# Minister for Health (Ireland)

The Minister for Health (Irish: An tAire Sláinte) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Health. The Minister for Health is responsible for healthcare in Ireland and related services.
The current Minister for Health is Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD. She is assisted by:
* Mary Butler, TD – Minister of State for mental health
* Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, TD – Minister of State for public health, well-being and drugs; and
* Kieran O'Donnell, TD – Minister of State for older people

## History

Health care formed part of the portfolio of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health until 22 January 1947. On that date, the new position of Minister for Health was created, with control of policy regarding health care provision in Ireland. In the past, it was common for the minister to also hold the position of Minister for Social Welfare.
In recent years, and especially since the tenure of Michael Noonan in 1994–1997, being appointed as minister has become somewhat of a "poisoned chalice" in government circles and a portfolio to be avoided by aspiring politicians, during his tenure Brian Cowen referred to the Department of Health as Angola because there were landmines everywhere. A number of scandals, mostly due to medical negligence, have meant that the minister immediately becomes identified with the scandal. For instance, the Hepatitis C scandal, the withholding of baby organs without parental consent or knowledge, the Michael Neary saga in Drogheda and other high-profile medical scandals have dogged the minister and department. Additionally the minister has to deal with logistic issues not seen in other departments such as strikes, shortages and queues which are all too familiar in clinics and hospitals around the country.

## Overview

The Minister's duties include the creation and assessment of policy for health services. The main policy sections of the department, together with their responsibilities, are:

### Continuing Care

* Services for homeless adults
* Services for people with disabilities
* Services for the elderly and palliative care

### Finance

* Health insurance
* Hospital planning
* Public-Private Partnerships

### Personnel Management and Development

* Nursing policy
* Personnel management and development

### Primary Care

* Community health (child health, dental services, AIDS, reproductive health)
* General medical services

### Secondary Care

* Blood policy
* Hospital services

### Strategic Policy and Corporate Services

* Corporate Services
* Health promotion
* Health Strategy Legislation

## List of office-holders

Minister for Health 1947–1997 :
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| James Ryan (1st time) | 22 January 1947 | 18 February 1948 | | Fianna Fáil | 4th |
| Noël Browne | 18 February 1948 | 11 April 1951 | | Clann na Poblachta | 5th |
| John A. Costello (acting) | 12 April 1951 | 13 June 1951 | | Fine Gael | 5th |
| James Ryan (2nd time) | 13 June 1951 | 2 June 1954 | | Fianna Fáil | 6th |
| Tom O'Higgins | 2 June 1954 | 20 March 1957 | | Fine Gael | 7th |
| Seán MacEntee | 20 March 1957 | 21 April 1965 | | Fianna Fáil | 8th • 9th • 10th |
| Donogh O'Malley | 21 April 1965 | 13 July 1966 | | Fianna Fáil | 11th |
| Seán Flanagan | 13 July 1966 | 2 July 1969 | | Fianna Fáil | 12th |
| Erskine H. Childers | 2 July 1969 | 14 March 1973 | | Fianna Fáil | 13th |
| Brendan Corish | 14 March 1973 | 5 July 1977 | | Labour | 14th |
| Charles Haughey | 5 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | | Fianna Fáil | 15th |
| Michael Woods (1st time) | 12 December 1979 | 30 June 1981 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Eileen Desmond | 30 June 1981 | 9 March 1982 | | Labour | 17th |
| Michael Woods (2nd time) | 9 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | | Fianna Fáil | 18th |
| Barry Desmond | 14 December 1982 | 20 January 1987 | | Labour | 19th |
| John Boland | 20 January 1987 | 10 March 1987 | | Fine Gael | 19th |
| Rory O'Hanlon | 10 March 1987 | 14 November 1991 | | Fianna Fáil | 20th • 21st |
| Mary O'Rourke | 14 November 1991 | 11 February 1992 | | Fianna Fáil | 21st |
| John O'Connell | 11 February 1992 | 12 January 1993 | | Fianna Fáil | 22nd |
| Brendan Howlin | 12 January 1993 | 17 November 1994 | | Labour | 23rd |
| Michael Woods (3rd time) | 17 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 | | Fianna Fáil | 23rd |
| Michael Noonan | 15 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | | Fine Gael | 24th |
| Brian Cowen | 26 June 1997 | 12 July 1997 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th |
| Minister for Health and Children 1997–2011 ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| Brian Cowen | 12 July 1997 | 27 January 2000 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th |
| Micheál Martin | 27 January 2000 | 29 September 2004 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th • 26th |
| Mary Harney | 29 September 2004 | 19 January 2011 | | PD / Ind | 26th • 27th • 28th |
| Mary Coughlan | 20 January 2011 | 9 March 2011 | | Fianna Fáil | 28th |
| James Reilly | 9 March 2011 | 4 June 2011 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Minister for Health 2011–present ||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government(s) |
| James Reilly | 4 June 2011 | 11 July 2014 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Leo Varadkar | 11 July 2014 | 6 May 2016 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Simon Harris | 6 May 2016 | 27 June 2020 | | Fine Gael | 30th • 31st |
| Stephen Donnelly | 27 June 2020 | 23 January 2025 | | Fianna Fáil | 32nd • 33rd • 34th |
| Jennifer Carroll MacNeill | 23 January 2025 | Incumbent | | Fine Gael | 35th |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Also Minister for Social Welfare.
* ↑ Also Minister for the Environment.
* ↑ Harney was an Independent member of the government from the disbandment of the Progressive Democrats on 20 November 2009.
* ↑ Also Minister for Education and Skills.