irish minister for agriculture and food

The Minister for Agriculture and Food is the senior minister at the Department of Agriculture and Food (An Roinn Talmhaochta agus Bia) in the Irish Government. The current Minister for Agriculture and Food is Mary Coughlan, TD. She is assisted by:

John Browne, TD - Minister of State with special responsibility for Forestry;
Brendan Smith, TD - Minister of State with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture.

Historically, the agriculture portfolio has gone under a number of different names; the holder has often borne the title of simply Minister for Agriculture.

Overview

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, food, rural development and the rural environment.
Monitoring and controlling aspects of food safety.
Control and audit of public expenditure under its control.
Regulation of the agriculture 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 and food.

List of office-holders

Various titles (1921-1930)

#	Name	Title	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1.	Robert Barton	Director for Agriculture	April 2, 1919	August 26, 1921	Sinn Fin
2.	Art O'Connor	Secretary for Agriculture	August 26, 1921	January 9, 1922	Sinn Fin
2.	Patrick Hogan	Minister for Agriculture	January 11, 1922	June 2, 1924	Cumann na nGaedhael
	"	Minister for Lands & Agriculture	June 2, 1924	April 3, 1930	Cumann na nGaedhael

Minister for Agriculture (1930-1965)

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
	Patrick Hogan	April 3, 1930	March 9, 1932	Cumann na nGaedhael
3.	James Ryan	March 9, 1932	January 21, 1947	Fianna Fil
4.	Patrick Smith (1st time)	January 21, 1947	February 18, 1948	Fianna Fil
5.	James Dillon	February 18, 1948	June 13, 1951	Fine Gael
6.	Thomas Walsh	June 13, 1951	June 2, 1954	Fianna Fil
	James Dillon (2nd time)	June 2, 1954	March 20, 1957	Fine Gael
7.	Frank Aiken (1st time)	March 20, 1957	May 16, 1957	Fianna Fil
8.	Sen Moylon	May 16, 1957	November 16, 1957	Fianna Fil
	Frank Aiken (2nd time)	November 16, 1957	November 27, 1957	Fianna Fil
	Patrick Smith (2nd time)	November 27, 1957	October 8, 1964	Fianna Fil
9.	Charles Haughey	October 8, 1964	July 6, 1965	Fianna Fil

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (1965-1977)

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
	Charles Haughey	July 6, 1965	November 10, 1966	Fianna Fil
10.	Neil Blaney	November 10, 1966	May 7, 1970	Fianna Fil
11.	Jim Gibbons	May 7, 1970	March 14, 1973	Fianna Fil
12.	Mark Clinton	March 14, 1973	February 9, 1977	Fine Gael

Minister for Agriculture (1977-1987)

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
	Mark Clinton	February 9, 1977	July 5, 1977	Fine Gael
13.	Jim Gibbons	July 5, 1977	December 11, 1979	Fianna Fil
14.	Ray MacSharry	December 12, 1979	June 30, 1981	Fianna Fil
15.	Alan Dukes²	June 30, 1981	March 9, 1982	Fine Gael
16.	Brian Lenihan	March 9, 1982	December 14, 1982	Fianna Fil
17.	Austin Deasy	December 14, 1982	March 10, 1987	Fine Gael
18.	Michael O'Kennedy	March 10, 1987	March 31, 1987	Fianna Fil

Minister for Agriculture and Food (1987-1999)

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
	Michael O'Kennedy	March 31, 1987	November 14, 1991	Fianna Fil
19.	Michael Woods	November 14, 1991	February 11, 1992	Fianna Fil
20.	Joe Walsh (1st time)	February 11, 1992	January 21, 1993	Fianna Fil
	Joe Walsh (1st time)	January 21, 1993	December 15, 1994	Fianna Fil
21.	Ivan Yates	December 15, 1994	June 26, 1997	Fine Gael
	Joe Walsh (2nd time)	June 26, 1997	July 12, 1997	Fianna Fil
	Joe Walsh (2nd time)	July 12, 1997	September 27, 1999	Fianna Fil