Minister for Health (Ireland)

Irish government cabinet minister

Minister for Health

Incumbent
Stephen Donnelly

since 27 June 2020

Department of Health
Member of|

* Government of Ireland
* Council of the European Union
* Dáil Éireann

Reports to| Taoiseach
Seat| Dublin, Ireland
Appointer| President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holder| James Ryan
Formation| 22 January 1947
Website| Official website

The Minister for Health (Irish: An tAire Sláinte) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Health. The Minister for Health is responsible for healthcare in Ireland and related services.

The current Minister for Health is Stephen Donnelly, TD.[1] He is assisted by:

* Mary Butler, TD – Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People; and
* Colm Burke, TD – Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.

## History

[edit]

Health care formed part of the portfolio of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health until 22 January 1947. On that date, the new position of Minister for Health was created, with control of policy regarding health care provision in Ireland. In the past, it was common for the minister to also hold the position of Minister for Social Welfare.

In recent years, and especially since the tenure of Michael Noonan in 1994–1997, being appointed as minister has become somewhat of a "poisoned chalice" in government circles and a portfolio to be avoided by aspiring politicians, during his tenure Brian Cowen referred to the Department of Health as Angola because there were landmines everywhere.[2] A number of scandals, mostly due to medical negligence, have meant that the minister immediately becomes identified with the scandal. For instance, the Hepatitis C scandal, the withholding of baby organs without parental consent or knowledge, the Michael Neary saga in Drogheda and other high-profile medical scandals have dogged the minister and department. Additionally the minister has to deal with logistic issues not seen in other departments such as strikes, shortages and queues which are all too familiar in clinics and hospitals around the country.

## Overview

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The Minister's duties include the creation and assessment of policy for health services. The main policy sections of the department, together with their responsibilities, are:

### Continuing Care

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* Services for homeless adults
* Services for people with disabilities
* Services for the elderly and palliative care

### Finance

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* Health insurance
* Hospital planning
* Public-Private Partnerships

### Personnel Management and Development

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* Nursing policy
* Personnel management and development

### Primary Care

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* Community health (child health, dental services, AIDS, reproductive health)
* General medical services

### Secondary Care

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* Blood policy
* Hospital services

### Strategic Policy and Corporate Services

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* Corporate Services
* Health promotion
* Health Strategy Legislation

## List of office-holders

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Denotes acting Minister

### Minister for Local Government and Public Health 1924–1947

[edit]

Name  | Term of office  | Party  | Government(s)[a]
Séamus Burke | 2 June 1924  | 23 June 1927  |  | Cumann na nGaedheal | 2nd EC
Richard Mulcahy | 23 June 1927  | 9 March 1932  |  | Cumann na nGaedheal | 3rd EC • 4th EC • 5th EC
Seán T. O'Kelly | 9 March 1932  | 8 September 1939  |  | Fianna Fáil | 6th EC • 7th EC • 8th EC • 1st • 2nd
P. J. Ruttledge | 8 September 1939  | 14 August 1941  |  | Fianna Fáil | 2nd
Éamon de Valera (acting) | 15 August 1941  | 18 August 1941  |  | Fianna Fáil | 2nd
Seán MacEntee | 18 August 1941  | 22 January 1947  |  | Fianna Fáil | 2nd • 3rd • 4th

### Minister for Health 1947–1997

[edit]

Name  | Term of office  | Party  | Government(s)
James Ryan (1st time)[b] | 22 January 1947  | 18 February 1948  |  | Fianna Fáil | 4th
Noël Browne | 18 February 1948  | 11 April 1951  |  | Clann na Poblachta | 5th
John A. Costello (acting) | 12 April 1951  | 13 June 1951  |  | Fine Gael | 5th
James Ryan (2nd time)[b] | 13 June 1951  | 2 June 1954  |  | Fianna Fáil | 6th
Tom O'Higgins | 2 June 1954  | 20 March 1957  |  | Fine Gael | 7th
Seán MacEntee[b] | 20 March 1957  | 21 April 1965  |  | Fianna Fáil | 8th • 9th • 10th
Donogh O'Malley | 21 April 1965  | 13 July 1966  |  | Fianna Fáil | 11th
Seán Flanagan | 13 July 1966  | 2 July 1969  |  | Fianna Fáil | 12th
Erskine H. Childers | 2 July 1969  | 14 March 1973  |  | Fianna Fáil | 13th
Brendan Corish[b] | 14 March 1973  | 5 July 1977  |  | Labour | 14th
Charles Haughey[b] | 5 July 1977  | 11 December 1979  |  | Fianna Fáil | 15th
Michael Woods (1st time)[b] | 12 December 1979  | 30 June 1981  |  | Fianna Fáil | 16th
Eileen Desmond[b] | 30 June 1981  | 9 March 1982  |  | Labour | 17th
Michael Woods (2nd time)[b] | 9 March 1982  | 14 December 1982  |  | Fianna Fáil | 18th
Barry Desmond[b] | 14 December 1982  | 20 January 1987  |  | Labour | 19th
John Boland[c] | 20 January 1987  | 10 March 1987  |  | Fine Gael | 19th
Rory O'Hanlon | 10 March 1987  | 14 November 1991  |  | Fianna Fáil | 20th • 21st
Mary O'Rourke | 14 November 1991  | 11 February 1992  |  | Fianna Fáil | 21st
John O'Connell | 11 February 1992  | 12 January 1993  |  | Fianna Fáil | 22nd
Brendan Howlin | 12 January 1993  | 17 November 1994  |  | Labour | 23rd
Michael Woods (3rd time)[b] | 17 November 1994  | 15 December 1994  |  | Fianna Fáil | 23rd
Michael Noonan | 15 December 1994  | 26 June 1997  |  | Fine Gael | 24th
Brian Cowen | 26 June 1997  | 12 July 1997  |  | Fianna Fáil | 25th

### Minister for Health and Children 1997-2011

[edit]

Name  | Term of office  | Party  | Government(s)
Brian Cowen | 12 July 1997  | 27 January 2000  |  | Fianna Fáil | 25th
Micheál Martin | 27 January 2000  | 29 September 2004  |  | Fianna Fáil | 25th • 26th
Mary Harney | 29 September 2004  | 19 January 2011  |  | PD / Ind[d] | 26th • 27th • 28th
Mary Coughlan[e] | 20 January 2011  | 9 March 2011  |  | Fianna Fáil | 28th
James Reilly | 9 March 2011  | 4 June 2011  |  | Fine Gael | 29th

### Minister for Health 2011-present

[edit]

Name  | Term of office  | Party  | Government(s)
James Reilly | 4 June 2011  | 11 July 2014  |  | Fine Gael | 29th
Leo Varadkar | 11 July 2014  | 6 May 2016  |  | Fine Gael | 29th
Simon Harris | 6 May 2016  | 27 June 2020  |  | Fine Gael | 30th • 31st • 34th
Stephen Donnelly | 27 June 2020  | Incumbent |  | Fianna Fáil | 32nd • 33rd

1. ^ Before 1937: EC – Executive Council.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Also Minister for Social Welfare.
3. ^ Also Minister for the Environment.
4. ^ Harney was an Independent member of the government from the disbandment of the Progressive Democrats on 20 November 2009.
5. ^ Also Minister for Education and Skills.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "List of Ministers and Ministers of State", Government of Ireland, 10 April 2024, archived from the original on 7 August 2020, retrieved 19 April 2024
2. ^ Fergal Bowers (1 January 2003). "Heath – review of the year". IrishHealth.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2008.

## External links

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* Official website
* Health Information and Quality Authority

* v
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* e

Health in Ireland

Healthcare|

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* Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland)
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Categories|

* Medical doctors
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See also|

* Alzheimer Society of Ireland
* ALONE
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* Campaign for John Hunt
* Children's Health Ireland
* Community ophthalmic physician
* Cuan Mhuire
* Darkness into Light
* Epilepsy Ireland
* Family Carers Ireland
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* Irish Family Planning Association
* Irish Haemophilia Society
* Irish Heart Foundation
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* Mental Health Act 2001 (Ireland)
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