Minister for Finance (Ireland)

The Irish Minister for Finance is the second most important ministerial position in the Irish Cabinet after that of the Taoiseach. It is currently held by Brian Cowen, TD. He is assisted by one Minister of State, Tom Parlon, TD. The Minister of State has overall responsibility for the Office of Public Works. The Minister is responsible for all financial matters in the Republic of Ireland. The Minister for Finance must be a member of Dáil Éireann if he is to serve. One of the most important aspects for the Minister is the creation of the annual Budget which is delivered to Dáil Éireann in a speech on the first Wednesday of December. In the Budget the Minister reveals the Government's spending programme for the coming year.

The Department of Finance has a central role in implementing Government policy, in particular the Programme for Government, and in advising and supporting the Minister for Finance and the Government on the economic and financial management of the State and the overall management and development of the public sector. According to the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 the Department of Finance is responsible for ".... the administration and business generally of the public finance of Ireland and all powers, duties and functions connected with the same, including in particular, the collection and expenditure of the revenues of Ireland from whatever source arising...."

There are a number of divisions within the Department of Finance. They are:

• Banking, Finance and International Division - this Division deals with the raising and provision of money for State purpose.
• Budget and Economic Division - deals with budgetary policy, taxation policy, incomes policy, economic forecasting and analysis and demand management.
• Public Expenditure Division - to establish and review short-term and medium-term current and capital public expenditure targets.
• Personnel and Remuneration Division - advises the Government on general policy on pay and conditions and in particular on such policy in relation to the public sector.
• Organisation, Management and Training Division - this Division has overall responsibility for the management and development of the civil service.
• Corporate Services Division - is responsible also for co-ordinating the Department's strategic management process.

List of Irish Ministers for Finance

#	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	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
21.	Bertie Ahern	November 14, 1991	December 15, 1994	Fianna Fáil
22.	Ruairí Quinn	December 15, 1994	June 26, 1997	Labour
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.

See also

• Department of Finance
• Office of Public Works