Department of State (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
A Department of State of Ireland
, is a department or ministry of the Government of Ireland. The head of such a department is a Minister of the Government
, often called a 'cabinet minister' or 'government minister' which should not be confused with Minister of State
which is a junior non-cabinet minister who is attached to a Department of State and assists a Minister of the Government.
The law regarding the Departments of State and Ministers of the Government is detailed in the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924
and amendments. The Constitution of Ireland
also has significant legal effect on functions and structures.
on the nomination of the Taoiseach
and approval of Dáil Éireann
, and cover matters that require direct political oversight. For all Departments, the Minister in question is simply known as Minister for... and is a member of the Cabinet
, a cabinet level minister without a department is called a Minister without portfolio
but currently there is none of such standing. A Minister of the Government is generally supported by a team of junior ministers, officially called Ministers of State
, and may delegate powers to such officials in accordance with law.
The Minister of the Government has the power to suggest and propose new or amended legislation
to the Government relating to matters that arise in his or her own department. Ministers are also entitled to make "Statutory Instrument
s", also known as delegated or secondary legislation. Statutory Instruments allow the minister to give effect to or implement legislation without the need to have every detail passed by the Oireachtas
. Statutory Instruments do not have to be approved by the Oireachtas, although they may be cancelled by either the Dáil or the Seanad.
Each Department of State has a permanent staff that remains in office regardless of changes in Government or the Oireachtas
. The Departments' staff are described as the civil service
. The administrative management of the Department is led by a senior civil servant known as a Secretary-General. These officials advise and assist the minister in the running of the department.
Past Departments of State, listed under their final title.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, is a department or ministry of the Government of Ireland. The head of such a department is a Minister of the Government
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, often called a 'cabinet minister' or 'government minister' which should not be confused with Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
which is a junior non-cabinet minister who is attached to a Department of State and assists a Minister of the Government.
The law regarding the Departments of State and Ministers of the Government is detailed in the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924
Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924
The Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 was one of the key statute laws enacted by the Irish Free State. Two years earlier the Irish Free State Constitution had provided for the formation of a cabinet called the Executive Council...
and amendments. The Constitution of Ireland
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
also has significant legal effect on functions and structures.
Overview
There are fifteen individual Departments of State in the Irish Government. Each Department is led by a Minister of the Government, who is appointed by the PresidentPresident of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
and approval of Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, and cover matters that require direct political oversight. For all Departments, the Minister in question is simply known as Minister for... and is a member of the Cabinet
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
, a cabinet level minister without a department is called a Minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
but currently there is none of such standing. A Minister of the Government is generally supported by a team of junior ministers, officially called Ministers of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
, and may delegate powers to such officials in accordance with law.
The Minister of the Government has the power to suggest and propose new or amended legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
to the Government relating to matters that arise in his or her own department. Ministers are also entitled to make "Statutory Instrument
Statutory Instrument
A Statutory Instrument is the principal form in which delegated or secondary legislation is made in Great Britain.Statutory Instruments are governed by the Statutory Instruments Act 1946. They replaced Statutory Rules and Orders, made under the Rules Publication Act 1893, in 1948.Most delegated...
s", also known as delegated or secondary legislation. Statutory Instruments allow the minister to give effect to or implement legislation without the need to have every detail passed by the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
. Statutory Instruments do not have to be approved by the Oireachtas, although they may be cancelled by either the Dáil or the Seanad.
Each Department of State has a permanent staff that remains in office regardless of changes in Government or the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
. The Departments' staff are described as the civil service
Civil service of the Republic of Ireland
The Civil Service of Ireland is the collective term for the permanent staff of the Departments of State and certain State Agencies who advise and work for the Government of Ireland. It consists of two broad components, the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State...
. The administrative management of the Department is led by a senior civil servant known as a Secretary-General. These officials advise and assist the minister in the running of the department.
List of Departments of State
Current Departments of State, listed under their present title.| Department of State | Creation | Current Minister |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Food and the Marine | 1919 | Simon Coveney Simon Coveney Simon Coveney is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as a Teachta Dála for Cork South Central since 1998. In March 2011 he became Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Enda Kenny's coalition government.... |
| Defence Department of Defence (Ireland) The Department of Defence is the department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for preserving peace and security in Ireland and abroad... |
1919 | Alan Shatter Alan Shatter Alan Joseph Shatter is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency and has been the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence since March 2011.-Background and early life:... |
| Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | 1919 | Richard Bruton Richard Bruton Richard Bruton is an Irish Fine Gael politician and has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North Central constituency since 1982. He was appointed as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on 9 March 2011... |
| Environment, Community and Local Government | 1919 | Phil Hogan Phil Hogan Phil Hogan is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since 1989, and is the current Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.-Early and private life:... |
| Finance Department of Finance (Ireland) The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Finance and is assisted by one Minister of State.... |
1919 | Michael Noonan Michael Noonan Michael Noonan is an Irish Fine Gael politician and has been the Minister for Finance since March 2011. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Limerick East and later Limerick City constituencies since 1981.... |
| Foreign Affairs and Trade | 1919 | Eamon Gilmore Eamon Gilmore Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and... |
| Justice and Equality | 1919 | Alan Shatter Alan Shatter Alan Joseph Shatter is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency and has been the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence since March 2011.-Background and early life:... |
| Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | 1921 | Pat Rabbitte Pat Rabbitte Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011... |
| Education and Skills | 1921 | Ruairi Quinn Ruairi Quinn Ruairi Quinn is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Education and Skills since March 2011. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency. He was Minister for Finance from 1994 to 1997, and leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002.-Early... |
| Taoiseach Department of the Taoiseach The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department of the Taoiseach of Ireland. It is based in Government Buildings, the headquarters of the Government of Ireland, on Merrion Street in Dublin.... |
1937 | Enda Kenny Enda Kenny Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since... |
| Health | 1947 | James Reilly |
| Social Protection | 1947 | Joan Burton Joan Burton Joan Burton is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Minister for Social Protection. She is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency.... |
| Children and Youth Affairs | 1956 | Frances Fitzgerald Frances Fitzgerald (Irish politician) Frances Fitzgerald is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and is the current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. She has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Mid West constituency since February 2011... |
| Transport, Tourism and Sport | 1959 | Leo Varadkar Leo Varadkar Leo Varadkar is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency since June 2007. He is currently the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, being appointed on 9 March 2011.... |
| Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | 1977 | Jimmy Deenihan Jimmy Deenihan -Club:Deenihan had much success at club and divisional level with his local teams. At under-age level he won an under-14 North Kerry Championship with Finuge in 1963. Five years later in 1968 he won an under-16 North Kerry Championship with the famous Listowel Emmet's club... |
| Public Expenditure and Reform Department of Public Expenditure and Reform The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform who is assisted by one Minister of State.... |
2011 | Brendan Howlin Brendan Howlin Brendan Howlin is an Irish Labour Party politician who has served as a Teachta Dála for Wexford since 1987. Currently the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, he previously served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Health.-Early life:Born into a highly... |
Past Departments of State, listed under their final title.
| Department of State | Operation | Subsumed by |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Posts and Telegraphs | 1922–1984 | Department of Communications |
| Department of the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures | 1939–1945 | Department of Defence Department of Defence (Ireland) The Department of Defence is the department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for preserving peace and security in Ireland and abroad... |
| Department of Supplies | 1939–1945 | Department of Industry and Commerce |
| Department of Labour | 1966–1993 | Department of Enterprise and Employment |
| Department of the Public Service | 1973–1987 | Department of Tourism and Transport |
| Department of Communications | 1984–1991 | Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications |
| Department of Equality and Law Reform | 1993–1997 | Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform |