Minister for Transport (Ireland)

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

Minister for Transport
Incumbent
Eamon Ryan
since 27 June 2020
Department of Transport
Member of
Reports toTaoiseach
SeatDublin, Ireland
AppointerPresident of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holderErskine Childers as Minister for Transport and Power in 1959
Richie Ryan as Minister for the Public Service in 1973
Formation1 November 1973
WebsiteDepartment of Transport

The current Minister for Transport is Eamon Ryan, TD.[1][2] He is also Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Ryan is assisted by Jack Chambers, TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics.

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.

— Mission statement[3]

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

Name Term of office Party Government
Erskine H. Childers 27 July 1959 2 July 1969 Fianna Fáil 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th
Brian Lenihan 2 July 1969 3 January 1973 Fianna Fáil 13th
Michael O'Kennedy 3 January 1973 14 March 1973 Fianna Fáil 13th
Peter Barry 14 March 1973 2 December 1976 Fine Gael 14th
Tom Fitzpatrick 2 December 1976 5 July 1977 Fine Gael 14th
Pádraig Faulkner 5 July 1977 12 July 1977 Fianna Fáil 15th

Minister for Tourism and Transport 1977–1980

Name Term of office Party Government
Pádraig Faulkner 12 July 1977 11 December 1979 Fianna Fáil 15th
George Colley 12 December 1979 25 January 1980 Fianna Fáil 16th

Minister for Transport 1980–1984

Name Term of office Party Government
Albert Reynolds[lower-alpha 1] 25 January 1980 30 June 1981 Fianna Fáil 16th
Patrick Cooney[lower-alpha 1] 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Fine Gael 17th
John Wilson[lower-alpha 1] (1st time) 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Fianna Fáil 18th
Jim Mitchell[lower-alpha 1] 14 December 1982 2 January 1984 Fine Gael 19th
  1. Also Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

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

Name Term of office Party Government
Richie Ryan[lower-alpha 1] 1 November 1973 5 July 1977 Fine Gael 14th
George Colley[lower-alpha 1] 5 July 1977 11 December 1979 Fianna Fáil 15th
Michael O'Kennedy[lower-alpha 1] 12 December 1979 24 March 1980 Fianna Fáil 16th
Gene Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 1] (1st time) 24 March 1980 30 June 1981 Fianna Fáil 16th
Liam Kavanagh[lower-alpha 2] 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Labour 17th
Gene Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 2] (2nd time) 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Fianna Fáil 18th
John Boland 14 December 1982 14 February 1986 Fine Gael 19th
Ruairi Quinn[lower-alpha 2] 14 February 1986 20 January 1987 Labour 19th
John Bruton[lower-alpha 1] 20 January 1987 10 March 1987 Fine Gael 19th
Ray MacSharry[lower-alpha 1] 10 March 1987 20 March 1987 Fianna Fáil 20th

Minister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1991

Name Term of office Party Government
Ray MacSharry 20 March 1987 31 March 1987 Fianna Fáil 20th
John Wilson (2nd time) 31 March 1987 12 July 1989 Fianna Fáil 20th
Séamus Brennan (1st time) 12 July 1989 7 February 1991 Fianna Fáil 21st

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993

Name Term of office Party Government
Séamus Brennan 7 February 1991 11 February 1992 Fianna Fáil 21st
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn 11 February 1992 12 January 1993 Fianna Fáil 22nd
Charlie McCreevy 12 January 1993 22 January 1993 Fianna Fáil 23rd

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997

Name Term of office Party Government
Brian Cowen 22 January 1993 15 December 1994 Fianna Fáil 23rd
Michael Lowry 15 December 1994 30 November 1996 Fine Gael 24th
John Bruton (acting) 30 November 1996 3 December 1996 Fine Gael 24th
Alan Dukes 3 December 1996 26 June 1997 Fine Gael 24th
Mary O'Rourke 26 June 1997 12 July 1997 Fianna Fáil 25th

Minister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002

Name Term of office Party Government
Mary O'Rourke 12 July 1997 6 June 2002 Fianna Fáil 25th
Séamus Brennan (2nd time) 6 June 2002 19 June 2002 Fianna Fáil 26th

Minister for Transport 2002–2011

Name Term of office Party Government
Séamus Brennan 19 June 2002 29 September 2004 Fianna Fáil 26th
Martin Cullen 29 September 2004 14 June 2007 Fianna Fáil 26th
Noel Dempsey 14 June 2007 19 January 2011 Fianna Fáil 27th • 28th
Pat Carey[lower-alpha 3] 20 January 2011 8 March 2011 Fianna Fáil 28th
Leo Varadkar 9 March 2011 2 April 2011 Fine Gael 29th

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020

Name Term of office Party Government
Leo Varadkar 2 April 2011 11 July 2014 Fine Gael 29th
Paschal Donohoe 11 July 2014 6 May 2016 Fine Gael 29th
Shane Ross 6 May 2016 27 June 2020 Independent 30th • 31st
Eamon Ryan[lower-alpha 4] 27 June 2020 17 September 2020 Green 32nd

Minister for Transport 2020–present

Name Term of office Party Government
Eamon Ryan[lower-alpha 4] 17 September 2020 Incumbent Green 32nd • 33rd
  1. Also Minister for Finance.
  2. Also Minister for Labour.
  3. Also Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and (from 23 January 2011) Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
  4. Also Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

References
  1. "List of Ministers and Ministers of State", Government of Ireland, archived from the original on 7 August 2020, retrieved 28 June 2020
  2. "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 7 July 2020". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. "Crusheen train stop back on track with Green minister". 15 August 2020.
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