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Ivan Yates (born October 23, 1959), was a senior Irish politician. He was elected as a Fine Gael TD in 1981 and at each election until his retirement from politics in 2002. He has also served as Minister for Agriculture, Food & Forestry (1994-1997).
Ivan Yates was born on October 23, 1959 in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Rathfarnham and Gurteen Agricultural College, County Tipperary. He became the youngest member of Dáil Éireann in 1981 when he was elected for the first time as a Fine Gael TD. 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 & 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.
He is the chairman and managing director of Celtic Bookmakers, an Irish chain of betting shops, and has expanded the company from its Wexford base to a chain of 31 shops around the country.
Cabinet Positions
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