Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1928

What is this act about?

This law amends the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924, to reorganize and rename certain government departments, specifically those dealing with agriculture, lands, and fisheries, following the inclusion of the Irish Land Commission into the Department of Fisheries.

Who it applies to: The Executive Council, which can redistribute public services and change department names; The Minister for Lands and Agriculture, who becomes the Minister for Agriculture.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Environment and agriculture
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The renaming of the Department of Lands and Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture.
The renaming of the Department of Fisheries to the Department of Lands and Fisheries.
The specific public services and functions assigned to the newly named Department of Agriculture.
The specific public services and functions assigned to the newly named Department of Lands and Fisheries.

Who does this act apply to?

The Executive Council, which can redistribute public services and change department names.
The Minister for Lands and Agriculture, who becomes the Minister for Agriculture.
The Minister for Fisheries, who becomes the Minister for Lands and Fisheries.

What are the key points?

The Department of Lands and Agriculture is now the Department of Agriculture, headed by the Minister for Agriculture.
The Department of Fisheries is now the Department of Lands and Fisheries, headed by the Minister for Lands and Fisheries.
The Department of Agriculture handles public services related to aiding, improving, and developing agriculture, including education, marketing, research, and veterinary services.
The Department of Lands and Fisheries handles public services related to lands (including rent fixing, land acquisition, and rural congestion relief) and fisheries (including deep-sea, tidal, coastal, and inland waters fisheries).

Environment and agriculture

Euro Changeover (Amounts) Act, 2001

Minister For the Environment and Local Government (Performance of Certain Functions) Act, 2002

Continental Shelf Act, 1968

Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1953

Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Act, 1931

Constitution (Verification of Petition) Act, 1944

Industrial Grants Act, 1959

Destructive Insects and Pests (Consolidation) Act, 1958

Environment and agriculture

Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1928 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1928 Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1928 Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1928 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán No. 6 of 1928.

MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1928.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Department of Agriculture.

Section 3

Department of Lands and Fisheries.

Section 4

Amendment of section 12 of the Principal Act.

Section 5

Short title, commencement, construction and citation.

SCHEDULE.

Act Referred to Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 No. 16 of 1924 No. 6 of 1928.

MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1928.

AN ACT TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND AGRICULTURE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES CONSEQUENTIAL ON THE RECENT INCLUSION OF THE IRISH LAND COMMISSION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND FOR THE LIKE REASON TO CHANGE THE NAMES OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND THE STYLES OF THE MINISTERS WHO ARE THE HEADS THEREOF RESPECTIVELY AND FOR THOSE AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES ACT, 1924 . [28th June, 1928.] WHEREAS by virtue of the Irish Land Commission (Redistribution of Public Services) Order, 1927, made by the Executive Council on the 20th day of July, 1927, under sub-section (2) of section 12 of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 , the whole of the public services and officers of the Irish Land Commission have become and now are included in the Department of Fisheries:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions.

1.—In this Act— the expression “the Principal Act” means the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 (No. 16 of 1924), and the word “agriculture” includes horticulture, forestry, dairying, the breeding, rearing or keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, rabbits, poultry, bees and other live stock, and any industries immediately connected with and subservient to any of the said matters, and the word “agricultural” shall be construed accordingly.

Department of Agriculture.

2.—(1) From and after the commencement of this Act the Department of Lands and Agriculture shall be known as the Department of Agriculture and the Minister who is head of that Department shall be and shall be styled, an t-Aire Talmhaíochta or (in English) the Minister for Agriculture.

(2)The said Department of Agriculture shall comprise the administration and business generally of public services in connection with the aiding, improving and developing of agriculture, including education in agriculture and in subjects relating thereto; the distribution, carriage and marketing of agricultural produce; inquiries, experiments and research in agricultural science and in matters relating thereto; the collection and publication of data and information relating to agriculture and agricultural produce; the promotion of co-operation for agricultural purposes; veterinary services; animal and plant disease and pests; and all powers, duties and functions connected with the said public services or any of them; and shall include in particular the business, powers, duties and functions of the branches and officers of the public services specified in the First Part of the Schedule to this Act.

(3)Every mention or reference contained in any Act of the Oireachtas passed before the commencement of this Act or in any order rule or regulation made or to be made under any such Act or under any British Statute of or to the Minister for Lands and Agriculture and every mention or reference contained in any such Act, rule, or regulation which is required by section 18 of the Principal Act to be construed as a mention of or reference to the Minister for Lands and Agriculture shall (save when and in so far as such mention or reference is made in relation to the Irish Land Commission) be construed and have effect as a mention of or reference to the Minister for Agriculture.

(4)Paragraph (vi) of section 1 of the Principal Act and the Fifth Part of the Schedule to the Principal Act are hereby repealed.

Department of Lands and Fisheries.

3.—(1) From and after the commencement of this Act the Department of Fisheries shall be known as the Department of Lands and Fisheries and the Minister who is head of that Department shall be, and shall be styled, an t-Aire Tailte agus Iascaigh or (in English) the Minister for Lands and Fisheries.

(2)The said Department of Lands and Fisheries shall comprise the administration and business generally of public services in connection with lands (including the fixing of rents and tenure of lands and the acquisition by occupying tenants of full ownership by means of public funds), enlargement and other economic improvement of holdings of land, purchase of land for distribution by way of re-sale, relief of rural congestion and like un-economic conditions, the promoting of rural industries (other than agriculture and industries immediately connected therewith or auxiliary thereto the administration and business generally of the public services relating to which are by this Act assigned to the Department of Agriculture), fisheries (including deep-sea fisheries, tidal waters fisheries, coastal fisheries, inland waters fisheries, and industries connected with the same), and all powers, duties and functions connected with the said public services or any of them and shall include in particular the business, powers, duties and functions of the branches and officers of the public services specified in the Second Part of the Schedule to this Act.

(3)Every mention or reference contained in any Act of the Oireachtas passed before the commencement of this Act or in any order, rule or regulation made or to be made under any such Act or under any British Statute of or to the Minister for Fisheries shall be construed and have effect as a mention of or reference to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries.

(4)Paragraph (viii) of section 1 of the Principal Act and the Seventh Part of the Schedule to the Principal Act are hereby repealed.

Amendment of section 12 of the Principal Act.

4.—(1) To remove doubts it is hereby declared and enacted that the powers conferred on the Executive Council by sub-section (2) of section 12 of the Principal Act extend and always have extended to public services established by or under Acts of the Oireachtas passed after the passing (whether before or after the commencement) of the Principal Act as well as to public services established by or under British Statutes or by or under Acts of the Oireachtas passed before the Principal Act.

(2)Whenever the Executive Council by Order made under sub-section (2) of section 12 of the Principal Act re-distributes any public services amongst any of the Ministers and Departments of State it shall be lawful for the Executive Council by the same Order to make such changes in the styles and titles of the Ministers and Departments of State affected by such redistribution as appear to the Executive Council to be expedient in consequence of such redistribution.

Short title, commencement, construction and citation.

5.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1928.

(2)This Act shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose by an order of the Executive Council.

(3)This Act shall be construed as one with the Principal Act, and that Act and this Act may be cited together as the Ministers and Secretaries Acts, 1924 and 1928.

SCHEDULE.

First Part.

Particular Branches of Administration assigned to an Roinn Talmhaíochta (the Department of Agriculture).

The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland (except the business and functions relating to fisheries and technical instruction and except particular services expressly assigned by the Principal Act to the Department of Education).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries except so far as concerned with the Ordnance Survey.

The Royal Veterinary College of Ireland.

Farm Institutes of or controlled by Government.

The Royal Botanic Gardens.

Second Part.

Particular Branches of Administration assigned to an Roinn Tailte agus Iascaigh (the Department of Lands and Fisheries).

The Irish Land Commission (including the late Congested Districts Board for Ireland).

The Public Trustee in Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland—Fisheries Branch.

The Conservators of Fisheries.

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