MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES (IRELAND)

The 'Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources' () is the senior minister at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Irish Government.
The current Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is Eamon Ryan, TD. He is assisted by:

★ Tony Killeen, TD – Minister of State with special responsibility for Environment and Energy.

Contents

Overview

Communications

Natural Resources

Energy

Broadcasting

Marine

List of office-holders

Minister for Fisheries 1921–1930

Minister for Lands and Fisheries 1930–1937

Minister for Lands 1937–1977

Minister for Fisheries 1977–1978

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry 1978–1986

Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry 1986–1987

Minister for Marine 1987–1997

Minister for Marine and Natural Resources 1997–2002

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 2002–2007

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 2007–present

Footnotes

See also

External links

Overview

The Department has responsibilities in the areas of:

Communications

★ Communications development – promotion of the provision and development of competitive high quality and world class services in the communications, electronic and mobile commerce sectors.

★ Business and technology – focusing on new business and technology applications and the development of policies, initiatives and legislation as appropriate.

★ Regulatory affairs – the development of effective policies for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and management of the radio frequency spectrum.

★ Postal services – the development of an effective policy for the Irish postal sector based on open market principles.

★ It is seen as a replacement to the old Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

Natural Resources

★ The Petroleum Affairs Division aims to:

★
★ maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production of indigenous oil and gas resources;

★
★ ensure that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users.

★ The Exploration and Mining Division of the Department is charged with:

★
★ applying the Minerals Development Act to minerals exploration and development;

★
★ encouraging the early identification and responsible development by private investors of the Nation's minerals deposits in accordance with best international practice;

★
★ enhancing the attractiveness of Ireland for international and national minerals investment by active promotional measures.

★ The Geological Survey of Ireland is:

★
★ Ireland's National Earth Science Agency, and is responsible for providing geological advice and information.

Energy

★ To develop a competitive energy supply industry

★ To ensure security and reliability of energy supply

★ To develop energy conservation and end-use efficiency

Broadcasting

The Broadcasting Division aims to:

★ Develop a policy and legislative framework to facilitate the provision of quality broadcasting services in Ireland

★ To optimise the opportunities presented by the emerging technologies for the provision of new Irish-based broadcasting services.

Marine

The Department has a wide range of roles and functions in the areas of:

★ Public safety

★ Environmental protection

★ Coastal zone

List of office-holders

Minister for Fisheries 1921–1930

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	1.	Seán Etchingham	August 26, 1921	January 9, 1922	Sinn Féin
	2.	Finian Lynch	December 14, 1922	April 3, 1930	Cumann na nGaedhael

Minister for Lands and Fisheries 1930–1937

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Finian Lynch	April 3, 1930	March 9, 1932	Cumann na nGaedhael
	3.	P. J. Ruttledge	March 9, 1932	February 8, 1933	Fianna Fáil
	4.	Joseph Connolly	February 8, 1933	May 29, 1936	Fianna Fáil
	5.	Frank Aiken	June 3, 1936	November 11, 1936	Fianna Fáil
	6.	Gerald Boland	November 11, 1936	July 21, 1937	Fianna Fáil

Minister for Lands 1937–1977

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Gerald Boland	July 21, 1937	September 8, 1939	Fianna Fáil
	7.	Tomás Ó Deirg ''(1st time)''	September 8, 1939	July 2, 1943	Fianna Fáil
	8.	Seán Moylan	July 2, 1943	February 18, 1948	Fianna Fáil
	9.	Joseph Blowick ''(1st time)''	February 18, 1948	March 7, 1951	Clann na Talmhan
		Tomás Ó Deirg ''(2nd time)''	June 13, 1951	June 2, 1954	Fianna Fáil
		Joseph Blowick ''(2nd time)''	June 2, 1954	March 20, 1957	Clann na Talmhan
	10.	Erskine H. Childers	March 20, 1957	July 23, 1959	Fianna Fáil
	11.	Micheál Ó Móráin	July 23, 1959	March 26, 1968	Fianna Fáil
	12.	Pádraig Faulkner	March 26, 1968	July 2, 1969	Fianna Fáil
	13.	Seán Flanagan	July 2, 1969	March 14, 1973	Fianna Fáil
	14.	Tom Fitzpatrick ''(1st time)''	March 14, 1973	December 2, 1976	Fine Gael
	15.	Paddy Donegan	December 2, 1976	February 9, 1977	Fine Gael

Minister for Fisheries 1977–1978

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Paddy Donegan	February 9, 1977	July 5, 1977	Fine Gael
	16.	Brian Lenihan	July 5, 1977	July 15, 1978	Fianna Fáil

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry 1978–1986

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Brian Lenihan	July 15, 1978	December 11, 1979	Fianna Fáil
	17.	Paddy Power	December 12, 1979	June 30, 1981	Fianna Fáil
		Tom Fitzpatrick ''(2nd time)''	June 30, 1981	March 9, 1982	Fine Gael
	18.	Brendan Daly ''(1st time)''	March 9, 1982	December 14, 1982	Fianna Fáil
	19.	Paddy O'Toole ''(1st time)''	December 14, 1982	February 14, 1986	Fine Gael
	20.	Liam Kavanagh	February 14, 1986	February 19, 1986	Labour Party

Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry 1986–1987

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Liam Kavanagh	February 19, 1986	January 20, 1987	Labour Party
		Paddy O'Toole ''(2nd time)''	January 20, 1987	March 10, 1987	Fine Gael
		Brendan Daly ''(2nd time)''	March 10, 1987	March 20, 1987	Fianna Fáil

Minister for Marine 1987–1997

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Brendan Daly ''(2nd time)''	March 20, 1987	July 12, 1989	Fianna Fáil
	21.	John Wilson	July 12, 1989	February 11, 1992	Fianna Fáil
	22.	Michael Woods ''(1st time)''	February 11, 1992	January 12, 1993	Fianna Fáil
	23.	David Andrews[1]	January 12, 1993	December 15, 1994	Fianna Fáil
	24.	Hugh Coveney	December 15, 1994	May 23, 1995	Fine Gael
	25.	Seán Barrett	May 23, 1995	June 26, 1997	Fine Gael
		Michael Woods ''(2nd time)''	June 26, 1997	July 12, 1997	Fianna Fáil

Minister for Marine and Natural Resources 1997–2002

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Michael Woods ''(2nd time)''	July 12, 1997	January 27, 2000	Fianna Fáil
	26.	Frank Fahey	January 27, 2000	June 6, 2002	Fianna Fáil

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 2002–2007

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	27.	Dermot Ahern	June 6, 2002	September 29, 2004	Fianna Fáil
	28.	Noel Dempsey	September 29, 2004	June 14, 2007	Fianna Fáil

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 2007–present

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	29.	Eamon Ryan	June 14, 2007	''Incumbent''	Green Party

Footnotes

1. As Minister for Defence and the Marine.

See also

★ Irish cabinets since 1919

External links

★ Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources