Creed was first elected as a TD in 1989. He has been re-elected at almost every general election since, bar the 2002 election. He was co-opted onto Cork County Council in 1987. He has served as the Fine Gael spokesperson on areas including education, health and agriculture. He has been the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine since 2016. He was chairperson of Cork County Council from 2005 to 2006.