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Irish Minister for Health and Children
The Minister for Health and Children is the senior minister at the Department of Health and Children (An Roinn Sláinte agus Leanaí) in the Irish Government.
The current Minister for Health and Children is Mary Harney, TD. She is assisted by:
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Brian Lenihan, Jr, TD - Minister of State with special responsibility for Children;
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Tim O'Malley, TD - Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability and Mental Health Services and Food Safety;
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Seán Power, TD - Minister of State with special responsibility for Health Promotion and other matters.
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 complete control over all policy regarding health care provision in Ireland. In later years, the health portfolio was occasionally coupled with that for social welfare portfolio, in which case the incumbent was known as the Minister for Health and Social Welfare.
Overview
The Minister's duties include the creation and assessment of policy for the health services. The main policy sections of the Department, together with their responsibilities, are:
Child Care
- Child care legislation
- National Children's Office
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
In the following tables the asterisk (*) indicates ministers who held the social welfare portfolio in addition to that for health.
Ministers for Local Government & Public Health 1924-1947
# |
Name |
Took Office |
Left Office |
Party |
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Ernest Blythe
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June 2, 1924
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June 23, 1927
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Cumann na nGaedhael
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4. |
Richard Mulcahy
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June 23, 1927
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March 9, 1932
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Cumann na nGaedhael
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5. |
Seán T. O'Kelly
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March 9, 1932
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September 8, 1939
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Fianna Fáil
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6. |
P.J. Ruttledge
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September 8, 1939
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August 14, 1941
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Fianna Fáil
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7. |
Eamon de Valera (acting)
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August 15, 1941
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August 18, 1941
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Fianna Fáil
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8. |
Seán MacEntee
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August 18, 1941
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January 22, 1947
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Fianna Fáil
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List of Ministers for Health
# |
Name |
Took Office |
Left Office |
Party |
1. |
*James Ryan (1st time)
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January 22, 1947
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February 18, 1948
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Fianna Fáil
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2. |
Noel Browne
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February 18, 1948
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April 11, 1951
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Clann na Poblachta
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3. |
John A. Costello (acting)
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April 12, 1951
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June 13, 1951
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Fine Gael
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*James Ryan (2nd time)
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June 13, 1951
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June 2, 1954
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Fianna Fáil
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5. |
Tom O'Higgins
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June 2, 1954
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March 20, 1957
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Fine Gael
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6. |
*Seán MacEntee
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March 20, 1957
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April 21, 1965
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Fianna Fáil
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7. |
Donagh O'Malley
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April 21, 1965
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July 13, 1966
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Fianna Fáil
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8. |
Seán Flanagan
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July 13, 1966
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July 2, 1969
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Fianna Fáil
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9. |
Erskine Childers
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July 2, 1969
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March 14, 1973
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Fianna Fáil
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10. |
*Brendan Corish
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March 14, 1973
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July 5, 1977
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Labour
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11. |
*Charles Haughey
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July 5, 1977
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December 11, 1979
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Fianna Fáil
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12. |
*Michael Woods (1st time)
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December 12, 1979
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June 30, 1981
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Fianna Fáil
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13. |
*Eileen Desmond
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June 30, 1981
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March 9, 1982
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Labour
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*Michael Woods (2nd time)
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March 9, 1982
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December 14, 1982
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Fianna Fáil
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14. |
*Barry Desmond
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December 14, 1982
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January 20, 1987
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Labour
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15. |
John Boland
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January 20, 1987
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March 10, 1987
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Fine Gael
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16. |
Rory O'Hanlon
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March 10, 1987
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November 14, 1991
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Fianna Fáil
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17. |
Mary O'Rourke
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November 14, 1991
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February 11, 1992
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Fianna Fáil
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18. |
John O'Connell
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February 11, 1992
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January 12, 1993
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Fianna Fáil
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19. |
Brendan Howlin
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January 12, 1994
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November 17, 1994
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Labour
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*Michael Woods (3rd time)
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November 17, 1994
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December 15, 1994
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Fianna Fáil
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20. |
Michael Noonan
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December 15, 1994
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June 26, 1997
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Fine Gael
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21. |
Brian Cowen
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June 26, 1997
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July 12, 1997
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Fianna Fáil
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List of Ministers for Health & Children
External link
Last updated: 05-23-2005 01:28:59
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