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Brian Cowen, TD, current Minister for Finance
The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) and is considered one of the most important members of the Irish government. The current Minister for Finance is Brian Cowen, TD. He is assisted by Tom Parlon, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.
The department and minister are occasionally called the Irish Exchequer (or simply Exchequer); a term previously used under the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[edit] Overview
The Minister for Finance holds the second most important ministerial position in the Irish Cabinet after that of the Taoiseach. He or she is in charge of the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais), responsible for all financial matters in the Republic of Ireland. Due to the importance of the cabinet post, the Minister for Finance must be a member of Dáil Éireann. One of the most important aspects of the Minister's work is the creation of the annual Budget which is announced to the Dáil in a speech delivered on the first Wednesday of December. In the Budget the Minister details the Government's spending programme for the coming year. In modern Irish politics it is considered a pre-requisite to hold the position of Minister for Finance prior to becoming Taoiseach. Ministers who held the Finance portfolio and went on to become Taoiseach include Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton and Bertie Ahern.
[edit] Ministers for Finance 1919-present
|
# |
Name |
Took Office |
Left Office |
Party |
|
1. |
Eoin MacNeill |
January 22, 1919 |
April 1, 1919 |
Sinn Féin |
|
2. |
Michael Collins |
April 2, 1919 |
August 22, 1922 |
Sinn Féin |
|
3. |
W.T. Cosgrave
(acting) |
July 17, 1922 |
September 21, 1923 |
Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin |
|
4. |
Ernest Blythe |
September 21, 1923 |
March 9, 1932 |
Cumann na nGaedhael |
|
5. |
Seán MacEntee
(1st time) |
March 9, 1932 |
September 16, 1939 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
6. |
Seán T. O'Kelly |
September 16, 1939 |
June 14, 1945 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
7. |
Frank Aiken |
June 19, 1945 |
February 18, 1948 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
8. |
Patrick McGilligan |
February 18, 1948 |
June 13, 1951 |
Fine Gael |
|
|
Seán MacEntee
(2nd time) |
June 13, 1951 |
June 2, 1954 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
9. |
Gerard Sweetman |
June 2, 1954 |
March 20, 1957 |
Fine Gael |
|
10. |
James Ryan |
March 20, 1957 |
April 21, 1965 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
11. |
Jack Lynch |
April 21, 1965 |
November 10, 1966 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
12. |
Charles Haughey |
November 10, 1966 |
May 7, 1970 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
13. |
George Colley
(1st time) |
May 9, 1970 |
March 14, 1973 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
14. |
*Richie Ryan |
March 14, 1973 |
July 5, 1977 |
Fine Gael |
|
|
*George Colley
(2nd time) |
July 5, 1977 |
December 11, 1979 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
15. |
*Michael O'Kennedy |
December 12, 1979 |
December 16, 1980 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
16. |
*Gene FitzGerald |
December 16, 1980 |
June 30, 1981 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
17. |
John Bruton
(1st time) |
June 30, 1981 |
March 9, 1982 |
Fine Gael |
|
18. |
Ray MacSharry
(1st time) |
March 9, 1982 |
December 14, 1982 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
19. |
Alan Dukes |
December 14, 1982 |
February 14, 1986 |
Fine Gael |
|
|
*John Bruton
(2nd time) |
February 14, 1986 |
March 10, 1987 |
Fine Gael |
|
|
*Ray MacSharry
(2nd time) |
March 10, 1987 |
November 24, 1988 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
20. |
Albert Reynolds |
November 24, 1988 |
November 7, 1991 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
|
Charles Haughey
(acting) |
November 7, 1991 |
November 14, 1991 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
21. |
Bertie Ahern |
November 14, 1991 |
December 15, 1994 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
22. |
Ruairi Quinn |
December 15, 1994 |
June 26, 1997 |
Labour Party |
|
23. |
Charlie McCreevy |
June 26, 1997 |
September 29, 2004 |
Fianna Fáil |
|
24. |
Brian Cowen |
September 29, 2004 |
Current Incumbent |
Fianna Fáil |
The asterisk * shows Ministers who held both the Finance and Public Service portfolios at the same time.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
