Simon Coveney TD was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food on March 9, 2011. He represents and Cork South Central constituency.
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election for Cork South Central in October 1998, following the untimely death of his father, Hugh Coveney TD. He has served in a number of senior Party and Oireachtas positions.
Simon served as a member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2009. He is also a former member of Cork City Council.
Some other facts about Simon:
Born in Cork in June 1972, Simon holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture and Land Management from Royal Agriculture College, Gloucestershire.
He was also educated at Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare; University College Cork, and Gurteen Agricultural College, County Tipperary.
He is a keen fan of all competitive sport from Gaelic Football and Hurling to Rugby, he played Rugby for Garryowen, Cork Constitution and Crosshaven Rugby Clubs.
In 1997/8 he led the "Sail Chernobyl Project" which involved sailing a boat 30,000 miles around the world and raising €650,000 for charity.
He has travelled extensively, visiting a large number of Third World countries.
He is a fully qualified Sailing Instructor and Life Guard.
For a number of years he had been responsible for the management of the family farm and family interests in County Cork.
Simon Coveney TDMinister for Agriculture, Marine & Food
Coveney Hails Major Step Forward in CAP Reform Negotiations
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, has described as a watershed moment today’s agreement by European Agriculture Ministers of a Council position on the reform of the CAP.
Coveney welcomes latest steps to address mislabeling of meat
The Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, welcomed the outcome of today’s meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH), which further discussed the ongoing issue of the mislabelling of meat
Expressions of sympathy for Minister Shane McEntee
He was an outstanding Minister of State in terms of his own portfolios and as a support to everyone in the Department
Statement by the Minister as Investigation into equine DNA in burgers continues
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD announced this evening his Department has received a test result confirming 75% equine DNA in a raw material ingredient at Rangeland Foods, Co Monaghan.
Liffey meats burger test results clear
This is very positive news as it supports the claims of the company that they have addressed any concerns that arose from the findings of the FSAI survey in December which found very low trace levels of equine DNA in three of the Liffey Meats burger samples.