Profile: Brendan Smith

Brendan Smith (60) was Fianna Fáil spokesman on foreign affairs in the last Dáil and, in that role, he was highly critical of dissident republican activity. He was minister for agriculture from May 2008 to March 2011. During his tenure, he was praised for his handling of the threat to Ireland's pork industry. He had previously served as minister of state in the department, with special responsibility for food and horticulture, and as minister for children. A graduate of UCD, he worked as a special adviser to the late John Wilson during his years as a Fianna Fáil minister, succeeding him in the Dáil as TD for the Cavan-Monaghan constituency in 1992. He was a consistently impressive performer on the Opposition benches in the last Dáil. He is married to Anne McGarry.