Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, officially styled as the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach

Taoiseach

The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

and Defence with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, is the Chief Whip

Chief Whip

The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...

of the Government of Ireland and is the most senior Minister of State

Minister of State (Ireland)

A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....

. The role of the Whip is primarily that of the disciplinarian for all government parties, that is to ensure that all deputies

Teachta Dála

A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

, including ministers, attend for Dáil Business and follow the government line on all issues. The current Government Chief Whip is Paul Kehoe

Paul Kehoe

Paul Kehoe is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency since 2002, and is the current Government Chief Whip.-Early and private life:...

, TD

Teachta Dála

Attendance at Government meetings

The Chief Whip is normally the only Minister of State

Minister of State (Ireland)

A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....

to attend Government meetings, but does have a vote.

Preparation of weekly brief for Taoiseach on legislation in preparation

Before each Dáil Session letters are sent to all Ministers to see what legislation or other business their Department expects to place before the Dáil. A weekly report on what stage Bills are at is given to the Taoiseach

Taoiseach

. During the Order of Business the Taoiseach is often queried about what legislation is promised. The weekly report shows what Bills are promised and gives an expected date of publication of the Bill.

Scheduling and monitoring of Dáil business

Once a Bill has been published and is placed on the Dáil Order Paper

Order Paper

The Order Paper is a daily publication in the Westminster system of government which lists the business of parliament for that day's sitting. A separate paper is issued daily for each house of the legislature....

the staff in the Whip's Office keep in touch with Minister's Private Secretaries about when they wish to have their bill taken in the Dáil - sometimes the Whip's Office have to insist that a Bill is taken on a certain day, particularly when there is not much business for the House. Every Wednesday the Private Secretary prepares an agenda (called a schedule - see example) for each sitting day of the following week. This is discussed at a meeting of all Whips at their Wednesday night meeting. At the moment there are five Whips: the Government Chief Whip, the Green Party Whip, and the Whips from the Opposition Parties

Opposition Front Bench (Ireland)

Fine Gael is the largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Fine Gael leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. -Fine Gael Front Bench:...

, Fine Gael

Fine Gael

Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...

, the Labour Party

Labour Party (Ireland)

The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...

and the group of Independent Deputies (including Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...

Operation of the pairing system

A pair is an arrangement whereby a Government Deputy's name is linked with an Opposition Deputy in the event of a Vote arising. The practice is that under such an arrangement neither Deputy votes in any Division arising while the pairing agreement is valid. Because it is obviously so important for the Government to maintain its majority in the Dáil Chamber the pairing arrangements must be attended to very carefully. If a member cannot attend a notice explaining their absence must be sent to the Chief Whip as early as possible.

Leinster House accommodation for political parties

The Minister has to ensure that facilities and services in Leinster House

Leinster House

Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...

are satisfactory for members and staff. The Opposition Whips liaise with him on matters such as office equipment which they may require.

Chairing Legislation Committee

The Chief Whip chairs the weekly meeting of the Legislation Committee. This Committee meets to discuss the progress of Bills in Departments and tries to ensure that there is always enough business for the Dáil and Seanad. The meeting is attended by the Attorney General, a Parliamentary Draftsman, Programme Manager to the Taoiseach, Programme Manager to the Tánaiste

Tánaiste

The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...

, Principal Officer in this Department (who looks after legislation) and the Chief Whip.

History

The office was first created in 1922 as Parliamentary Secretary

Parliamentary Secretary

A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...

to the President of the Executive Council

President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State

The President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State was the head of government or prime minister of the Irish Free State which existed from 1922 to 1937...

. On 29 December 1937 under the terms of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland

Constitution of Ireland

The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...

, the office of Parliamentary Secretary to the President was changed to that of Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach. Following the enactment of the "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 1977", the office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach was replaced with the office of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach.

Parliamentary Secretary to the President 1922–1937

Daniel McCarthy

Daniel McCarthy was an Irish politician. McCarthy was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála at the 1921 elections for the Dublin South constituency. He subsequently went on to support the Anglo-Irish Treaty, becoming a member of Cumann na nGaedheal when the party was founded....

James Dolan (Irish politician)

James Nicholas Dolan was an Irish politician. Dolan was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Member of Parliament at the 1918 general election for Leitrim. He was elected again in 1921 for the constituency of Leitrim–Sligo and subsequently went on to support the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Dolan...

Eamonn Duggan

Eamonn or Edmund S. Duggan was an Irish lawyer, nationalist and politician, a member of Sinn Féin and then Cumann na nGaedheal....

Gerald Boland

Gerald Boland was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A founder-member of the party, he served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Justice.-Early life:...

|9 March 1932
|7 February 1933
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...

|-
|5.
|Patrick Little

Patrick Little

Patrick J. "P. J." Little was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A founder-member of the party, he served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Posts and Telegraphs....

|8 February 1933
|29 December 1937
! style="background-color: " |
| Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|colspan="6"|

Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach 1937–1977

Patrick Little

|29 December 1937
|26 September 1939
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|7.
|Eamonn Kissane

Eamonn Kissane

Eamonn Kissane was an Irish teacher, barrister and Fianna Fáil politician, who served as a Teachta Dála for 19 years and then as a senator for 14 years.- Career :...

|2 July 1943
|18 February 1948
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|8.
|Liam Cosgrave

Liam Cosgrave

Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981....

|18 February 1948
|13 June 1951
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|9.
|Donnchadh Ó Briain

Donnchadh Ó Briain

Donnchadh Ó Briain was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1933 general election. He served as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for various Limerick constituencies until 1969 when he retired from politics...

(1st time)
|13 June 1951
|2 June 1954
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|10.
|Denis J. O'Sullivan

Denis J. O'Sullivan

Denis J. O'Sullivan was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at his second attempt at the 1951 general election. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for various Cork constituencies until losing his seat at the 1965 general election. He served in the Second...

|2 June 1954
|20 March 1957
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|
|Donnchadh Ó Briain

Donnchadh Ó Briain

(2nd time)
|20 March 1957
|11 October 1961
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|12.
|Michael Carty

Michael Carty

Michael Carty was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. Born in Loughrea, County Galway to Lawrence and Josephine Carty, he was the eldest of seven children. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1957 general election. He served as a Teachta Dála for various Galway constituencies until 1973 when...

|21 April 1965
|2 July 1969
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|13.
|Desmond O'Malley

Desmond O'Malley

Desmond Joseph "Des" O'Malley is a former Irish politician.Born in Limerick, O'Malley was raised in a local political dynasty that had a strong association with Fianna Fáil. Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1968, he quickly became a trusted confidante of Taoiseach Jack Lynch...

|2 July 1969
|7 May 1970
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|14.
|David Andrews
|8 May 1970
|14 March 1973
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|15.
|John Kelly

John M. Kelly (politician)

John Maurice Kelly was an Irish legal academic and senior Fine Gael politician.-Education:Kelly received his primary and secondary education at St Conleth's College in Dublin 4 and at the Glenstal Abbey boarding school in County Limerick, respectively.He attended University College Dublin between...

|14 March 1973
|5 July 1977
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

Fianna Fáil

|-
|colspan="6"|

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1978–present

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|18.
|Seán Moore

Seán Moore (Irish politician)

Seán Moore was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.Seán Moore was born in Dublin in 1913 and grew up in Irishtown, Dublin. He was educated at the Vocational School in Ringsend and University College Dublin where he received a diploma in Social and Economic Science...

|13 December 1979
|30 June 1981
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|19.
|Gerry L'Estrange

Gerry L'Estrange

Gerry L'Estrange was an Irish Fine Gael politician, who sat in the Oireachtas for nearly thirty years, as a Senator and then as a TD....

|30 June 1981
|11 November 1981
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|20.
|Fergus O'Brien

Fergus O'Brien

Fergus O'Brien is a former Irish Fine Gael politician, and a former Teachta Dála .Fergus O'Brien was born in Dublin in 1930. He was educated at the College of Technology at Bolton Street before becoming involved in politics. O'Brien was elected to Dáil Éireann on his second attempt at the 1973...

(1st time)
|11 November 1981
|9 March 1982
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|21.
|Bertie Ahern

Bertie Ahern

Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....

|9 March 1982
|14 December 1982
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|22.
|Seán Barrett

Seán Barrett (Fine Gael)

Seán Barrett is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann since March 2011. He served as Minister for Defence from 1995 to 1997, and later he was party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency.- Early life :He was...

(1st time)
|14 December 1982
|13 February 1986
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|
|Fergus O'Brien

Fergus O'Brien

(2nd time)
|13 February 1986
|10 March 1987
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|23.
|Vincent Brady

Vincent Brady

Vincent Brady is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served under Taoiseach Charles Haughey as Government Chief Whip and Minister for Defence .Vincent Brady was born in Dublin in 1936...

|10 March 1987
|14 November 1991
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|24.
|Dermot Ahern

Dermot Ahern

Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...

|15 November 1991
|11 February 1992
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|25.
|Noel Dempsey

Noel Dempsey

Noel Dempsey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Meath and Meath West constituencies from 1987 to 2011...

|11 February 1992
|15 December 1994
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|
|Seán Barrett

Seán Barrett (Fine Gael)

(2nd time)
|15 December 1994
|23 May 1995
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|26.
|Jim Higgins
|24 May 1995
|26 June 1997
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

|-
|27.
|Séamus Brennan

Séamus Brennan

Séamus Brennan was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for Dublin South. He served as a Minister of State, Minister for Tourism and Transport , Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications , Minister for Education , Minister for Transport , Minister for Social and...

|26 June 1997
|6 June 2002
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|28.
|Mary Hanafin

Mary Hanafin

Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...

|6 June 2002
|29 September 2004
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|29.
|Tom Kitt

Tom Kitt

Tom Kitt is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency from 1987 to 2011. He also served as Government Chief Whip from 2004–08.-Early and private life:...

|29 September 2004
|7 May 2008
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|30.
|Pat Carey

Pat Carey

Pat Carey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North West constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010–11, and also as Government Chief Whip from 2008–10.-Early and private life:Carey...

|7 May 2008
|23 March 2010
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|31.
|John Curran

John Curran (Irish politician)

John Curran is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Mid West constituency from 2002 to 2011, and served as Government Chief Whip from 2010–11....

|23 March 2010
|9 March 2011
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

|-
|32.
|Paul Kehoe

Paul Kehoe

Paul Kehoe is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency since 2002, and is the current Government Chief Whip.-Early and private life:...

|9 March 2011
|Incumbent
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

Attendance at Government meetings

Preparation of weekly brief for Taoiseach on legislation in preparation

Scheduling and monitoring of Dáil business

Operation of the pairing system

Leinster House accommodation for political parties

Chairing Legislation Committee

History

Parliamentary Secretary to the President 1922–1937

Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach 1937–1977

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1978–present

See also