adjustments in line with the economic crisis of 2008.

There were many other crises during his reign, including horse meat, pork dioxin, fodder and flooding.

Often the best measure of a man is the view of the colleagues with whom he worked. There was no shortage of accolades in this regard. Tom Moran was described as someone who encouraged enthusiasm and the generation of fresh ideas, with Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney describing him as a rock of strength.

Of course, the rumour mill is in full flow as to what is next on his agenda. He made no secret of the fact that he doesn’t intend to retire from agriculture and is keen to remain heavily involved. If the demand for his predecessors is anything to go by, he will have plenty of options.

In terms of his replacement, The Dealer understands that a committee is to put forward a selection of suitable candidates to Cabinet, with the post expected to be filled in mid-January. As reported here last week, assistant secretary Aidan O’Driscoll remains favourite to get the nod.