Ivan Yates

Ivan Yates (born 23 October 1959), is an Irish businessman and former senior 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 1994–1997.

Early life

Yates was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. He is a member of the Church of Ireland and was educated at St. Columba's College, Rathfarnham and Gurteen Agricultural College, County Tipperary.

Political career

Aged only 21 years and 8 months, when first elected in 1981, Yates was the youngest member of the 22nd Dáil and is also the fourth youngest ever member of Dáil Éireann after William J. Murphy, Lorcan Allen and Kathleen O'Connor. He became involved in local politics when he became a member of Wexford County Council, serving until 1995 and again since 1999. 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...
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