# Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine (Irish: An tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia, Iascaigh agus Mara) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine.
The current Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine is Martin Heydon. He is assisted by three ministers of state:
* Noel Grealish, TD – Minister of State for food promotion, new markets, research and development
* Michael Healy-Rae, TD – Minister of State for forestry, farm safety and horticulture
* Timmy Dooley, TD – Minister of State for the marine

## Functions

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

Director of Agriculture 1919–1921 :
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Robert Barton | 2 April 1919 | 26 August 1921 | | Sinn Féin | 2nd DM |
| Secretary for Agriculture 1921–1922 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Art O'Connor | 26 August 1921 | 9 January 1922 | | Sinn Féin | 3rd DM |
| Minister for Agriculture 1922–1924 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Joe Walsh (2nd time) | 29 September 1999 | 19 June 2002 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th • 26th |
| Minister for Agriculture and Food 2002–2007 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 2011–2025 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | 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 | 23 January 2025 | | Fianna Fáil | 32nd • 33rd • 34th |
| Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine 2025–present ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Martin Heydon | 23 January 2025 | Incumbent | | Fine Gael | 35th |

### Note

* ↑ Before 1937: DM – Dáil Ministry; PG – Provisional Government; EC – Executive Council.