Agriculture

Mary Coughlan Position: Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Mary CoughlanPosition: Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Age:42

Party:Fianna Fáil

Constituency:Donegal South-West.

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Political career:She returns to a slightly adjusted portfolio with the addition of sea fisheries. Capable and articulate, she has been a TD since 1987 and honorary secretary of Fianna Fáil since 1995. A second-generation politician, her late father Cathal was a TD from 1983 to 1986, succeeding his brother, the late Clement Coughlan.

She was minister of state for arts, health, Gaeltacht and the islands from 2001-2002 and was first appointed to Cabinet in 2002 as minister for social and family affairs, before her move to agriculture in 2004.

Immediate challenges:Farm prices and competition from new EU member states.