# List of ministerial resignations and terminations of appointment in the Republic of Ireland

The lists below indicate members of the government of Ireland (government ministers) or ministers of state (junior ministers) who left office during the term of a government.
In many instances, a resignation was requested by the Taoiseach, including during a reshuffle. This is distinct from circumstances where a minister's appointment was terminated by the Taoiseach, in some instances where the minister refused to comply with a request to resign. Ministers may become disqualified if they cease to be members of the Oireachtas (other than at a general election) or where there is a statutory disqualification on them remaining in office.
Prior to 1937, the head of government was the President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State, rather than the Taoiseach.

## Government ministers

Members of the government are appointed by the president on the nomination of the Taoiseach and approval of the Dáil. The president accepts the resignation or terminates the appointment of a minister on the advice of the Taoiseach. This is governed by Articles 13 and 28 of the Constitution of Ireland.

### Resignations

| Government | Date | Minister | Position | Party | Taoiseach | Notes |
| 2nd EC | 7 March 1924 | Joseph McGrath | Minister for Industry and Commerce | Cumann na nGaedheal | W. T. Cosgrave | Irish Army Mutiny: opposition to approach of Executive Council |
| 2nd EC | 19 March 1924 | Richard Mulcahy | Minister for Defence | Cumann na nGaedheal | W. T. Cosgrave | Irish Army Mutiny |
| 2nd EC | 24 November 1925 | Eoin MacNeill | Minister for Education | Cumann na nGaedheal | W. T. Cosgrave | Failure of Irish Boundary Commission to secure substantial territory |
| 5th Gov | 11 April 1951 | Noël Browne | Minister for Health | Clann na Poblachta | John A. Costello | Disagreement over Mother and Child Scheme |
| 10th Gov | 8 October 1964 | Paddy Smith | Minister for Agriculture | Fianna Fáil | Seán Lemass | Disagreement over farming policy |
| 13th Gov | 4 May 1970 | Mícheál Ó Móráin | Minister for Justice | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | Requested due to medical absence |
| 13th Gov | 7 May 1970 | Kevin Boland | Minister for Local Government Minister for Social Welfare | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | In protest at the sacking of Blaney and Haughey |
| 13th Gov | 3 January 1973 | Patrick Hillery | Minister for Foreign Affairs | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 14th Gov | 2 December 1976 | Richard Burke | Minister for Education | Fine Gael | Liam Cosgrave | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 16th Gov | 15 October 1980 | Pádraig Faulkner | Minister for Defence | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Nominated as Ceann Comhairle |
| 16th Gov | 16 December 1980 | Michael O'Kennedy | Minister for Finance | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 18th Gov | 6 October 1982 | Martin O'Donoghue | Minister for Education | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Supported challenge to leadership |
| 18th Gov | 6 October 1982 | Desmond O'Malley | Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Supported challenge to leadership |
| 19th Gov | 8 December 1983 | Frank Cluskey | Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Disagreement on Dublin Gas Policy |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Dick Spring | Minister for Energy and Tánaiste | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Left government in opposition to budget |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Barry Desmond | Minister for Health | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Left government in opposition to budget |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Liam Kavanagh | Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Left government in opposition to budget |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Ruairi Quinn | Minister for Labour Minister for the Public Service | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Left government in opposition to budget |
| 20th Gov | 24 November 1988 | Ray MacSharry | Minister for Finance | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 22nd Gov | 4 November 1992 | Desmond O'Malley | Minister for Industry and Commerce | Progressive Democrats | Albert Reynolds | Party left government (Beef Tribunal) |
| 22nd Gov | 4 November 1992 | Bobby Molloy | Minister for Energy | Progressive Democrats | Albert Reynolds | Party left government (Beef Tribunal) |
| 22nd Gov | 4 January 1993 | Pádraig Flynn | Minister for Justice | Fianna Fáil | Albert Reynolds | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 23rd Gov | 17 November 1994 | Dick Spring | Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste | Labour | Albert Reynolds | Party left government |
| 23rd Gov | 17 November 1994 | Ruairi Quinn | Minister for Enterprise and Employment | Labour | Albert Reynolds | Party left government |
| 23rd Gov | 17 November 1994 | Mervyn Taylor | Minister for Equality and Law Reform | Labour | Albert Reynolds | Party left government |
| 23rd Gov | 17 November 1994 | Michael D. Higgins | Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | Labour | Albert Reynolds | Party left government |
| 23rd Gov | 17 November 1994 | Brendan Howlin | Minister for Health | Labour | Albert Reynolds | Party left government |
| 23rd Gov | 17 November 1994 | Niamh Bhreathnach | Minister for Education | Labour | Albert Reynolds | Party left government |
| 24th Gov | 23 May 1995 | Hugh Coveney | Minister for Defence Minister for the Marine | Fine Gael | John Bruton | Demoted to Minister of State |
| 24th Gov | 3 December 1996 | Michael Lowry | Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications | Fine Gael | John Bruton | Reports of receipt of improper payments |
| 25th Gov | 8 October 1997 | Ray Burke | Minister for Foreign Affairs | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Reports of corrupt payments |
| 25th Gov | 27 January 2000 | David Andrews | Minister for Foreign Affairs | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Retirement after implementation of Good Friday Agreement |
| 26th Gov | 29 September 2004 | Charlie McCreevy | Minister for Finance | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 26th Gov | 29 September 2004 | Michael Smith | Minister for Defence | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | |
| 26th Gov | 29 September 2004 | Joe Walsh | Minister for Agriculture and Food | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | |
| 28th Gov | 18 February 2010 | Willie O'Dea | Minister for Defence | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen |
| 28th Gov | 23 March 2010 | Martin Cullen | Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Ill health |
| 28th Gov | 19 January 2011 | Micheál Martin | Minister for Foreign Affairs | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Challenge to leadership |
| 28th Gov | 20 January 2011 | Mary Harney | Minister for Health | Independent | Brian Cowen | Ahead of retirement at forthcoming general election |
| 28th Gov | 20 January 2011 | Dermot Ahern | Minister for Justice and Law Reform | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Ahead of retirement at forthcoming general election |
| 28th Gov | 20 January 2011 | Noel Dempsey | Minister for Transport | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Ahead of retirement at forthcoming general election |
| 28th Gov | 20 January 2011 | Batt O'Keeffe | Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Ahead of retirement at forthcoming general election |
| 28th Gov | 20 January 2011 | Tony Killeen | Minister for Defence | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Ahead of retirement at forthcoming general election |
| 28th Gov | 23 January 2011 | John Gormley | Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Green | Brian Cowen | Party left government |
| 28th Gov | 23 January 2011 | Eamon Ryan | Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | Green | Brian Cowen |
| 29th Gov | 7 May 2014 | Alan Shatter | Minister for Justice and Equality Minister for Defence | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Publication of Guerin Report |
| 29th Gov | 11 July 2014 | Eamonn Gilmore | Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Tánaiste | Labour | Enda Kenny | Following Labour leadership election |
| 29th Gov | 11 July 2014 | Ruairi Quinn | Minister for Education and Skills | Labour | Enda Kenny | Following Labour leadership election |
| 29th Gov | 11 July 2014 | Pat Rabbitte | Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | Labour | Enda Kenny | Following Labour leadership election |
| 29th Gov | 11 July 2014 | Phil Hogan | Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Nominated as European Commissioner |
| 29th Gov | 11 July 2014 | Jimmy Deenihan | Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Demoted to Minister of State |
| 31st Gov | 28 November 2017 | Frances Fitzgerald | Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Tánaiste | Fine Gael | Leo Varadkar | Threat of motion of no confidence surrounding Garda whistleblower scandal |
| 31st Gov | 11 October 2018 | Denis Naughten | Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment | Independent | Leo Varadkar | Broadband procurement process |
| 32nd Gov | 21 August 2020 | Dara Calleary | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Fianna Fáil | Mícheál Martin | Golfgate |

### Terminations of appointment

| Government | Date | Minister | Position | Party | Taoiseach | Notes |
| 13th Gov | 7 May 1970 | Neil Blaney | Minister for Agriculture | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | Arms Crisis |
| 13th Gov | 7 May 1970 | Charles Haughey | Minister for Finance | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | Arms Crisis |
| 21st Gov | 31 October 1990 | Brian Lenihan | Minister for Defence and Tánaiste | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey |
| 21st Gov | 7 November 1991 | Albert Reynolds | Minister for Finance | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Challenge to leader |
| 21st Gov | 7 November 1991 | Pádraig Flynn | Minister for the Environment | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Challenge to leader |
| 32nd Gov | 14 July 2020 | Barry Cowen | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Fianna Fáil | Mícheál Martin | Non-disclosure of driving offences |

### Disqualification

| Government | Date | Minister | Position | Party | Party | Taoiseach | Notes |
| 7th EC | 29 May 1936 | Joseph Connolly | Minister for Lands | | Fianna Fáil | Éamon de Valera | Abolition of Seanad Éireann |
| 4th Gov | 18 June 1945 | Seán T. O'Kelly | Minister for Finance Tánaiste | | Fianna Fáil | Éamon de Valera | Election as president of Ireland |

### Nomination withdrawn

On 13 November 1991, Jim McDaid was proposed as Minister for Defence, but his name was withdrawn later that day.

## Ministers of State

Ministers of State are appointed by the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach. Prior to 1978, the equivalent position was Parliamentary Secretary.

### Resignations

| Government | Date | Minister | Department | Party | Taoiseach | Notes |
| 2nd EC | 31 March 1924 | Daniel McCarthy | President of the Executive Council (Chief Whip) | Cumann na nGaedheal | W. T. Cosgrave | Irish Army Mutiny: opposition to approach of Executive Council |
| 4th Gov | 13 July 1946 | Conn Ward | Local Government and Public Health | Fianna Fáil | Éamon de Valera | Findings of Tribunal |
| 13th Gov | 8 May 1970 | Paudge Brennan | Local Government | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | Arms Crisis |
| 15th Gov | 1 July 1979 | Patrick Lalor | Taoiseach (Chief Whip) Defence | Fianna Fáil | Jack Lynch | Elected as MEP |
| 19th Gov | 13 February 1986 | Joseph Bermingham | Finance | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Reshuffle |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Michael Moynihan | Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Party left government in opposition to the budget |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Séamus Pattison | Social Welfare | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Party left government in opposition to the budget |
| 19th Gov | 20 January 1987 | Toddy O'Sullivan | Environment | Labour | Garret FitzGerald | Party left government in opposition to the budget |
| 22nd Gov | 4 November 1992 | Mary Harney | Environment | Progressive Democrats | Albert Reynolds | Party left government (Beef Tribunal) |
| 24th Gov | 9 February 1995 | Phil Hogan | Finance | Fine Gael | John Bruton | Leaked details of budget |
| 25th Gov | 27 January 2000 | Chris Flood | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Ill health |
| 25th Gov | 17 February 2001 | Ned O'Keeffe | Agriculture, Food and Rural Development | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Failed to disclose a conflict of interest |
| 25th Gov | 10 April 2002 | Bobby Molloy | Government Environment and Local Government | Progressive Democrats | Bertie Ahern | Backlash after an attempted intervention in a rape case |
| 26th Gov | 4 October 2004 | Jim McDaid | Transport | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Not disclosed, rumored to have been to alcoholism |
| 26th Gov | 8 December 2005 | Ivor Callely | Transport | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Failed to disclose a conflict of interest |
| 26th Gov | 8 December 2006 | Síle de Valera | Education and Science | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Ahead of retirement at forthcoming general election |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | Noel Ahern | Transport | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | Jimmy Devins | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | Máire Hoctor | Health and Children Social and Family Affairs Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | Michael P. Kitt | Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | John McGuinness | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | Seán Power | Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 22 April 2009 | Mary Wallace | Health and Children | Fianna Fáil | Brian Cowen | Resigned, not re-appointed in reshuffle |
| 28th Gov | 23 February 2010 | Trevor Sargent | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Health and Children | Green | Brian Cowen | Attempted to exert influence over Garda in a local case |
| 28th Gov | 23 January 2011 | Ciarán Cuffe | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Transport Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Green | Brian Cowen | Party left government |
| 28th Gov | 23 January 2011 | Mary White | Justice and Law Reform Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Education and Skills | Green | Brian Cowen | Party left government |
| 29th Gov | 15 November 2011 | Willie Penrose | Environment, Community and Local Government | Labour | Enda Kenny | Opposition to closure of Columb Barracks |
| 29th Gov | 26 September 2012 | Róisín Shortall | Health | Labour | Enda Kenny | Disagreement over healthcare reforms |
| 29th Gov | 11 July 2013 | Lucinda Creighton | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs (European Affairs) | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Lost party whip on voting against Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 |
| 29th Gov | 15 July 2014 | Dinny McGinley | Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Reshuffle |
| 29th Gov | 15 July 2014 | John Perry | Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Reshuffle |
| 29th Gov | 15 July 2014 | Fergus O'Dowd | Environment, Community and Local Government Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Reshuffle |
| 29th Gov | 15 July 2014 | Ciarán Cannon | Education and Skills | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Reshuffle |
| 29th Gov | 15 July 2014 | Joe Costello | Foreign Affairs and Trade | Labour | Enda Kenny | Reshuffle |
| 30th Gov | 3 June 2017 | Seán Canney | Public Expenditure and Reform | Independent | Enda Kenny | Arrangement with Kevin "Boxer" Moran |
| 32nd Gov | 26 August 2022 | Robert Troy | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Fianna Fáil | Mícheál Martin | Non-disclosure of property interests |
| 33rd Gov | 12 January 2023 | Damien English | Enterprise, Trade and Employment Social Protection | Fine Gael | Leo Varadkar | Planning application irregularity |
| 33rd Gov | 22 March 2024 | Josepha Madigan | Education | Fine Gael | Leo Varadkar | Ahead of retirement at next election |
* ↑ Cowen requested the resignation of all 20 Ministers of State. The remaining 13 were re-appointed on the same day, with two new appointments to junior ministerial office.

### Terminations of appointment

| Government | Date | Minister | Department | Party | Taoiseach | Notes |
| 19th Gov | 18 February 1986 | Donal Creed | Education | Fine Gael | Garret FitzGerald | Refused to resign in the reshuffle |
| 19th Gov | 18 February 1986 | Michael D'Arcy | Fisheries and Forestry | Fine Gael | Garret FitzGerald | Refused to resign in the reshuffle |
| 19th Gov | 23 September 1986 | Edward Collins | Energy Industry and Commerce | Fine Gael | Garret FitzGerald | Failure to disclose conflict of interest |
| 21st Gov | 15 November 1991 | Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | Taoiseach | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Supported challenge to leader |
| 21st Gov | 15 November 1991 | Noel Treacy | Health | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Supported challenge to leader |
| 21st Gov | 15 November 1991 | Michael Smith | Industry and Commerce | Fianna Fáil | Charles Haughey | Supported challenge to leader |

### Disqualification

| Government | Date | Minister | Department | Party | Taoiseach | Notes |
| 23rd Gov | 9 June 1994 | Liam Hyland | Agriculture, Food and Forestry | Fianna Fáil | Albert Reynolds | Election as MEP |
| 26th Gov | 11 June 2004 | Liam Aylward | Agriculture and Food | Fianna Fáil | Bertie Ahern | Election as MEP |
| 29th Gov | 23 May 2014 | Brian Hayes | Finance Public Expenditure and Reform | Fine Gael | Enda Kenny | Election as MEP |