He previously served as Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2011 to 2012, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Minister for Defence January 2011 to March 2011, Minister for Social Protection from 2010 to 2011, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2002 to 2010, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands from 2001 to 2002 and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development from 1997 to 2002.