Brian Cowen's announcement in Tripoli of the resumption of Ireland's beef trade with Libya was a political deal. We signalled the re-opening of diplomatic relations and Col Gaddafi signalled that we could start selling him beef again. The business is worth about £70 million.
Did Joe Walsh, Minister for Agriculture, have his nose out of joint that it was Cowen and not he who made the trip to Tripoli? "Not at all," he says. "The man who did all the spadework and deserves most of the credit is Joe Small." Small is the senior Irish diplomat accredited to Libya. "Joe worked tirelessly to get the deal done," Walsh adds.
Fine Gael's agriculture spokesman, Paul Connaughton, is a bit sceptical. "This is the third time Fianna Fail has announced the reopening of the beef trade with Libya. I hope it's true this time, but the farmers of Ireland won't forgive them if they don't see those big ships in Irish ports this autumn with cargoes of beef bound for Libya."
Did the timing of the deal have anything to do with a by-election in Tipperary South. "Absolutely not," says Walsh, "the process was set in train when the Taoiseach met the Arab leaders in Cairo months ago."