# Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport (Irish: An tAire Ealaíon, Meán, Cumarsáide, Cultúir agus Spóirt) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.
The current minister is Patrick O'Donovan, TD. He is assisted by one Minister of State:

## Overview

The Minister for Economic Planning and Development was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977. The title and functions of the position have changed several times since then. The current title was adopted in 2020 by the 32nd Government.

### Culture

Creating an environment enabling the National Cultural Institutions to flourish through the provision of financial resources and an appropriate policy framework. The National Cultural Institutions include: the National Archives of Ireland, National Concert Hall, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Chester Beatty Library, Irish Museum of Modern Art and National Gallery of Ireland. Formulation, development and evaluation of policy and structures to promote and foster the practice and appreciation of the creative and interpretative arts and to encourage the development of the Irish film industry; enabling the national cultural institutions, as integral elements of the national culture, to preserve, protect and present for the benefit of present and future generations our moveable heritage and cultural assets.

## List of office-holders

Minister for Economic Planning and Development 1977–1980 :
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Martin O'Donoghue | 8 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | | Fianna Fáil | 15th |
| Michael O'Kennedy | 12 December 1979 | 21 January 1980 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Minister for Energy 1980–1981 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Michael O'Kennedy | 21 January 1980 | 22 January 1980 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| George Colley | 22 January 1980 | 30 June 1981 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Michael O'Leary | 30 June 1981 | 21 August 1981 | | Labour | 17th |
| Minister for Industry and Energy 1981–1983 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Michael O'Leary | 21 August 1981 | 9 March 1982 | | Labour | 17th |
| Albert Reynolds (1st time) | 9 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | | Fianna Fáil | 18th |
| John Bruton | 14 December 1982 | 13 December 1983 | | Fine Gael | 19th |
| Dick Spring | 13 December 1983 | 17 December 1983 | | Labour | 19th |
| Minister for Energy 1983–1993 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Dick Spring | 17 December 1983 | 20 January 1987 | | Labour | 19th |
| Michael Noonan | 20 January 1987 | 10 March 1987 | | Fine Gael | 19th |
| Ray Burke | 10 March 1987 | 24 November 1988 | | Fianna Fáil | 20th |
| Michael Smith | 24 November 1988 | 12 July 1989 | | Fianna Fáil | 20th |
| Bobby Molloy | 12 July 1989 | 4 November 1992 | | Progressive Democrats | 21st • 22nd |
| Albert Reynolds (2nd time) | 4 November 1992 | 12 January 1993 | | Fianna Fáil | 22nd |
| Brian Cowen | 12 January 1993 | 20 January 1993 | | Fianna Fáil | 23rd |
| Minister for Tourism and Trade 1993–1997 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Brian Cowen | 20 January 1993 | 22 January 1993 | | Fianna Fáil | 23rd |
| Charlie McCreevy | 22 January 1993 | 15 December 1994 | | Fianna Fáil | 23rd |
| Enda Kenny | 15 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | | Fine Gael | 24th |
| Jim McDaid | 26 June 1997 | 12 July 1997 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th |
| Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation 1997–2002 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Jim McDaid | 12 July 1997 | 6 June 2002 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th |
| John O'Donoghue | 6 June 2002 | 19 June 2002 | | Fianna Fáil | 26th |
| Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 2002–2010 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| John O'Donoghue | 19 June 2002 | 14 June 2007 | | Fianna Fáil | 26th |
| Séamus Brennan | 14 June 2007 | 7 May 2008 | | Fianna Fáil | 27th |
| Martin Cullen | 7 May 2008 | 23 March 2010 | | Fianna Fáil | 28th |
| Mary Hanafin | 23 March 2010 | 2 May 2010 | | Fianna Fáil | 28th |
| Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport 2010–2011 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Mary Hanafin | 2 May 2010 | 9 March 2011 | | Fianna Fáil | 28th |
| Jimmy Deenihan | 9 March 2011 | 2 June 2011 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2011–2016 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Jimmy Deenihan | 2 June 2011 | 11 July 2014 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Heather Humphreys | 11 July 2014 | 12 July 2016 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 2016–2017 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Heather Humphreys | 12 July 2016 | 1 August 2017 | | Fine Gael | 30th • 31st |
| Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2017–2020 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Heather Humphreys | 1 August 2017 | 30 November 2017 | | Fine Gael | 31st |
| Josepha Madigan | 30 November 2017 | 27 June 2020 | | Fine Gael | 31st |
| Catherine Martin | 27 June 2020 | 30 September 2020 | | Green | 32nd |
| Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 2020–2025 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Catherine Martin | 30 September 2020 | 23 January 2025 | | Green | 32nd • 33rd • 34th |
| Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport 2025–present ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Patrick O'Donovan | 23 January 2025 | Incumbent | | Fine Gael | 35th |

### Notes

* ↑ O'Donoghue was a minister without portfolio from 8 July to 13 December 1977 before the department was formally established.