James Devins (born 20 September 1948) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Minister of State in various government departments from 2007 to 2009.
[1] In July 2007, legislation was passed to increase the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20, and Devins was nominated by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to be appointed by the government to be Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with special responsibility for disability issues and mental health, and excluding discrimination.
[8][9] In April 2009, Cowen sought the resignation of all Ministers of State in order to reduce the number from 20 to 15.
[10] On 5 August 2009, Devins (along with fellow Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon) resigned the party whip over his opposition to cuts in services at Sligo General Hospital.
[11] He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 25 January 2011, a day before the leadership election.