Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that the vacant ministerial position in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will be filled.

Last month, Michael Healy-Rae resigned as minister of state at the department over the government's handling of the fuel crisis.

The independent Kerry TD made the shock announcement as the Dáil debated a motion of confidence in the government.

In his speech, Minister Healy-Rae said: "Because of the fact that I believe this government have left the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country."

DAFM

Michael Healy-Rae, who has now returned to the opposition benches in the Dáil, was appointed as Minister of State at DAFM with special responsibility for forestry, horticulture and farm safety in recognition of his support for the government.

Speaking to journalists in Co. Kerry today (Monday, May 18), the Taoiseach confirmed that those areas in the department will be reallocated. However, he did not specify an exact timeframe of when this may happen.

"They will be reallocated and that will happen in the next while," the Taoiseach said.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon told Agriland that as a senior Cabinet minister, "you have responsibility for everything".

"My work in the area of forestry and horticulture with or without a minister of state will continue and farm safety is something I've always been absolutely passionate about.

"If there is another minister of state appointed I'll absolutely work with them as well as I have done in the past, but I continue to represent to those areas to the best of my ability and have always done so," he said.

Taoiseach

The Taoiseach and Minister Heydon were in Listowel today as Kerry Dairy Ireland unveiled its new name.

The dairy business, which is majority-owned by Kerry Co-operative Creameries, will now be known as Kinisla.

The company also announced a €300 million investment programme, along with the creation of 100 new jobs over the next 12 to 24 months.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was "delighted" to be present at the launch of Kinisla which he said illustrates the "strength of the Irish dairy industry".

"This company, which employs up to 1,700 people, has access to so many markets across the world, some iconic brands and again it illustrates the importance of agriculture, farming and the agri-food industry and the dairy industry in particular to jobs in Ireland."

The Taoiseach said the Irish dairy sector is a "key indigenous industry" that has the "capacity, has the excellence of quality and product to penetrate markets worldwide and we can never lose sight of that".