Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Ireland)

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Aire Ealaíon Spóirt agus Turasóireachta) is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in the Government of Ireland.

The current minister is Martin Cullen, TD. He is assisted by:

• Martin Mansergh, TD – Minister of State for the Arts.

Overview

The Minister for Economic Planning & Development was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1977 The title was renamed Minister for Energy by order in 1980 and again in 1993 the title changed to Minister for Tourism and Trade. Several more title changes occurred, the current title was created on 6 June 2002 with the formation of the Government of the 29th Dáil — is primarily charged with policy-making in the areas of Arts, Sport, Tourism and Culture.

Arts

Formulation, development and evaluation of policy and structures to promote and foster the practice and appreciation of the creative and interpretative arts and to encourage the development of the Irish film industry; enabling the national cultural institutions, as integral elements of the national culture, to preserve, protect and present for the benefit of present and future generations our moveable heritage and cultural assets.

Sport

Formulation, development and evaluation of sport policy (the implementation of which in the main is a matter for the Irish Sports Council); overseeing major sports projects, including the National Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown; developing proposals for the provision of a national stadium; the administration of the Sports Capital and the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programmes.

Tourism

Facilitating the continued development by the tourism industry of an economic and environmentally sustainable and spatially balanced tourism sector, through formulating monitoring and reviewing a range of supporting policies and programmes, particularly within the framework of the National Development Plan and North/South Co-operation.

Culture

Creating an environment enabling the National Cultural Institutions to flourish through the provision of financial resources and an appropriate policy framework. The National Cultural Institutions include: National Archives of Ireland, National Concert Hall, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Chester Beatty Library, Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Ireland.

List of office-holders

Minister for Economic Planning & Development 1977–1980
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	1.	Martin O'Donoghue	8 July 1977	11 December 1979	Fianna Fáil
	2.	Michael O'Kennedy	12 December 1979	21 January 1980	Fianna Fáil
Minister for Energy 1980–1981
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Michael O'Kennedy	21 January 1980	22 January 1980	Fianna Fáil
	3.	George Colley	22 January 1980	30 June 1981	Fianna Fáil
	4.	Michael O'Leary	30 June 1981	21 August 1981	Labour Party
Minister for Industry & Energy 1981–1983
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Michael O'Leary	21 August 1981	9 March 1982	Labour Party
	5.	Albert Reynolds (1st time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982	Fianna Fáil
	6.	John Bruton	14 December 1982	13 December 1983	Fine Gael
	7.	Dick Spring	13 December 1983	17 December 1983	Labour Party
Minister for Energy 1983–1993
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Dick Spring	17 December 1983	20 January 1987	Labour Party
	8.	Michael Noonan	20 January 1987	10 March 1987	Fine Gael
	9.	Ray Burke	10 March 1987	24 November 1988	Fianna Fáil
	10.	Michael Smith	24 November 1988	12 July 1989	Fianna Fáil
	11.	Bobby Molloy	12 July 1989	4 November 1992	Progressive Democrats
		Albert Reynolds (2nd time)	4 November 1992	12 January 1993	Fianna Fáil
	12.	Brian Cowen	12 January 1993	22 January 1993	Fianna Fáil
Minister for Tourism & Trade 1993–1997
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	13.	Charlie McCreevy	22 January 1993	15 December 1994	Fianna Fáil
	14.	Enda Kenny	15 December 1994	26 June 1997	Fine Gael
	15.	Jim McDaid	26 June 1997	12 July 1997	Fianna Fáil
Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation 1997–2002
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
		Jim McDaid	12 July 1997	6 June 2002	Fianna Fáil
Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism 2002–present
#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	16.	John O'Donoghue	6 June 2002	14 June 2007	Fianna Fáil
	17.	Séamus Brennan	14 June 2007	6 May 2008	Fianna Fáil
	18.	Martin Cullen	7 May 2008	Incumbent	Fianna Fáil

See also

• Irish cabinets since 1919

External links

• Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism