Minister for Transport (Ireland)

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Infobox official post The Minister for Transport (Template:Langx) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Transport. He is also Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.

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

He is assisted by two Ministers of State:

• Seán Canney, TD – Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics.
• Jerry Buttimer, TD – Minister of State for Rural transport

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.

— Template:Comma separated entries

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	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	9thTemplate:•10thTemplate:•11thTemplate:•12th
Brian Lenihan	2 July 1969	3 January 1973	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	13th
Michael O'Kennedy	3 January 1973	14 March 1973	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	13th
Peter Barry	14 March 1973	2 December 1976	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	14th
Tom Fitzpatrick	2 December 1976	5 July 1977	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	14th
Pádraig Faulkner	5 July 1977	12 July 1977	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	15th
Minister for Tourism and Transport 1977–1980
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Pádraig Faulkner	12 July 1977	11 December 1979	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	15th
George Colley	12 December 1979	25 January 1980	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	16th
Minister for Transport 1980–1984
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Albert ReynoldsTemplate:Efn	25 January 1980	30 June 1981	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	16th
Patrick CooneyTemplate:Efn	30 June 1981	9 March 1982	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	17th
John WilsonTemplate:Efn (1st time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	18th
Jim MitchellTemplate:Efn	14 December 1982	2 January 1984	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	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
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Richie RyanTemplate:Efn	1 November 1973	5 July 1977	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	14th
George ColleyTemplate:Efn	5 July 1977	11 December 1979	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	15th
Michael O'KennedyTemplate:Efn	12 December 1979	24 March 1980	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	16th
Gene FitzgeraldTemplate:Efn (1st time)	24 March 1980	30 June 1981	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	16th
Liam KavanaghTemplate:Efn	30 June 1981	9 March 1982	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	17th
Gene FitzgeraldTemplate:Efn (2nd time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	18th
John Boland	14 December 1982	14 February 1986	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	19th
Ruairi QuinnTemplate:Efn	14 February 1986	20 January 1987	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	19th
John BrutonTemplate:Efn	20 January 1987	10 March 1987	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	19th
Ray MacSharryTemplate:Efn	10 March 1987	20 March 1987	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	20th
Minister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1991
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Ray MacSharry	20 March 1987	31 March 1987	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	20th
John Wilson (2nd time)	31 March 1987	12 July 1989	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	20th
Séamus Brennan (1st time)	12 July 1989	7 February 1991	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	21st
Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Séamus Brennan	7 February 1991	11 February 1992	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	21st
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn	11 February 1992	12 January 1993	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	22nd
Charlie McCreevy	12 January 1993	22 January 1993	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	23rd
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Brian Cowen	22 January 1993	15 December 1994	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	23rd
Michael Lowry	15 December 1994	30 November 1996	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	24th
John Bruton (acting)	30 November 1996	3 December 1996	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	24th
Alan Dukes	3 December 1996	26 June 1997	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	24th
Mary O'Rourke	26 June 1997	12 July 1997	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	25th
Minister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Mary O'Rourke	12 July 1997	6 June 2002	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	25th
Séamus Brennan (2nd time)	6 June 2002	19 June 2002	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	26th
Minister for Transport 2002–2011
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Séamus Brennan	19 June 2002	29 September 2004	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	26th
Martin Cullen	29 September 2004	14 June 2007	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	26th
Noel Dempsey	14 June 2007	19 January 2011	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	27thTemplate:•28th
Pat CareyTemplate:Efn	20 January 2011	8 March 2011	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	28th
Leo Varadkar	9 March 2011	2 April 2011	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	29th
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Leo Varadkar	2 April 2011	11 July 2014	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	29th
Paschal Donohoe	11 July 2014	6 May 2016	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	29th
Shane Ross	6 May 2016	27 June 2020	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	30thTemplate:•31st
Eamon RyanTemplate:Efn	27 June 2020	17 September 2020	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	32nd
Minister for Transport 2020–present
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Eamon RyanTemplate:Efn	17 September 2020	23 January 2025	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	32ndTemplate:•33rdTemplate:•34th
Darragh O'Brien	23 January 2025	Incumbent	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	35th

Notes

External links

• Template:Official website