Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Summary

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Irish: An tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Historically, the agriculture portfolio has gone under a number of different names; the holder has often borne the title of simply Minister for Agriculture.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Incumbent
Charlie McConalogue
since 2 September 2020
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Member of
Reports toTaoiseach
SeatDublin, Ireland
AppointerPresident of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holderRobert Barton as Director of Agriculture
Formation2 April 1919
WebsiteDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The current Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is Charlie McConalogue. He is assisted by two Ministers of State:

  • Senator Pippa Hackett – Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity
  • Martin Heydon, TD – Minister of State for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development[1][2]

Functions edit

The department's functions include:

  • Policy advice and development on all areas of departmental responsibility
  • Representation in international especially European Union and national negotiations;
  • Development and implementation of national and EU schemes in support of agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development.
  • Monitoring and controlling aspects of food safety.
  • Control and audit of public expenditure under its control.
  • Regulation of the agriculture, fisheries and food industries through national and EU law.
  • Monitoring and controlling animal and plant health and animal welfare.
  • Monitoring and direction of state bodies engaged in the following areas:
    • Research training and advice.
    • Market development and promotion.
    • Industry regulation and development.
    • Commercial activities.
  • Direct provision of support services to agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

List of office-holders edit

  Denotes acting Minister

Director of Agriculture 1919–1921 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)[a]
Robert Barton 2 April 1919 26 August 1921 Sinn Féin 2nd DM

Secretary for Agriculture 1921–1922 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Art O'Connor 26 August 1921 9 January 1922 Sinn Féin 3rd DM

Minister for Agriculture 1922–1924 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Patrick Hogan 11 January 1922 2 June 1924 Cumann na nGaedheal 4th DM • 1st PG • 2nd PG • 5th DM • 1st EC • 2nd EC

Minister for Lands and Agriculture 1924–1928 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Patrick Hogan 2 June 1924 1 September 1928 Cumann na nGaedheal 2nd EC • 3rd EC • 4th EC

Minister for Agriculture 1928–1965 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Patrick Hogan 1 September 1928 9 March 1932 Cumann na nGaedheal 4th EC • 5th EC
James Ryan 9 March 1932 21 January 1947 Fianna Fáil 6th EC • 7th EC • 8th EC • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th
Paddy Smith (1st time) 21 January 1947 18 February 1948 Fianna Fáil 4th
James Dillon (1st time) 18 February 1948 13 June 1951 Independent 5th
Thomas Walsh 13 June 1951 2 June 1954 Fianna Fáil 6th
James Dillon (2nd time) 2 June 1954 20 March 1957 Fine Gael 7th
Frank Aiken (1st time) 20 March 1957 16 May 1957 Fianna Fáil 8th
Seán Moylan 16 May 1957 16 November 1957 Fianna Fáil 8th
Frank Aiken (2nd time) 16 November 1957 27 November 1957 Fianna Fáil 8th
Paddy Smith (2nd time) 27 November 1957 8 October 1964 Fianna Fáil 8th • 9th • 10th
Charles Haughey 8 October 1964 6 July 1965 Fianna Fáil 10th

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries 1965–1977 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Charles Haughey 6 July 1965 10 November 1966 Fianna Fáil 10th • 11th
Neil Blaney 10 November 1966 7 May 1970 Fianna Fáil 12th • 13th
Jim Gibbons (1st time) 7 May 1970 14 March 1973 Fianna Fáil 13th
Mark Clinton 14 March 1973 9 February 1977 Fine Gael 14th

Minister for Agriculture 1977–1987 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Mark Clinton 9 February 1977 5 July 1977 Fine Gael 14th
Jim Gibbons (2nd time) 5 July 1977 11 December 1979 Fianna Fáil 15th
Ray MacSharry 12 December 1979 30 June 1981 Fianna Fáil 16th
Alan Dukes 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Fine Gael 17th
Brian Lenihan 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Fianna Fáil 18th
Austin Deasy 14 December 1982 10 March 1987 Fine Gael 19th
Michael O'Kennedy 10 March 1987 31 March 1987 Fianna Fáil 20th

Minister for Agriculture and Food 1987–1993 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Michael O'Kennedy 31 March 1987 14 November 1991 Fianna Fáil 20th • 21st
Michael Woods 14 November 1991 11 February 1992 Fianna Fáil 21st
Joe Walsh (1st time) 11 February 1992 21 January 1993 Fianna Fáil 22nd

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry 1993–1997 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Joe Walsh (1st time) 21 January 1993 15 December 1994 Fianna Fáil 22nd • 23rd
Ivan Yates 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 Fine Gael 24th
Joe Walsh (2nd time) 26 June 1997 12 July 1997 Fianna Fáil 25th

Minister for Agriculture and Food 1997–1999 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Joe Walsh (2nd time) 12 July 1997 27 September 1999 Fianna Fáil 25th

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 1999–2002 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Joe Walsh (2nd time) 29 September 1999 19 June 2002 Fianna Fáil 25th • 26th

Minister for Agriculture and Food 2002–2007 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Joe Walsh (2nd time) 19 June 2002 29 September 2004 Fianna Fáil 26th
Mary Coughlan 29 September 2004 20 October 2007 Fianna Fáil 26th • 27th

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2007–2011 edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Mary Coughlan 20 October 2007 7 May 2008 Fianna Fáil 27th
Brendan Smith 7 May 2008 9 March 2011 Fianna Fáil 28th
Simon Coveney 9 March 2011 17 October 2011 Fine Gael 29th

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2011–present edit

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Simon Coveney 17 October 2011 6 May 2016 Fine Gael 29th
Michael Creed 6 May 2016 27 June 2020 Fine Gael 30th • 31st
Barry Cowen 27 June 2020 14 July 2020 Fianna Fáil 32nd
Micheál Martin (acting) 14 July 2020 15 July 2020 Fianna Fáil 32nd
Dara Calleary 15 July 2020 21 August 2020 Fianna Fáil 32nd
Micheál Martin (acting) 21 August 2020 2 September 2020 Fianna Fáil 32nd
Charlie McConalogue 2 September 2020 Incumbent Fianna Fáil 32nd • 33rd
Note
  1. ^ Before 1937: DM – Dáil Ministry; PG – Provisional Government; EC – Executive Council.

References edit

  1. ^ "List of Ministers and Ministers of State", Government of Ireland, archived from the original on 7 August 2020, retrieved 4 August 2020
  2. ^ "Ministers". Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

External links edit

  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine