James Gerard Collins is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from March 1982 to December 1982 and 1989 to 1992, Minister for Justice from 1977 to 1981 and 1987 to 1989, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from 1970 to 1973, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht from 1969 to 1970. He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster constituency from 1994 to 2004. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick West constituency from 1967 to 1997.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Foreign Affairs.