Irish government cabinet minister
Reports to | Taoiseach |
---|
Seat | Dublin, Ireland |
---|
Appointer | President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach |
---|
Inaugural holder | James Ryan |
---|
Formation | 22 January 1947 |
---|
Website | Official website |
The Minister for Health (Irish: An tAire Sláinte) 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 Stephen Donnelly, TD.[1] He is assisted by:
- Mary Butler, TD – Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People; and
- Colm Burke, TD – Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.
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.[2] 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
Denotes acting Minister
References
- ^ "List of Ministers and Ministers of State", Government of Ireland, 10 April 2024, archived from the original on 7 August 2020, retrieved 19 April 2024
- ^ Fergal Bowers (1 January 2003). "Heath – review of the year". IrishHealth.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
External links
- Official website
- Health Information and Quality Authority
Healthcare | |
---|
Government bodies | ROI | - Minister for Health
- Department of Health
|
---|
|
---|
Medical education | |
---|
Epidemics | |
---|
Categories | - Medical doctors
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Teaching hospitals
- Almshouses
- Health professionals
- Drug-use
- Food and drink
- Doping
- Water supply and sanitation
|
---|
See also | |
---|
- Category
- Commons
|
|
---|
Political posts | - Taoiseach (prime minister)
- Tánaiste (deputy prime minister)
|
---|
Ministries | - Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Defence
- Education
- Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Environment, Climate and Communications
- Finance
- Foreign Affairs
- Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Health
- Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Justice
- Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform
- Rural and Community Development
- Social Protection
- Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Transport
|
---|
Former ministries | |
---|
Other | |
---|