TAKING up the reins – amid great expectations it has to be said – at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue (FF).

Warm support greeted his appointment from the Irish Sport Horse Industry this week. The new Minister had proved in his Opposition days to be well aware of both the contribution – as well as the untapped potential – of our vibrant equestrian sector which supports over 14,000 full-time jobs and is worth close to €1 billion a year to the Irish economy.

While the very mantle of great expectations can be a heavy yoke to carry, particularly in a challenging financial time for the new Government, the new Minister can be assured of every assistance from the equestrian sector in his new role. He’ll find a sector very willing and able to both engage and deliver.

There’s a deep well of passion, pride and resilience built into the Irish equestrian scene – and crucially, every public euro put into it to date has actually been returned multi-fold, as the figures very clearly show.

The potential to make a positive contribution to our vibrant sector, to support Ireland’s equestrian breeders, world-class riders and producers, equine businesses and tourism, is there to be politically embraced. Welcome aboard, Minister.