The Irish Government contains a number of departments or ministries, known in the Republic of Ireland as a Department of State (Roinn Stáit in Irish). The head of such a department is a Minister of the Government (Aire Rialtais in Irish), which should not be confused with Minister of State which is a junior non-cabinet minister who is attached to a Department of State. The Government (Irish: Rialtas) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in the Republic of Ireland. ... A Minister of State, in the Republic of Ireland, is a junior minister of non-cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the cabinet. ...

The law regarding the Departments of State and Ministers of the Government is detailed in the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. The Constitution of Ireland also has significant legal effect on functions and structures. The Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 was one of the key statute laws enacted by the Irish Free State. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Constitution of Ireland is the founding legal document of the state known today as the Republic of Ireland. ...

Overview

There are fifteen individual Departments of State in the Irish Government. Each Department is lead by a Minister of the Government, who is appointed by the Taoiseach, 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 their is none of such standing. A Minister of the Government is generally supported by a team of junior ministers, officially called Ministers of State. The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... The Government (Irish: Rialtas) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in the Republic of Ireland. ... A Minister without Portfolio is a government minister with no specific responsibilities. ... A Minister of State, in the Republic of Ireland, is a junior minister of non-cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the cabinet. ...

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 also entitled to make "Statutory Instruments". These are 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. Legislation refers to the process of enacting statutory laws, or to the set of statutory laws in a state. ... The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Seanad Éireann (English: Senate of Ireland), the Irish Senate, is the upper house of the Oireachtas: the parliament of the Republic of Ireland1. ...

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. The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... The civil service (an stát-sheirbhís in Irish) of the Republic of Ireland consists of two broad components, the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State. ...

List of Departments of State

This is a list of current Departments of State, listed under their present title.

The Department of Agriculture and Food (An Roinn Talmhaíochta agus Bia) is a department of the Irish government. ... See also the famous Irish Jazz-Singer Mary Coughlan (singer). ... Willie ODea (born November, 1952), is an Irish politician. ... The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta) is a department of the Irish government. ... Micheál Martin (born August, 1960) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... The Custom House, Dublin, is the headquarters of the Department. ... Dick Roche (born March 1947) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is currently the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. ... Government Buildings, Dublin, is the location of the Department of Finance The Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) is a department of the Irish government. ... The Irish Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, TD Brian Cowen (born January 10, 1960) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... The Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) is the government department of the Irish government that is responsible for promoting the interests of Ireland abroad. ... Dermot Ahern (born February 2, 1955) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2004. ... The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (An Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí) is a department of the Irish government. ... Michael McDowell (pronounced McDool) (born May, 1951) is a senior Irish Progressive Democrats politician. ... Noel Dempsey (born January 1953), is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... The Department of Education and Science (An Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta) is a department of the Irish government. ... Mary Hanafin (born June 1959) is a senior Irish politician. ... Government Buildings, Dublin, is the location of the Department of the Taoiseach The Department of the Taoiseach (Irish: Roinn an Taoisigh) is the government department of the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, An Taoiseach (in the Irish language, the leader). ... Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (Irish name: Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachthairn) (born September 12, 1951), commonly called Bertie Ahern, is an Irish politician. ... Mary Harney (born March 11, 1953) is an Irish politician who has been the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the fourth largest political party in Ireland) since 1993. ... Séamus Brennan (born February 16, 1948) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... Éamon Ó Cuív (born June 1950) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is currently the Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. ... Martin Cullen Martin Cullen (born November 1954) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... John ODonoghue (born May 1956) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ...

Past Departments