Minister for Health (Ireland)

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Infobox official post The Minister for Health (Template:Langx) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Health. The Minister for Health is responsible for healthcare in Ireland and related services.

The current Minister for Health is Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD. She is assisted by:

History

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 control of policy regarding health care provision in Ireland. In the past, it was common for the minister to also hold the position of Minister for Social Welfare.

In recent years, and especially since the tenure of Michael Noonan in 1994–1997, being appointed as minister has become somewhat of a "poisoned chalice" in government circles and a portfolio to be avoided by aspiring politicians, during his tenure Brian Cowen referred to the Department of Health as Angola because there were landmines everywhere.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A number of scandals, mostly due to medical negligence, have meant that the minister immediately becomes identified with the scandal. For instance, the Hepatitis C scandal, the withholding of baby organs without parental consent or knowledge, the Michael Neary saga in Drogheda and other high-profile medical scandals have dogged the minister and department. Additionally the minister has to deal with logistic issues not seen in other departments such as strikes, shortages and queues which are all too familiar in clinics and hospitals around the country.

Overview

The Minister's duties include the creation and assessment of policy for health services. The main policy sections of the department, together with their responsibilities, are:

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

List of office-holders

Template:Legend

Minister for Health 1947–1997

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
James Ryan (1st time)Template:Efn 22 January 1947 18 February 1948 Template:Party name with colour 4th
Noël Browne 18 February 1948 11 April 1951 Template:Party name with colour 5th
John A. Costello Template:Small 12 April 1951 13 June 1951 Template:Party name with colour 5th
James Ryan (2nd time)Template:Efn 13 June 1951 2 June 1954 Template:Party name with colour 6th
Tom O'Higgins 2 June 1954 20 March 1957 Template:Party name with colour 7th
Seán MacEnteeTemplate:Efn 20 March 1957 21 April 1965 Template:Party name with colour 8thTemplate:•9thTemplate:•10th
Donogh O'Malley 21 April 1965 13 July 1966 Template:Party name with colour 11th
Seán Flanagan 13 July 1966 2 July 1969 Template:Party name with colour 12th
Erskine H. Childers 2 July 1969 14 March 1973 Template:Party name with colour 13th
Brendan CorishTemplate:Efn 14 March 1973 5 July 1977 Template:Party name with colour 14th
Charles HaugheyTemplate:Efn 5 July 1977 11 December 1979 Template:Party name with colour 15th
Michael Woods (1st time)Template:Efn 12 December 1979 30 June 1981 Template:Party name with colour 16th
Eileen DesmondTemplate:Efn 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Template:Party name with colour 17th
Michael Woods (2nd time)Template:Efn 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Template:Party name with colour 18th
Barry DesmondTemplate:Efn 14 December 1982 20 January 1987 Template:Party name with colour 19th
John BolandTemplate:Efn 20 January 1987 10 March 1987 Template:Party name with colour 19th
Rory O'Hanlon 10 March 1987 14 November 1991 Template:Party name with colour 20thTemplate:•21st
Mary O'Rourke 14 November 1991 11 February 1992 Template:Party name with colour 21st
John O'Connell 11 February 1992 12 January 1993 Template:Party name with colour 22nd
Brendan Howlin 12 January 1993 17 November 1994 Template:Party name with colour 23rd
Michael Woods (3rd time)Template:Efn 17 November 1994 15 December 1994 Template:Party name with colour 23rd
Michael Noonan 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 Template:Party name with colour 24th

Minister for Health and Children 1997–2011

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Brian Cowen 26 June 1997 27 January 2000 Template:Party name with colour 25th
Micheál Martin 27 January 2000 29 September 2004 Template:Party name with colour 25thTemplate:•26th
Mary Harney 29 September 2004 19 January 2011 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | PD / IndTemplate:Efn 26thTemplate:•27thTemplate:•28th
Mary CoughlanTemplate:Efn 20 January 2011 9 March 2011 Template:Party name with colour 28th

Minister for Health 2011–present

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
James Reilly 9 March 2011 11 July 2014 Template:Party name with colour 29th
Leo Varadkar 11 July 2014 6 May 2016 Template:Party name with colour 29th
Simon Harris 6 May 2016 27 June 2020 Template:Party name with colour 30thTemplate:•31st
Stephen Donnelly 27 June 2020 23 January 2025 Template:Party name with colour 32ndTemplate:•33rd Template:•34th
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill 23 January 2025 Incumbent Template:Party name with colour 35th
Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Health in Ireland {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}}

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Minister_for_Health_(Ireland)&oldid=566964"