Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (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.

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

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
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting Minister|border=black}} {| class ="wikitable"
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Director of Agriculture 1919–1921
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s)
 * Robert Barton
 * 2 April 1919
 * 26 August 1921
 * 2nd DM
 * colspan="6"|
 * 2nd DM
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Secretary for Agriculture 1921–1922
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s)
 * Art O'Connor
 * 26 August 1921
 * 9 January 1922
 * 3rd DM
 * colspan="6"|
 * 3rd DM
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture 1922–1924
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s)
 * Patrick Hogan
 * 11 January 1922
 * 2 June 1924
 * 4th DM • 1st PG • 2nd PG • 5th DM • 1st EC • 2nd EC
 * colspan="6"|
 * 4th DM • 1st PG • 2nd PG • 5th DM • 1st EC • 2nd EC
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Lands and Agriculture 1924–1928
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s)
 * Patrick Hogan
 * 2 June 1924
 * 1 September 1928
 * 2nd EC • 3rd EC • 4th EC
 * colspan="6"|
 * 2nd EC • 3rd EC • 4th EC
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture 1928–1965
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (1st time) (1st time) (2nd time) (1st time) (2nd time) (2nd time)
 * Patrick Hogan
 * 1 September 1928
 * 9 March 1932
 * 4th EC • 5th EC
 * James Ryan
 * 9 March 1932
 * 21 January 1947
 * 6th EC • 7th EC • 8th EC • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th
 * Paddy Smith
 * 21 January 1947
 * 6th EC • 7th EC • 8th EC • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th
 * Paddy Smith
 * Paddy Smith
 * Paddy Smith
 * 21 January 1947
 * 18 February 1948
 * 4th
 * James Dillon
 * James Dillon
 * James Dillon
 * 18 February 1948
 * 13 June 1951
 * 5th
 * Thomas Walsh
 * 13 June 1951
 * 2 June 1954
 * 6th
 * James Dillon
 * 6th
 * James Dillon
 * James Dillon
 * James Dillon
 * 2 June 1954
 * 20 March 1957
 * 7th
 * Frank Aiken
 * Frank Aiken
 * Frank Aiken
 * 20 March 1957
 * 16 May 1957
 * 8th
 * Seán Moylan
 * 16 May 1957
 * 16 November 1957
 * 8th
 * Frank Aiken
 * 8th
 * Frank Aiken
 * Frank Aiken
 * Frank Aiken
 * 16 November 1957
 * 27 November 1957
 * 8th
 * Paddy Smith
 * Paddy Smith
 * Paddy Smith
 * 27 November 1957
 * 8 October 1964
 * 8th • 9th • 10th
 * Charles Haughey
 * 8 October 1964
 * 6 July 1965
 * 10th
 * colspan="6"|
 * 10th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries 1965–1977
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (1st time)
 * Charles Haughey
 * 6 July 1965
 * 10 November 1966
 * 10th • 11th
 * Neil Blaney
 * 10 November 1966
 * 7 May 1970
 * 12th • 13th
 * Jim Gibbons
 * 7 May 1970
 * 12th • 13th
 * Jim Gibbons
 * Jim Gibbons
 * Jim Gibbons
 * 7 May 1970
 * 14 March 1973
 * 13th
 * Mark Clinton
 * 14 March 1973
 * 9 February 1977
 * 14th
 * colspan="6"|
 * 14th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture 1977–1987
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (2nd time)
 * Mark Clinton
 * 9 February 1977
 * 5 July 1977
 * 14th
 * Jim Gibbons
 * 14th
 * Jim Gibbons
 * Jim Gibbons
 * 5 July 1977
 * 11 December 1979
 * 15th
 * Ray MacSharry
 * 12 December 1979
 * 30 June 1981
 * 16th
 * Alan Dukes
 * 30 June 1981
 * 9 March 1982
 * 17th
 * Brian Lenihan
 * 9 March 1982
 * 14 December 1982
 * 18th
 * Austin Deasy
 * 14 December 1982
 * 10 March 1987
 * 19th
 * Michael O'Kennedy
 * 10 March 1987
 * 31 March 1987
 * 20th
 * colspan="6"|
 * 14 December 1982
 * 10 March 1987
 * 19th
 * Michael O'Kennedy
 * 10 March 1987
 * 31 March 1987
 * 20th
 * colspan="6"|
 * 20th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture and Food 1987–1993
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (1st time)
 * Michael O'Kennedy
 * 31 March 1987
 * 14 November 1991
 * 20th • 21st
 * Michael Woods
 * 14 November 1991
 * 11 February 1992
 * 21st
 * Joe Walsh
 * 11 February 1992
 * 21st
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * 11 February 1992
 * 21 January 1993
 * 22nd
 * colspan="6|
 * colspan="6|
 * colspan="6|

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry 1993–1997
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (1st time) (2nd time)
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * 21 January 1993
 * 15 December 1994
 * 22nd • 23rd
 * Ivan Yates
 * 15 December 1994
 * 26 June 1997
 * 24th
 * Joe Walsh
 * 24th
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * 26 June 1997
 * 12 July 1997
 * 25th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture and Food 1997–1999
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (2nd time)
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * 12 July 1997
 * 27 September 1999
 * 25th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 1999–2002
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (2nd time)
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * 29 September 1999
 * 19 June 2002
 * 25th • 26th
 * colspan="7"|
 * colspan="7"|
 * colspan="7"|

Minister for Agriculture and Food 2002–2007
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s) (2nd time)
 * Joe Walsh
 * Joe Walsh
 * 19 June 2002
 * 29 September 2004
 * 26th
 * Mary Coughlan
 * 29 September 2004
 * 20 October 2007
 * 26th • 27th
 * colspan="6"|
 * 26th • 27th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2007–2011
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s)
 * Mary Coughlan
 * 20 October 2007
 * 7 May 2008
 * 27th
 * Brendan Smith
 * 7 May 2008
 * 9 March 2011
 * 28th
 * Simon Coveney
 * 9 March 2011
 * 17 October 2011
 * 29th
 * colspan="6"|
 * Simon Coveney
 * 9 March 2011
 * 17 October 2011
 * 29th
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|
 * colspan="6"|

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2011–present
!Name !colspan="2"|Term of office !colspan="2"|Party !Government(s)
 * Simon Coveney
 * 17 October 2011
 * 6 May 2016
 * 29th
 * Michael Creed
 * 6 May 2016
 * 27 June 2020
 * 30th • 31st
 * Barry Cowen
 * 27 June 2020
 * 14 July 2020
 * 32nd
 * - bgcolor=#E6E6AA
 * Micheál Martin (acting)
 * 14 July 2020
 * 15 July 2020
 * 32nd
 * Dara Calleary
 * 15 July 2020
 * 21 August 2020
 * 32nd
 * - bgcolor=#E6E6AA
 * Micheál Martin (acting)
 * 21 August 2020
 * 2 September 2020
 * 32nd
 * Charlie McConalogue
 * 2 September 2020
 * Incumbent
 * 32nd • 33rd • 34th
 * }
 * Note
 * 21 August 2020
 * 2 September 2020
 * 32nd
 * Charlie McConalogue
 * 2 September 2020
 * Incumbent
 * 32nd • 33rd • 34th
 * }
 * Note
 * 32nd • 33rd • 34th
 * }
 * Note