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The Minister for Agriculture & Food is an important position in the Irish Cabinet. The Minister is in charge of the Department of Agriculture & Food, where he or she creates and implements policy in the agricultural sector.

The Department of agriculture & Food has a number of important functions. They include:

policy advice and development on all areas of Departmental responsibility;
representation in international especially EU and national negotiations;
development and implementation of national and EU schemes in support of agriculture food rural development and 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 legislation;
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.

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List of Ministers for Agriculture & Food

Alternative official titles:

1921-1924 Minister for Agriculture
1924-1930 Minister for Lands & Agriculture
1930-1965 Minister for Agriculture
1965-1977 Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries
1977-1987 Minister for Agriculture
1987-1993 Minister for Agriculture & Food
1993-1997 Minister for Agriculture, Food & Forestry
1997-1999 Minister for Agriculture & Food
1999-2002 Minister for Agriculture, Food & Rural Development
2002-present Minister for Agriculture & Food

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1.	Art O'Connor	August 26, 1921	January 9, 1922	Sinn Féin
2.	Patrick Hogan	January 11, 1922	March 9, 1932	Cumann na nGaedhael
3.	James Ryan	March 9, 1932	January 21, 1947	Fianna Fáil
4.	Patrick Smith (1st time)	January 21, 1947	February 18, 1948	Fianna Fáil
5.	James Dillon	February 18, 1948	June 13, 1951	Fine Gael
6.	Thomas Walsh	June 13, 1951	June 2, 1954	Fianna Fáil
	James Dillon (2nd time)	June 2, 1954	March 20, 1957	Fine Gael
7.	Frank Aiken (1st time)	March 20, 1957	May 16, 1957	Fianna Fáil
8.	Seán Moylon	May 16, 1957	November 16, 1957	Fianna Fáil
	Frank Aiken (2nd time)	November 16, 1957	November 27, 1957	Fianna Fáil
	Patrick Smith (2nd time)	November 27, 1957	October 8, 1964	Fianna Fáil
9.	Charles Haughey	October 8, 1964	November 10, 1966	Fianna Fáil
10.	Neil Blaney	November 10, 1966	May 7, 1970	Fianna Fáil
11.	Jim Gibbons	May 7, 1970	March 14, 1973	Fianna Fáil
12.	Mark Clinton	March 14, 1973	July 5, 1977	Fine Gael
13.	Jim Gibbons	July 5, 1977	(December 11, 1979	Fianna Fáil
14.	Ray MacSharry	December 12, 1979	(June 30, 1981	Fianna Fáil
15.	Alan Dukes²	June 30, 1981	March 9, 1982	Fine Gael
16.	Brian Lenihan	March 9, 1982	(December 14, 1982	Fianna Fáil
17.	Austin Deasy	December 14, 1982	March 10, 1987	Fine Gael
18.	Michael O'Kennedy	March 10, 1987	(November 14, 1991	Fianna Fáil
19.	Michael Woods	November 14, 1991	(February 11, 1992	Fianna Fáil
20.	Joe Walsh (1st time)	February 11, 1992	(December 15, 1994	Fianna Fáil
21.	Ivan Yates	December 15, 1994	June 26, 1997	Fine Gael
22.	Joe Walsh (2nd time)	June 26, 1997	(still in office)	Fianna Fáil

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Government of Ireland
An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) \| An Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister)
Agriculture & Food \| Arts, Sport & Tourism \| Communications, Marine & Natural Resources \| Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs \| Defence \| Education & Science \| Environment, Heritage & Local Government \| Enterprise, Trade & Employment \| Finance \| Foreign Affairs \| Health & Childern \| Justice, Equality & Law Reform \| Social & Family Affairs \| Transport

List of Ministers for Agriculture & Food

See also