The Minister for Health ( ga, An tAire Sláinte) is a senior
minister in the
Government of Ireland
The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The governm ...
and leads the
Department of Health
A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...
. The Minister for Health is responsible for
healthcare in the Republic of Ireland
Health care in Ireland is delivered through public and private healthcare. The public health care system is governed by the Health Act 2004, which established a new body to be responsible for providing health and personal social services to ...
and related services.
The current Minister for Health is
Stephen Donnelly
Stephen Donnelly (born 14 December 1975) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Health since June 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wicklow constituency since 2011.
On his election to Dáil Éireann, D ...
,
TD. He is assisted by:
*
Mary Butler, TD –
Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People; and
*
Frank Feighan, TD –
Minister of State for Public Health, Well Being and 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 complete control over all 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
Brian Bernard Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011.
Cowen was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984, for the constituency of Laois–Offaly and served in a ...
referred to the Department of Health as
Angola
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because there were landmines everywhere.
A number of scandals, mostly due to
medical negligence
Medical malpractice is a legal cause of action that occurs when a medical or health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, deviates from standards in their profession, thereby causing injury or death to a patient. The neglige ...
, 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 the health services. The main policy sections of the department, together with their responsibilities, are:
Child Care
*Child care legislation
*National Children's Office
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
References
External links
Department of HealthHealth Information and Quality Authority
{{DEFAULTSORT:Health
Government ministers of the Republic of Ireland
Lists of government ministers of Ireland
Ministries established in 1947
Minister
1947 establishments in Ireland