The minister for transport () is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Transport.
The minister for transport is Darragh O'Brien, TD. He is also Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
He is assisted by two ministers of state: Seán Canney, TD – Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for international and road transport and logistics. Jerry Buttimer, TD – Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport
Overview The minister and the department are responsible for implementing an integrated transport policy.
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 1959–1977NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentErskine H. Childers27 July 19592 July 1969 9th10th11th12thBrian Lenihan2 July 19693 January 1973 13thMichael O'Kennedy3 January 197314 March 1973 13thPeter Barry14 March 19732 December 1976 14thTom Fitzpatrick2 December 19765 July 1977 14thMinister for Tourism and Transport 1977–1980NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentPádraig Faulkner5 July 197711 December 1979 15thGeorge Colley12 December 197925 January 1980 16thMinister for Transport 1980–1984NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentAlbert Reynolds25 January 198030 June 1981 16thPatrick Cooney30 June 19819 March 1982 17thJohn Wilson9 March 198214 December 1982 18thJim Mitchell14 December 19822 January 1984 19th
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 article on the Department of Transport.
Minister for the Public Service 1973–1987NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentRichie Ryan1 November 1973 5 July 1977 14thGeorge Colley5 July 197711 December 1979 15thMichael O'Kennedy12 December 1979 24 March 1980 16thGene Fitzgerald (1st time)24 March 198030 June 1981 16thLiam Kavanagh30 June 1981 9 March 1982 17thGene Fitzgerald (2nd time)9 March 198214 December 1982 18thJohn Boland14 December 1982 14 February 1986 19thRuairi Quinn14 February 1986 20 January 1987 19thJohn Bruton20 January 1987 10 March 1987 19thRay MacSharry10 March 198720 March 1987 20thMinister for Tourism and Transport 1987–1991NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentRay MacSharry20 March 198731 March 1987 20thJohn Wilson31 March 198712 July 1989 20thSéamus Brennan12 July 19897 February 1991 21stMinister for Tourism, Transport and Communications 1991–1993NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentSéamus Brennan7 February 199111 February 1992 21stMáire Geoghegan-Quinn11 February 199212 January 1993 22ndCharlie McCreevy12 January 199322 January 1993 23rdMinister for Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1997NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentBrian Cowen22 January 199315 December 1994 23rdMichael Lowry15 December 199430 November 1996 24thJohn Bruton 30 November 19963 December 1996 24thAlan Dukes3 December 199626 June 1997 24thMinister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentMary O'Rourke26 June 19976 June 2002 25thMinister for Transport 2002–2011NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentSéamus Brennan6 June 200229 September 2004 26thMartin Cullen29 September 200414 June 2007 26thNoel Dempsey14 June 200719 January 2011 27th28thPat Carey20 January 20118 March 2011 28thMinister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 2011–2020NameTerm of officePartyGovernmentLeo Varadkar9 March 201111 July 2014 29thPaschal Donohoe11 July 20146 May 2016 29thShane Ross6 May 201627 June 2020 30th31stMinister for Transport 2020–presentNameTerm of officePartyGovernmentEamon Ryan27 June 202023 January 2025 32nd33rd34thDarragh O'Brien23 January 2025Incumbent 35th Notes
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