New minister wants to 'foster a positive culture' on farm safety
The new Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has pledged to "foster a positive culture in relation to farm safety".
Minister Niall Collins who was appointed to the role today (Thursday, May 28) said he also intended to focus on "promoting the physical health and mental wellbeing of the farming community".
The Fianna Fáil Limerick TD replaces the Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Healy-Rae, who resigned last month in a shock move.
Deputy Healy-Rae resigned from his ministerial position and returned to the opposition benches over the government's handling of the fuel protests.
Minister Collins was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 General Election for Limerick West, having previously served on Limerick County Council.
He was re-elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2011, 2016, 2020 and 2024 general elections.
In January 2025, Collins was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration with special responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice.
Collins also previously held a junior ministry at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Minister Heydon
Minister Collins' appointment to DAFM has been welcomed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon today.
According to Minister Heydon, forestry and horticulture are "hugely important sectors for our economy and for our society".
He also said that "farm safety rightly permeates all the work we do".
"My department is committed to developing and maintaining vibrant forestry and horticulture sectors in support of the achievement of our national climate and biodiversity goals and food security, while also addressing the social, environmental and economic needs of communities and the wider rural economy.
"I look forward to working with Minister Collins as he takes up this challenging but vital brief," Minister Heydon added.
