Minister of State (with special responsibility for Children)
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The Minister of State, who has special responsibility for children, is officially styled Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and at the Department of Education and Science (with special responsibility for Children), and is a junior ministerial post in the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform of the Government of Ireland. The Minister works together with the various senior Ministers in these departments and has special responsibility for children's affairs. The Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank, however, the minister attends cabinet meetings and is known as a "superjunior". The position, in its current form, was created on 20 December 1994.
The current incumbent is Barry Andrews, TD, who took up the post in May 2008.
[edit] Minister of State for Children 1994–present
| # | Name | Entered Office | Left Office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Austin Currie | 20 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | Fine Gael | |
| 2. | Frank Fahey | 8 July 1997 | 1 February 2000 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 3. | Mary Hanafin | 1 February 2000 | 6 June 2002 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 4. | Brian Lenihan, Jnr | 19 June 2002 | 14 June 2007 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 5. | Brendan Smith | 20 June 2007 | 7 May 2008 | Fianna Fáil | |
| 6. | Barry Andrews | 7 May 2008 | Incumbent | Fianna Fáil | |
