The Minister of State at the Department of Transport is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Transport of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Transport. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Department of Transport and Power was created in 1959; in 1984, as the Department of Transport, it was abolished and its functions were transferred to the Department of Communications. The Department of the Public Service was created in 1973; in 1987, its original functions were transferred to the Department of Finance, and it is the legal predecessor of the current Department of Transport. For this reason, the lists below show overlapping departments.
The current Minister of State is James Lawless, TD who was appointed in 2024. [1]
Department of Transport and Power 1959–1977 | |||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Government | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patrick Lalor | 16 November 1966 | 2 July 1969 | Fianna Fáil | 12th [2] | |
Department of Tourism and Transport 1977–1978 | |||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Government | ||
Tom Fitzpatrick | 5 July 1977 | 1 January 1978 | Fianna Fáil | 15th [3] | |
Department of the Public Service 1973–1978 | |||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Government | ||
Patrick J. Reynolds | 17 December 1976 | 25 May 1977 | Fine Gael | 14th [4] |
Department of Tourism and Transport 1978–1980 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas J. Fitzpatrick | 1 January 1978 | 11 December 1979 | Fianna Fáil | 15th [5] | ||
Department of Transport 1980–1984 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Pádraig Flynn | 25 March 1980 | 30 June 1981 | Fianna Fáil | 16th [6] | ||
Terry Leyden | 23 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | Fianna Fáil | 18th [7] | ||
John Donnellan | 16 December 1982 | 15 December 1983 | Fine Gael | 19th [8] | ||
Department of the Public Service 1978–1987 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Ray MacSharry | 1 January 1978 | 11 December 1979 | Fianna Fáil | 15th [5] [9] | ||
Seán Calleary | 12 December 1979 | 30 June 1981 | Fianna Fáil | 16th [10] | ||
Jim O'Keeffe | 13 February 1986 | 10 March 1987 | Fine Gael | 19th [11] | ||
Department of Tourism and Transport 1987–1991 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Denis Lyons | 31 March 1987 | 12 July 1989 | Fianna Fáil | Tourism | 20th [12] | |
19 July 1989 | 7 February 1991 | 21st [13] [14] | ||||
Frank Fahey | 26 September 1989 | 7 February 1991 | Fianna Fáil | |||
Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Denis Lyons | 7 February 1991 | 11 February 1992 | Fianna Fáil | Tourism | 21st | |
Frank Fahey | 7 February 1991 | 11 February 1992 | Fianna Fáil | |||
Brendan Kenneally | 13 February 1992 | 12 January 1993 | Fianna Fáil | 22nd [15] | ||
Department of Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Noel Treacy | 14 January 1993 | 15 December 1994 | Fianna Fáil | Energy | 23rd [16] | |
Emmet Stagg | 20 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | Labour | 24th [17] [18] | ||
Avril Doyle | 27 January 1995 | 26 June 1997 | Fine Gael | Consumers of Public Services | ||
Department of Public Enterprise 1997–2002 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Joe Jacob | 8 July 1997 | 6 June 2002 | Fianna Fáil | Energy | 25th [19] | |
Department of Transport 2002–2011 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Jim McDaid | 18 June 2002 | 5 October 2004 | Fianna Fáil | Road Traffic and Road Haulage | 26th [20] [21] [22] | |
Ivor Callely | 29 September 2004 | 8 December 2005 | Fianna Fáil | Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority | ||
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | 14 February 2006 | 14 June 2007 | Fianna Fáil | Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority | ||
Noel Ahern | 13 May 2008 | 22 April 2009 | Fianna Fáil | Road Safety | 28th [23] [24] | |
Ciarán Cuffe | 23 March 2010 | 23 January 2011 | Green | Sustainable Travel and Planning | ||
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020 | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Michael Ring | 10 March 2011 | 6 May 2016 | Fine Gael | Tourism and Sport | 29th | |
Alan Kelly | 10 March 2011 | 11 July 2014 | Labour | Public and Commuter Transport | ||
Ann Phelan | 15 July 2014 | 6 May 2016 | Labour | Rural Transport | ||
Patrick O'Donovan | 19 May 2016 | 14 June 2017 | Fine Gael | Tourism and Sport | 30th [25] | |
Brendan Griffin | 20 June 2017 | 27 June 2020 | Fine Gael | Tourism and Sport | 31st [26] | |
Department of Transport 2020–present | ||||||
Name | Term of office | Party | Responsibilities | Government | ||
Hildegarde Naughton | 27 June 2020 | 17 December 2022 | Fine Gael | International and Road Transport and Logistics | 32nd [27] | |
Jack Chambers | 21 December 2022 | 26 June 2024 | Fianna Fáil | 33rd [28] • 34th | ||
James Lawless | 27 June 2024 | Incumbent | Fianna Fáil | 34th [1] |
The 26th government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the 2002 general election to the 29th Dáil which had been held on 17 May 2002. It was led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, with Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney as Tánaiste. It was the first, and to date only, coalition government to be returned to government after an election; both parties increased their number of seats, and together secured a Dáil majority, where in the previous government they had governed together as a minority government dependent on the support of Independent TDs. It lasted for 1,835 days.
The 25th government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the 1997 general election to the 28th Dáil held on 6 June 1997. It was a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. It lasted 1,807 days.
The 20th government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the 1987 general election to the 25th Dáil on 17 February 1987. It was a minority Fianna Fáil government which had the qualified support of Fine Gael, the main opposition party, an arrangement known as the Tallaght Strategy after a speech by its leader Alan Dukes. The national debt had doubled under the previous government. The government introduced budget cuts in all departments. The taxation system was also reformed. One of the major schemes put forward was the establishment of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Dublin. During this period the Government organised the 1,000-year anniversary of the founding of Dublin.
There were two governments of the 26th Dáil elected at the 1989 general election on 15 June 1989, both being coalition governments of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. The 21st government of Ireland was led by Charles Haughey as Taoiseach and lasted 945 days. The 22nd government of Ireland was led by Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach and lasted 308 days from its appointment until resignation, and continued to carry out its duties for a further 29 days until the appointment of its successor, giving a total of 337 days.
The 19th government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the November 1982 general election to the 24th Dáil. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach and lasted for 1,548 days.
There were two governments of the 21st Dáil, which was elected at the 1977 general election on 16 June 1977. Both were single-party majority Fianna Fáil governments. The 15th government of Ireland was led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach and lasted for 890 days. The 16th government of Ireland was led by Charles Haughey and lasted for 568 days.
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in the Government of Ireland, which is headed by the Taoiseach, the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet – is composed of ministers, each of whom must be a member of the Oireachtas, which consists of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. Most ministers have a portfolio of specific responsibilities such as departments or policy areas, although ministers without portfolio can be appointed.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach is a junior ministerial post in the Department of the Taoiseach of the Government of Ireland who performs duties and functions delegated by the Taoiseach.
There were two governments of the 30th Dáil, which was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007. The 27th government of Ireland was led by Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach and lasted 329 days. The 28th government of Ireland was led by Brian Cowen as Taoiseach and lasted 1,037 days. The governments were formed as coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. The Progressive Democrats disbanded in November 2009 and Mary Harney continued as an Independent member of the government until 20 January 2011. The Green Party left government on 23 January 2011.
The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the Government of Ireland and assists the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State for European Affairs is a junior ministerial post at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Ireland with special responsibility for European Affairs. The Minister works with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The 29th government of Ireland was the government of Ireland which was formed following the 2011 general election to the 31st Dáil on 25 February 2011. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. From 2011 to 2014, Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore served as Tánaiste, and from 2014 to 2016, the new Labour leader Joan Burton served as Tánaiste.
There have been three governments of the 33rd Dáil to date, being coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. This followed the 2020 general election to Dáil Éireann held on 8 February, and negotiations on a programme for government that lasted till June. The parties agreed on a rotation, with the two major party leaders alternating as Taoiseach. The makeup of the parties resulted in a centrist coalition. It was the first time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have participated in the same government, which Leo Varadkar described as the end of what has often been referred to as Civil War politics.
The Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of the Government of Ireland who performs functions delegated by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State at the Department of Justice is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Justice of the Government of Ireland who performs duties and functions delegated by the Minister for Justice. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Social Protection of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Social Protection. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Health of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Health. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.
The Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.