Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry
The Minister of State, who had special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry, officially styled as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry), was a junior ministerial post in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Ireland.
The junior ministerial position was re-titled in June 2007 from Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) to Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Fisheries) when the fisheries division of the then Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It was again re-titled in 2008 when Forestry was added.
The Minister worked together with the senior Minister at this department and had special responsibility for sea fisheries policy, aquaculture and protection of the marine environment.
The Minister of State did not hold cabinet rank. The position, and in particular its previous title, should not be confused with the previous post of Minister for the Marine, which existed between 1987 and 1997 and held cabinet rank.
The position was abolished in March 2011.
List of office-holders
| No. | Name | Term of office | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pat the Cope Gallagher (1st time) | 12 March 1987 | 12 July 1989 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 2. | Michael J. Noonan | 19 July 1989 | 11 February 1992 | Fianna Fáil | |
| Pat the Cope Gallagher (2nd time) | 13 February 1992 | 12 January 1993 | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 3. | Gerry O'Sullivan | 14 January 1993 | 15 December 1994 | Labour Party | |
| 4. | Eamon Gilmore | 20 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | Democratic Left | |
| 5. | Hugh Byrne | 8 July 1997 | 6 June 2002 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 6. | John Browne (1st time) | 19 June 2002 | 29 September 2004 | Fianna Fáil | |
| Pat the Cope Gallagher (3rd time) | 29 September 2004 | 14 February 2006 | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John Browne (2nd time) | 14 February 2006 | 14 June 2007 | Fianna Fáil | ||
| No. | Name | Term of office | Party | ||
| John Browne (3rd time) | 20 June 2007 | 13 May 2008 | Fianna Fáil | ||
| No. | Name | Term of office | Party | ||
| 7. | Tony Killeen | 13 May 2008 | 23 March 2010 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 8. | Seán Connick | 23 March 2010 | 9 March 2011 | Fianna Fáil | |