Minister for Transport (Ireland) explained

Post:	Minister for Transport
Insignia:	Irish Department of Transport.png
Insigniasize:	230px
Incumbent:	Eamon Ryan
Incumbentsince:	27 June 2020
Department:	Department of Transport
Reports To:	Taoiseach
Seat:	Dublin, Ireland
Formation:	1 November 1973

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

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

Ryan is assisted by James Lawless, 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.

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		9th10th11th12th
Brian Lenihan	2 July 1969	3 January 1973		13th
Michael O'Kennedy	3 January 1973	14 March 1973		13th
Peter Barry	14 March 1973	2 December 1976		14th
Tom Fitzpatrick	2 December 1976	5 July 1977		14th
Pádraig Faulkner	5 July 1977	12 July 1977		15th
Minister for Tourism and Transport 1977–1980
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Pádraig Faulkner	12 July 1977	11 December 1979		15th
George Colley	12 December 1979	25 January 1980		16th
Minister for Transport 1980–1984
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Albert Reynolds	25 January 1980	30 June 1981		16th
Patrick Cooney	30 June 1981	9 March 1982		17th
John Wilson (1st time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982		18th
Jim Mitchell	14 December 1982	2 January 1984		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.

Minister for the Public Service 1973–1987
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Richie Ryan	1 November 1973	5 July 1977		14th
George Colley	5 July 1977	11 December 1979		15th
Michael O'Kennedy	12 December 1979	24 March 1980		16th
Gene Fitzgerald (1st time)	24 March 1980	30 June 1981		16th
Liam Kavanagh	30 June 1981	9 March 1982		17th
Gene Fitzgerald (2nd time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982		18th
John Boland	14 December 1982	14 February 1986		19th
Ruairi Quinn	14 February 1986	20 January 1987		19th
John Bruton	20 January 1987	10 March 1987		19th
Ray MacSharry	10 March 1987	20 March 1987		20th
Minister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1991
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Ray MacSharry	20 March 1987	31 March 1987		20th
John Wilson (2nd time)	31 March 1987	12 July 1989		20th
Séamus Brennan (1st time)	12 July 1989	7 February 1991		21st
Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Séamus Brennan	7 February 1991	11 February 1992		21st
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn	11 February 1992	12 January 1993		22nd
Charlie McCreevy	12 January 1993	22 January 1993		23rd
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Brian Cowen	22 January 1993	15 December 1994		23rd
Michael Lowry	15 December 1994	30 November 1996		24th
	30 November 1996	3 December 1996		24th
Alan Dukes	3 December 1996	26 June 1997		24th
Mary O'Rourke	26 June 1997	12 July 1997		25th
Minister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Mary O'Rourke	12 July 1997	6 June 2002		25th
Séamus Brennan (2nd time)	6 June 2002	19 June 2002		26th
Minister for Transport 2002–2011
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Séamus Brennan	19 June 2002	29 September 2004		26th
Martin Cullen	29 September 2004	14 June 2007		26th
Noel Dempsey	14 June 2007	19 January 2011		27th28th
Pat Carey	20 January 2011	8 March 2011		28th
Leo Varadkar	9 March 2011	2 April 2011		29th
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Leo Varadkar	2 April 2011	11 July 2014		29th
Paschal Donohoe	11 July 2014	6 May 2016		29th
Shane Ross	6 May 2016	27 June 2020		30th31st
Eamon Ryan	27 June 2020	17 September 2020		32nd
Minister for Transport 2020–present
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Eamon Ryan	17 September 2020	Incumbent		32nd33rd34th

Notes and References

1. Web site: Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 7 July 2020. 7 July 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200709181211/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-07-07/3/. live.