Politics

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: Edwin Poots a veteran of previous executives

DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots
DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots

EDWIN Poots is the first man to head the agriculture ministry since the first power-sharing executive was formed in 1999.

Restyled as the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) four years ago, May 2016 was also the first time a unionist party opted for the portfolio.

Michelle McIlveen was minister for just eight months until the institutions collapsed.

Mr Poots, who has held his Lagan Valley assembly seat since 1998, is not a complete stranger to the brief, having served as environment minister from 2009-11.

He is a farmer by background and a former student of Greenmount Agricultural College.

A regular fixture around the executive table, he also served as health minister between 2011 and 2014 and previously as culture minister.

His role in agriculture is likely to come under increased scrutiny as farmers face uncertainty over subsidies and trade post-Brexit.