Ivan Yates
| Ivan Yates | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry | |
|
In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997 |
|
| Taoiseach | John Bruton |
| Preceded by | Joe Walsh |
| Succeeded by | Joe Walsh |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office June 1981 – May 2002 |
|
| Constituency | Wexford |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 October 1959 Enniscorthy, Wexford, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse(s) | Deirdre Yates |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Ivan Yates (born 23 October 1959) is an Irish businessman, broadcaster and former politician. He was elected as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) representing the Wexford constituency at the 1981 general election and at each election until his retirement from politics in 2002. He has also served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry from 1994 to 1997.
Yates was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. He was educated at Aravon School, Bray, St Columba's College, Dublin and Gurteen Agricultural College, County Tipperary.
Aged 21 years and 8 months, when first elected in 1981, Yates was the youngest member of the 22nd Dáil and is also the fifth youngest ever member of Dáil Éireann. He became involved in local politics when he became a member of Wexford County Council, serving until 1995 and again from 1999 to 2004. He joined the Fine Gael front bench in 1988 and was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the party came to power in 1994.
Yates oversaw a particularly difficult period for Irish agriculture. Farmers saw the prices they received for their produce plummet, he stopped live animal exports in response to controversy over cruelty in shipping and took on the veterinary union over the tuberculosis eradication scheme. He also had to deal with a sharp rise in the number of BSE cases during 1996 and the consequent banning of Irish beef by Russia. When John Bruton resigned as leader of Fine Gael in January 2001, there was much speculation that Yates would be a contender for the vacant position. Instead, he announced to his colleagues that he was leaving full-time politics to concentrate on his family and business interests and that he would not be contesting the next general election.
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