Ray MacSharry (born 29 April 1938) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from March 1982 to December 1982, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development from 1989 to 1993, Minister for Finance from March 1982 to December 1982 and 1987 to 1988, Minister for Agriculture from 1979 to 1981, Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service from 1978 to 1979. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency from 1969 to 1988. He also served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Connacht–Ulster constituency.

Born in Sligo, MacSharry was educated at the local national school before later briefly attending Summerhill College. After leaving school he worked as a livestock dealer throughout County Sligo and County Mayo, before becoming involved in the Meat Exporters Factory in his native town. MacSharry also owned his haulage firm.

MacSharry came from a non-political family; however, he became an active member of Fianna Fáil in Sligo. In 1967, he made his first move into politics when he secured election to both Sligo Borough Council and Sligo County Council.

MacSharry was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency at the 1969 general election. MacSharry was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1973 general election; however, Fianna Fáil went into opposition as a Fine Gael–Labour Party government came to office. In Jack Lynch's subsequent front bench reshuffle, MacSharry was appointed Opposition Spokesperson on the Office of Public Works.

Following the 1977 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to government with a twenty-seat Dáil majority. In January 1978, with the introduction of the new Minister of State positions, he secured a junior ministerial post for the first time, as Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service.

In December 1979, Lynch announced his resignation as Taoiseach and as Fianna Fáil leader. The subsequent leadership contest was a straight battle between George Colley and Charles Haughey. Colley was the favoured choice of the outgoing leadership and the majority of the cabinet while Haughey had the backing of a large rump of backbench TDs who had become disillusioned with the party leadership. Although MacSharry was serving as junior minister to Colley, he was one of the strongest supporters of Haughey and nominated him for the position of party leader. Haughey succeeded in becoming party leader, albeit by a narrow margin of just six votes, and soon after was appointed as Taoiseach. MacSharry's support for Haughey was rewarded when he was appointed Minister for Agriculture in the new government. Agriculture was viewed as a key portfolio in Haughey's new cabinet and MacSharry was regarded as an effective Minister at a time when farm prices were falling. He was also successful in agricultural negotiations with the EEC.

Following the 1981 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to opposition. In the new Fianna Fáil front bench, MacSharry was retained as Spokesperson for Agriculture, but a later reshuffle saw him move to fisheries.

Fianna Fáil returned to government following the February 1982 general election and MacSharry was appointed as Tánaiste and Minister for Finance. At a time when Ireland was going through a recession, MacSharry introduced a budget which increased income tax at all levels. It was his only budget as the government fell after just nine months in office and a new coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party took office.