# Minister for Transport (Ireland)

The Minister for Transport (Irish: An tAire Iompair) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Transport. He is also Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy.
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.
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 | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Erskine H. Childers | 27 July 1959 | 2 July 1969 | | Fianna Fáil | 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th |
| Brian Lenihan | 2 July 1969 | 3 January 1973 | | Fianna Fáil | 13th |
| Michael O'Kennedy | 3 January 1973 | 14 March 1973 | | Fianna Fáil | 13th |
| Peter Barry | 14 March 1973 | 2 December 1976 | | Fine Gael | 14th |
| Tom Fitzpatrick | 2 December 1976 | 5 July 1977 | | Fine Gael | 14th |
| Pádraig Faulkner | 5 July 1977 | 12 July 1977 | | Fianna Fáil | 15th |
| Minister for Tourism and Transport 1977–1980 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Pádraig Faulkner | 12 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | | Fianna Fáil | 15th |
| George Colley | 12 December 1979 | 25 January 1980 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Minister for Transport 1980–1984 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Albert Reynolds | 25 January 1980 | 30 June 1981 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Patrick Cooney | 30 June 1981 | 9 March 1982 | | Fine Gael | 17th |
| John Wilson (1st time) | 9 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | | Fianna Fáil | 18th |
| Jim Mitchell | 14 December 1982 | 2 January 1984 | | Fine Gael | 19th |
* 1 2 3 4 Also Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
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 | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Richie Ryan | 1 November 1973 | 5 July 1977 | | Fine Gael | 14th |
| George Colley | 5 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | | Fianna Fáil | 15th |
| Michael O'Kennedy | 12 December 1979 | 24 March 1980 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Gene Fitzgerald (1st time) | 24 March 1980 | 30 June 1981 | | Fianna Fáil | 16th |
| Liam Kavanagh | 30 June 1981 | 9 March 1982 | | Labour | 17th |
| Gene Fitzgerald (2nd time) | 9 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | | Fianna Fáil | 18th |
| John Boland | 14 December 1982 | 14 February 1986 | | Fine Gael | 19th |
| Ruairi Quinn | 14 February 1986 | 20 January 1987 | | Labour | 19th |
| John Bruton | 20 January 1987 | 10 March 1987 | | Fine Gael | 19th |
| Ray MacSharry | 10 March 1987 | 20 March 1987 | | Fianna Fáil | 20th |
| Minister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1991 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Ray MacSharry | 20 March 1987 | 31 March 1987 | | Fianna Fáil | 20th |
| John Wilson (2nd time) | 31 March 1987 | 12 July 1989 | | Fianna Fáil | 20th |
| Séamus Brennan (1st time) | 12 July 1989 | 7 February 1991 | | Fianna Fáil | 21st |
| Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Séamus Brennan | 7 February 1991 | 11 February 1992 | | Fianna Fáil | 21st |
| Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | 11 February 1992 | 12 January 1993 | | Fianna Fáil | 22nd |
| Charlie McCreevy | 12 January 1993 | 22 January 1993 | | Fianna Fáil | 23rd |
| Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Brian Cowen | 22 January 1993 | 15 December 1994 | | Fianna Fáil | 23rd |
| Michael Lowry | 15 December 1994 | 30 November 1996 | | Fine Gael | 24th |
| John Bruton (acting) | 30 November 1996 | 3 December 1996 | | Fine Gael | 24th |
| Alan Dukes | 3 December 1996 | 26 June 1997 | | Fine Gael | 24th |
| Mary O'Rourke | 26 June 1997 | 12 July 1997 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th |
| Minister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Mary O'Rourke | 12 July 1997 | 6 June 2002 | | Fianna Fáil | 25th |
| Séamus Brennan (2nd time) | 6 June 2002 | 19 June 2002 | | Fianna Fáil | 26th |
| Minister for Transport 2002–2011 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Séamus Brennan | 19 June 2002 | 29 September 2004 | | Fianna Fáil | 26th |
| Martin Cullen | 29 September 2004 | 14 June 2007 | | Fianna Fáil | 26th |
| Noel Dempsey | 14 June 2007 | 19 January 2011 | | Fianna Fáil | 27th • 28th |
| Pat Carey | 20 January 2011 | 8 March 2011 | | Fianna Fáil | 28th |
| Leo Varadkar | 9 March 2011 | 2 April 2011 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020 |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Leo Varadkar | 2 April 2011 | 11 July 2014 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Paschal Donohoe | 11 July 2014 | 6 May 2016 | | Fine Gael | 29th |
| Shane Ross | 6 May 2016 | 27 June 2020 | | Independent | 30th • 31st |
| Eamon Ryan | 27 June 2020 | 17 September 2020 | | Green | 32nd |
| Minister for Transport 2020–present |||||||
| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Government |
| Eamon Ryan | 17 September 2020 | 23 January 2025 | | Green | 32nd • 33rd • 34th |
| Darragh O'Brien | 23 January 2025 | Incumbent | | Fianna Fáil | 35th |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Also Minister for Finance.
* 1 2 3 Also Minister for Labour.
* ↑ Also Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and (from 23 January 2011) Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
* 1 2 Also Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.