Minister for Finance (Ireland)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Government of Ireland

The Minister for Finance (Irish: Aire Airgeadais) is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance and is considered one of the most important members of the Government of Ireland.

The current Minister for Finance is Brian Lenihan, Jnr, TD. He is assisted by Martin Mansergh, TD, the Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

The department and minister are occasionally called the Irish Exchequer (or simply Exchequer, or in Irish Státchiste); a term previously used under the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Government Buildings, Dublin, is the location of the Department of Finance
Government Buildings, Dublin, is the location of the Department of Finance

The Minister for Finance holds the second most important ministerial position in the Irish Cabinet after that of the Taoiseach. He or she is in charge of the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais), responsible for all financial matters in the Republic of Ireland. Due to the importance of the cabinet post, the Minister for Finance must be a member of Dáil Éireann. One of the most important aspects of the Minister's work is the creation of the annual Budget which is announced to the Dáil in a speech delivered on the first Wednesday of December. In the Budget the Minister details the Government's spending programme for the coming year. Many Ministers who have held the Finance portfolio have gone on to become Taoiseach, including Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen.

[edit] Minister for Finance 1919–present

# Name Entered Office Left Office Party
1. Eoin MacNeill 22 January 1919 1 April 1919 Sinn Féin
2. Michael Collins 2 April 1919 22 August 1922 Sinn Féin
3. W. T. Cosgrave (acting) 17 July 1922 21 September 1923 Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin
4. Ernest Blythe 21 September 1923 9 March 1932 Cumann na nGaedhael
5. Seán MacEntee (1st time) 9 March 1932 16 September 1939 Fianna Fáil
6. Seán T. O'Kelly 16 September 1939 14 June 1945 Fianna Fáil
7. Frank Aiken 19 June 1945 18 February 1948 Fianna Fáil
8. Patrick McGilligan 18 February 1948 13 June 1951 Fine Gael
Seán MacEntee (2nd time) 13 June 1951 2 June 1954 Fianna Fáil
9. Gerard Sweetman 2 June 1954 20 March 1957 Fine Gael
10. James Ryan 20 March 1957 21 April 1965 Fianna Fáil
11. Jack Lynch 21 April 1965 10 November 1966 Fianna Fáil
12. Charles Haughey 10 November 1966 7 May 1970 Fianna Fáil
13. George Colley (1st time) 9 May 1970 14 March 1973 Fianna Fáil
14. *Richie Ryan 14 March 1973 5 July 1977 Fine Gael
*George Colley (2nd time) 5 July 1977 11 December 1979 Fianna Fáil
15. *Michael O'Kennedy 12 December 1979 16 December 1980 Fianna Fáil
16. *Gene FitzGerald 16 December 1980 30 June 1981 Fianna Fáil
17. John Bruton (1st time) 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Fine Gael
18. Ray MacSharry (1st time) 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Fianna Fáil
19. Alan Dukes 14 December 1982 14 February 1986 Fine Gael
*John Bruton (2nd time) 14 February 1986 10 March 1987 Fine Gael
*Ray MacSharry (2nd time) 10 March 1987 24 November 1988 Fianna Fáil
20. Albert Reynolds 24 November 1988 7 November 1991 Fianna Fáil
Charles Haughey (acting) 7 November 1991 14 November 1991 Fianna Fáil
21. Bertie Ahern 14 November 1991 15 December 1994 Fianna Fáil
22. Ruairi Quinn 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 Labour Party
23. Charlie McCreevy 26 June 1997 29 September 2004 Fianna Fáil
24. Brian Cowen 29 September 2004 7 May 2008 Fianna Fáil
25. Brian Lenihan, Jnr 7 May 2008 Incumbent Fianna Fáil

The asterisk (*) indicates Ministers who held both the Finance and Public Service portfolios at the same time.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Languages