# Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine (Irish: An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia, Iascaigh agus Mara) is a department of the Government of Ireland. According to the department, its mission is to "lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society". It is led by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine.

## Departmental team

The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are in Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:
* Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine: Martin Heydon, TD
** Minister of State for food promotion, new markets, research and development: Noel Grealish, TD
** Minister of State for forestry, farm safety and horticulture: Michael Healy-Rae, TD
** Minister of State for the marine: Timmy Dooley, TD
* Secretary General of the Department: Brendan Gleeson

## Overview

In carrying out its mandate the department undertakes a variety of functions including:
* 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, 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, food industries and forestry 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, food, fisheries and forestry.
In 2017, Joe Healy, the Irish Farmers' Association president, expressed the view that since the UK is Ireland's main trading partner, Brexit could have a "frightening impact" on Ireland's agri-food sector. The UK was the market for 50 per cent, or 270,000 tonnes, of Irish beef exports and if the World Trade Organization (WTO) tariff rates were implemented they would "virtually wipe out" agri-food trade to Britain.

## History

The Department of Agriculture was created as a department of the Ministry of Dáil Éireann at one of the first meetings of Dáil Éireann in 1919 with Robert Barton as the first Minister for Agriculture, Horace Plunkett as the department's first vice-president, and T. P. Gill as its first Secretary. In 1899, Plunkett had established the Department's forerunner, called the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (DATI). It was given a statutory basis by the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924. This act provided it with:
   the administration and business generally of public services in connection with agriculture and lands, including the fixing of rents and tenure of lands, acquisition by occupying tenants of full ownership by means of public funds, enlargement and other economic improvement of holdings of land, purchase of land for distribution by way of re-sale, relief of rural congestion and like uneconomic conditions, promotion of agriculture by means of educational grants, and of lectures on special subjects, agricultural statistics, forestry, veterinary services, survey and mapping of land, and all powers, duties and functions connected with the same, and shall include in particular the business, powers, duties and functions of the branches and officers of the public services specified in the Fifth Part of the Schedule to this Act, and of which Department the head shall be, and shall be styled, an t-Aire Tailte agus Talmhaíochta or (in English) the Minister for Lands and Agriculture.

### Alteration of name and transfer of functions

Over the years its name and functions have changed several times.
| Date | Change |
| 2 June 1924 | Establishment of the Department of Lands and Agriculture |
| 22 July 1927 | Transfer of Irish Land Commission to the Department of Fisheries |
| 1 September 1928 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture |
| 1 December 1933 | Transfer of Forestry to the Department of Lands and Fisheries |
| 1 April 1934 | Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Lands and Fisheries |
| 9 April 1957 | Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Lands |
| 3 May 1965 | Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Lands |
| 6 July 1965 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries |
| 8 February 1977 | Transfer of Lands from the Department of Lands |
| 8 February 1977 | Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Lands |
| 9 February 1977 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture |
| 31 March 1987 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food |
| 5 May 1987 | Transfer of Food Standards from the Department of Industry and Commerce |
| 10 January 1993 | Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Energy |
| 21 January 1993 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. |
| 11 July 1997 | Transfer of Forestry to the Department of the Marine |
| 12 July 1997 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food |
| 27 September 1999 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development |
| 18 June 2002 | Transfer of Rural Development to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands |
| 18 June 2002 | Transfer of Horse and Greyhound Racing to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation |
| 19 June 2002 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food |
| 19 October 2007 | Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources |
| 20 October 2007 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
| 1 May 2010 | Transfer of Horse and Greyhound Racing from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism |
| 1 May 2011 | Transfer of Marine Tourism from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs |
| 17 October 2011 | Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |