Tipperary South TD Tom Hayes has been appointed as the new Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

Mr Hayes succeeds the last Meath East TD Shane McEntee, who died suddenly last December.

While not a surprise, Mr Hayes was not considered a front-runner for the position which has lain vacant for the past six months and which has been the subject of considerable speculation. The Meath West TD Damien English - who was director of elections for the successful byelection which saw Helen McEntee take her late father’s seat - and the Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle, who chairs the Oireachtas joint Agriculture Committee, were seen as the favourites.

He will have specific responsibility as Minister of State in the areas of food, horticulture and food safety.

Mr Hayes, a former chairman of the party, is a very experienced politician with considerable expertise in the agriculture area. From a farming background, he is a popular figure within the parliamentary party and served in the Seanad for a time before being elected to the Dáil for the first time in a by-election in 2001. His victory in that election temporarily bolstered Fine Gael during a period of great volatility for the party.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny formally nominated Mr Hayes at the Cabinet meeting this morning but his appointment had to be approved by the Government as a whole.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Kenny said: “Tom Hayes has a deep understanding of the agriculture sector and I am confident that this, along with his political and farming experience, will equip him very well for this important and challenging role.”

For his part Mr Hayes said: “I am delighted and honoured to have this opportunity to serve as Minister of State. I look forward to working closely with Minister Simon Coveney and other Government colleagues on the continued development of these very important sectors.”