Minister for Health (Ireland)

Stephen Donnelly 2016

Minister for Health (Ireland)

The Minister for Health (Irish: An tAire Sláinte) is a senior government position in Ireland. The Minister heads the Department of Health and is responsible for the formulation and implementation of health policy in Ireland. The current Minister for Health is Stephen Donnelly, who has held the position since June 2020.

Responsibilities

The Minister for Health oversees the Health Service Executive (HSE), which is the body responsible for delivering public health and social care services in Ireland. The Minister's responsibilities include:

• Developing health policy
• Overseeing the implementation of health services
• Managing the health budget
• Ensuring the provision of healthcare services
• Regulating the healthcare sector

History

The position of Minister for Health was established in 1947, replacing the earlier role of Minister for Local Government and Public Health. The first Minister for Health was James Ryan. Since its creation, the role has been pivotal in shaping Ireland's healthcare system, including the establishment of the HSE in 2005.

Notable Ministers

Several notable politicians have served as Minister for Health, including:

• Noel Browne, who is remembered for his efforts to eradicate tuberculosis in Ireland.
• Mary Harney, who served as Minister for Health and Children and was instrumental in health service reforms.
• Leo Varadkar, who later became Taoiseach.

Department of Health

The Department of Health is the government department responsible for health policy, health services, and public health. It works closely with the HSE and other health agencies to ensure the delivery of health services.

Health Service Executive

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is the body responsible for providing health and social care services to the public. It was established in 2005 and operates under the direction of the Minister for Health.

Related Positions

The Minister for Health often works in conjunction with other government positions, including:

• Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform
• Minister for Social Protection

See Also

• Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland
• Department of Health (Ireland)
• Health Service Executive
• Government of Ireland
• Stephen Donnelly (politician)