Minister for Transport (Ireland)

Last updated

Minister for Transport
Irish Department of Transport.png
Darragh O'Brien, December 2023 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Darragh O'Brien
since 23 January 2025
Department of Transport
Member of
Reports to Taoiseach
Seat Dublin, Ireland
Appointer President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holder Erskine Childers as Minister for Transport and Power in 1959
Richie Ryan as Minister for the Public Service in 1973
Formation1 November 1973
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Minister for Transport (Irish : An tAire Iompair) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Transport. He is also Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy.

Contents

The current Minister for Transport is Darragh O'Brien, TD. [1]

O'Brien is assisted by Seán Canney, TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics. [2]

Overview

The Minister and the department are responsible for implementing an integrated transport policy.

The integrated policy will be designed as far as possible to overcome existing delays, bottlenecks and congestion and to provide the consumer with greater choice by offering alternative modes of transport. Through the integrated approach the Department will develop and implement policies designed to improve regional balance, and reduce rural isolation and social exclusion.

Specific responsibilities which come under the aegis of the Minister for Transport in relation to national roads and to road transport in general include: delivering on the national roads programme as part of the national development plan; implementing the government's road safety strategy and related policies for the regulation of vehicle standards; road haulage licensing; driver licensing; and driver testing.

In respect of aviation policy, the department is responsible for ensuring that aviation practices and procedures comply with the best international standards; promoting the development of a vibrant, competitive and progressively regulated aviation sector and the provision of adequate airport infrastructure and competitive airport services.

In respect of Maritime Transport, the department is responsible for establishing, promoting, regulating and enforcing Maritime Safety and Security Standards, providing emergency response services and safeguarding the Maritime Environment. It is also responsible for ports and shipping policy.

List of office-holders

The Department of Transport and Power was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1959. On 2 January 1984, the Department of Transport was abolished under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1983 and its functions transferred to the Department of Communications.

Minister for Transport and Power 1959–1977

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Erskine H. Childers 27 July 19592 July 1969 Fianna Fáil 9th   10th   11th   12th
Brian Lenihan 2 July 19693 January 1973 Fianna Fáil 13th
Michael O'Kennedy 3 January 197314 March 1973 Fianna Fáil 13th
Peter Barry 14 March 19732 December 1976 Fine Gael 14th
Tom Fitzpatrick 2 December 19765 July 1977 Fine Gael 14th
Pádraig Faulkner 5 July 197712 July 1977 Fianna Fáil 15th

Minister for Tourism and Transport 1977–1980

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Pádraig Faulkner 12 July 197711 December 1979 Fianna Fáil 15th
George Colley 12 December 197925 January 1980 Fianna Fáil 16th

Minister for Transport 1980–1984

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Albert Reynolds [a] 25 January 198030 June 1981 Fianna Fáil 16th
Patrick Cooney [a] 30 June 19819 March 1982 Fine Gael 17th
John Wilson [a] (1st time)9 March 198214 December 1982 Fianna Fáil 18th
Jim Mitchell [a] 14 December 19822 January 1984 Fine Gael 19th

The Department of the Public Service was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1973. In 1987, the functions of the Department of Public Service were transferred to the Department of Finance, and the statutory shell used for the formation of the Department of Transport. The subsequent changes to the department name and functions are shown in detail at the departmental page.

  Denotes acting Minister

Minister for the Public Service 1973–1987

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Richie Ryan [a] 1 November 19735 July 1977 Fine Gael 14th
George Colley [a] 5 July 197711 December 1979 Fianna Fáil 15th
Michael O'Kennedy [a] 12 December 197924 March 1980 Fianna Fáil 16th
Gene Fitzgerald [a] (1st time)24 March 198030 June 1981 Fianna Fáil 16th
Liam Kavanagh [b] 30 June 19819 March 1982 Labour 17th
Gene Fitzgerald [b] (2nd time)9 March 198214 December 1982 Fianna Fáil 18th
John Boland 14 December 198214 February 1986 Fine Gael 19th
Ruairi Quinn [b] 14 February 198620 January 1987 Labour 19th
John Bruton [a] 20 January 198710 March 1987 Fine Gael 19th
Ray MacSharry [a] 10 March 198720 March 1987 Fianna Fáil 20th

Minister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1991

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Ray MacSharry 20 March 198731 March 1987 Fianna Fáil 20th
John Wilson (2nd time)31 March 198712 July 1989 Fianna Fáil 20th
Séamus Brennan (1st time)12 July 19897 February 1991 Fianna Fáil 21st

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Séamus Brennan 7 February 199111 February 1992 Fianna Fáil 21st
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn 11 February 199212 January 1993 Fianna Fáil 22nd
Charlie McCreevy 12 January 199322 January 1993 Fianna Fáil 23rd

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Brian Cowen 22 January 199315 December 1994 Fianna Fáil 23rd
Michael Lowry 15 December 199430 November 1996 Fine Gael 24th
John Bruton (acting)30 November 19963 December 1996 Fine Gael 24th
Alan Dukes 3 December 199626 June 1997 Fine Gael 24th
Mary O'Rourke 26 June 199712 July 1997 Fianna Fáil 25th

Minister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Mary O'Rourke 12 July 19976 June 2002 Fianna Fáil 25th
Séamus Brennan (2nd time)6 June 200219 June 2002 Fianna Fáil 26th

Minister for Transport 2002–2011

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Séamus Brennan 19 June 200229 September 2004 Fianna Fáil 26th
Martin Cullen 29 September 200414 June 2007 Fianna Fáil 26th
Noel Dempsey 14 June 200719 January 2011 Fianna Fáil 27th   28th
Pat Carey [c] 20 January 20118 March 2011 Fianna Fáil 28th
Leo Varadkar 9 March 20112 April 2011 Fine Gael 29th

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Leo Varadkar 2 April 201111 July 2014 Fine Gael 29th
Paschal Donohoe 11 July 20146 May 2016 Fine Gael 29th
Shane Ross 6 May 201627 June 2020 Independent 30th   31st
Eamon Ryan [d] 27 June 202017 September 2020 Green 32nd

Minister for Transport 2020–present

NameTerm of officePartyGovernment
Eamon Ryan [d] 17 September 202023 January 2025 Green 32nd   33rd   34th
Darragh O'Brien 23 January 2025Incumbent Fianna Fáil 35th

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References

  1. "Government Ministers". www.gov.ie. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  2. "Who has been appointed to the new Cabinet?". 23 January 2025.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Crusheen train stop back on track with Green minister". 15 August 2020.