Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine


The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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 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:
The department has the following divisions:
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 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 tariff rates were implemented they would "virtually wipe out" agri-food trade to Britain.

Aegis bodies

The following bodies are under the aegis of the department:
In 1899, Horace Plunkett established the Department's forerunner, called the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. Plunkett served as the department's first vice-president, and T. P. Gill as its first Secretary.
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.
It was given a statutory basis by the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924. This act provided it with:
It assigned it with the following branches of administration:
Over the years its name and functions have changed several times.
DateChange
2 June 1924Establishment of the Department of Lands and Agriculture
22 July 1927Transfer of Irish Land Commission to the Department of Fisheries
1 September 1928Renamed as the Department of Agriculture
1 December 1933Transfer of Forestry to the Department of Lands and Fisheries
1 April 1934Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Lands and Fisheries
9 April 1957Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Lands
3 May 1965Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Lands
6 July 1965Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
8 February 1977Transfer of Lands from the Department of Lands
8 February 1977Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Lands
9 February 1977Renamed as the Department of Agriculture
31 March 1987Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food
5 May 1987Transfer of Food Standards from the Department of Industry and Commerce
10 January 1993Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Energy
21 January 1993Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
11 July 1997Transfer of Forestry to the Department of the Marine
12 July 1997Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food
27 September 1999Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
18 June 2002Transfer of Rural Development to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
18 June 2002Transfer of Horse and Greyhound Racing to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
19 June 2002Renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food
19 October 2007Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
20 October 2007Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
15 January 2010Transfer of Foreshore to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
1 May 2010Transfer of Horse and Greyhound Racing from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
1 May 2011Transfer of Marine Tourism from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs
17 October 2011Renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
1 June 2025Transfer of Dog control from the Department of Rural and Community Development
1 August 2025Transfer of Dog breeding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage