In 1997, Fianna Fáil returned to office; Browne, however, remained on the backbenches. In 2002 he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with special responsibility for the Marine. In Bertie Ahern's cabinet reshuffle of 2004, Browne was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry. Following a junior ministerial reshuffle in February 2006, Browne served again as Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with special responsibility for the Marine. Browne has also served as Chairman of a number of Oireachtas Committees, including, Agriculture, Marine, Social Affairs, and Finance. After the 2007 general election, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for Fisheries, serving in a similar role after a transfer of ministerial functions.