Minister for Finance (Ireland)
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The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) and is considered one of the most important members of the Irish government. The current Minister for Finance is Brian Cowen, TD. He is assisted by Tom Parlon, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.
The department and minister are occasionally called the Irish Exchequer (or simply Exchequer); a term previously used under the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Overview
The Minister for Finance holds the second most important ministerial position in the Irish Cabinet after that of the Taoiseach. He or she is in charge of the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais), responsible for all financial matters in the Republic of Ireland. Due to the importance of the cabinet post, the Minister for Finance must be a member of Dáil Éireann. One of the most important aspects of the Minister's work is the creation of the annual Budget which is announced to the Dáil in a speech delivered on the first Wednesday of December. In the Budget the Minister details the Government's spending programme for the coming year. In modern Irish politics it is considered a pre-requisite to hold the position of Minister for Finance prior to becoming Taoiseach. Ministers who held the Finance portfolio and went on to become Taoiseach include Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton and Bertie Ahern.
Ministers for Finance 1919-present
{| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="CCCCCC" ! width="1%"| ! width="2%"|# ! width="15%"|Name ! width="16%"|Took Office ! width="16%"|Left Office ! width="18%"| Party |- |bgcolor="(acting) |July 17, 1922 |September 21, 1923 |Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin |- |bgcolor=
(1st time) |March 9, 1932 |September 16, 1939 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
(2nd time) |June 13, 1951 |June 2, 1954 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
(1st time) |May 9, 1970 |March 14, 1973 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
(2nd time) |July 5, 1977 |December 11, 1979 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
(1st time) |June 30, 1981 |March 9, 1982 |Fine Gael |- |bgcolor=
(1st time) |March 9, 1982 |December 14, 1982 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
(2nd time) |February 14, 1986 |March 10, 1987 |Fine Gael |- |bgcolor=
(2nd time) |March 10, 1987 |November 24, 1988 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
(acting) |November 7, 1991 |November 14, 1991 |Fianna Fáil |- |bgcolor=
The asterisk * shows Ministers who held both the Finance and Public Service portfolios at the same time.
See also
External link
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