Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine explained

Agency Name:	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Type:	Department
Formed:	2 April 1919
Jurisdiction:	Government of Ireland
Headquarters:	Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin
Coordinates:	53.3394°N -6.2558°W
Budget:	€1.312 billion (2012)
Minister1 Name:	Charlie McConalogue
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Chief1 Name:	Brendan Gleeson
Chief1 Position:	Secretary General

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Irish: An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia 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".^[1] It is led by the Minister for Agriculture, Food 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 and the Marine: Charlie McConalogue, TD
  • Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity: Senator Pippa Hackett^[2]
  • Minister of State for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development: Martin Heydon, TD
• Secretary General of the Department: Brendan Gleeson^[3]

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.^[4]

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:

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^[5]
22 July 1927	Transfer of Irish Land Commission to the Department of Fisheries^[6]
1 September 1928	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture^[7]
1 December 1933	Transfer of Forestry to the Department of Lands and Fisheries^[8]
1 April 1934	Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Lands and Fisheries^[9]
9 April 1957	Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Lands^[10]
3 May 1965	Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Lands^[11]
6 July 1965	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries^[12]
8 February 1977	Transfer of Lands from the Department of Lands^[13]
8 February 1977	Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Lands^[14]
9 February 1977	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture^[15]
31 March 1987	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food^[16]
5 May 1987	Transfer of Food Standards from the Department of Industry and Commerce^[17]
10 January 1993	Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Energy^[18]
21 January 1993	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.^[19]
11 July 1997	Transfer of Forestry to the Department of the Marine^[20]
12 July 1997	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food^[21]
27 September 1999	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development^[22]
18 June 2002	Transfer of Rural Development to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands^[23]
18 June 2002	Transfer of Horse and Greyhound Racing to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation^[24]
19 June 2002	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food^[25]
19 October 2007	Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources^[26]
20 October 2007	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food^[27]
1 May 2010	Transfer of Horse and Greyhound Racing from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism^[28]
1 May 2011	Transfer of Marine Tourism from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs^[29]
17 October 2011	Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine^[30]

Notes and References

1. Web site: About the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine . www.gov.ie . en.
2. 2021. si. 40. Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2021 . 2 February 2021. 15 February 2021.
3. Web site: DAFM - Secretary General Brendan Gleeson. agriculture.gov.ie. 13 September 2020.
4. News: Brexit could have 'frightening' impact on Irish agri-food sector. The Irish Times. Elaine. Edwards. 18 May 2017.
5. 1924. sro. 804. Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (Commencement) Order 1924 . 30 May 1924. 14 September 2019.
6. 1927. sro. 55. The Irish Land Commission (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1927 . 20 July 1927. 17 January 2021.
7. 1928. sro. 49. Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1928 (Commencement) Order 1928 . 7 August 1928. 14 September 2019.
8. 1933. sro. 158. Forestry (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1933 . 1 December 1933. 17 January 2021.
9. 1934. sro. 40. Fisheries (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1934 . 27 March 1934. 14 August 2020.
10. 1957. si. 67. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1957. 2 April 1957. 14 August 2020.
11. 1965. si. 83. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1965. 3 May 1965. 14 September 2019.
12. 1965. si. 146. Agriculture (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1965 . 6 July 1965. 14 September 2019.
13. 1977. si. 28. Lands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 . 8 February 1977. 17 January 2021.
14. 1977. si. 30. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 . 8 February 1977. 14 September 2019.
15. 1977. si. 31. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 . 8 February 1977. 14 September 2019.
16. 1987. si. 97. Agriculture (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1987 . 31 March 1987. 14 September 2019.
17. 1987. si. 129. Food Standards (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 . 5 May 1987. 14 September 2019.
18. 1993. si. 10. Energy (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993 . 10 January 1993. 14 September 2019.
19. 1993. si. 11. Agriculture and Food (Alteration of name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 . 20 January 1993. 14 September 2019.
20. 1997. si. 300. Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 . 8 July 1997. 14 September 2019.
21. 1997. si. 302. Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 . 8 July 1997. 14 September 2019.
22. 1999. si. 307. Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1999 . 21 September 1999. 14 September 2019.
23. 2002. si. 296. Rural Development (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 . 18 June 2002. 14 September 2019.
24. 2002. si. 297. Horse and Greyhound Racing (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 . 18 June 2002. 13 September 2021.
25. 2002. si. 306. Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 . 18 June 2002. 14 September 2019.
26. 2007. si. 707. Sea Fisheries, Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 . 9 October 2007. 14 September 2019.
27. 2007. si. 705. Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2007 . 9 October 2007. 14 September 2019.
28. 2010. si. 179. Horse and Greyhound Racing (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 . 22 April 2010. 13 September 2021.
29. 2011. si. 163. Marine Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 . 5 April 2011. 14 September 2019.
30. 2011. si. 455. Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 . 8 September 2011. 14 September 2019.