The Department has responsibilities in the areas of:
- Communications development - promotion of the provision and development of competitive high quality and world class services in the communications, electronic and mobile commerce sectors.
- Business and technology - focusing on new business and technology applications and the development of policies, initiatives and legislation as appropriate.
- Regulatory affairs - the development of effective policies for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and management of the radio frequency spectrum.
- Postal services - the development of an effective policy for the Irish postal sector based on open market principles.
- A wide range of roles and functions in the areas of maritime transport, public safety, environmental protection and coastal zone.
- The Petroleum Affairs Division aims to:
- ---maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production of indigenous oil and gas resources;
- ---ensure that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users.
- The Exploration and Mining Division of the Department is charged with:
- ---applying the Minerals Development Act to minerals exploration and development;
- ---encouraging the early identification and responsible development by private investors of the Nation's minerals deposits in accordance with best international practice;
- ---enhancing the attractiveness of Ireland for international and national minerals investment by active promotional measures.
#
| Name
| Took Office
| Left Office
| Party
|
|---|
| Finian Lynch | April 3 , 1930 | March 9 , 1932 | Cumann Na NGaedhael
| | 3. | P.J. Ruttledge | March 9 , 1932 | February 8 , 1933 | Fianna Fáil
| | 4. | Joseph Connolly | February 8 , 1933 | May 29 , 1936 | Fianna Fáil
| | 5. | Frank Aiken | June 3 , 1936 | November 11 , 1936 | Fianna Fáil
| | 6. | Gerald Boland | November 11 , 1936 | July 21 , 1937 | Fianna Fáil
|
#
| Name
| Took Office
| Left Office
| Party
|
|---|
| Gerald Boland | July 21 , 1937 | September 8 , 1939 | Fianna Fáil
| | 7. | Tomás Ó Deirg ''(1st time)'' | September 8 , 1939 | July 2 , 1943 | Fianna Fáil
| | 8. | Seán Moylon | July 2 , 1943 | February 18 , 1948 | Fianna Fáil
| | 9. | Joseph Blowick ''(1st time)'' | February 18 , 1948 | March 7 , 1951 | Clann Na Talmhan
| | Tomás Ó Deirg ''(2nd time)'' | June 13 , 1951 | June 2 , 1954 | Fianna Fáil
| | Joseph Blowick ''(2nd time)'' | June 2 , 1954 | March 20 , 1957 | Clann Na Talmhan
| | 10. | Erskine Childers | March 20 , 1957 | July 23 , 1959 | Fianna Fáil
| | 11. | Micheál Ó Móráin | July 23 , 1959 | March 26 , 1968 | Fianna Fáil
| | 12. | Pádraig Faulkner | March 26 , 1968 | July 2 , 1969 | Fianna Fáil
| | 13. | Seán Flanagan | July 2 , 1969 | March 14 , 1973 | Fianna Fáil
| | 14. | Tom Fitzpatrick ''(1st time)'' | March 14 , 1973 | December 2 , 1976 | Fine Gael
| | 15. | Paddy Donegan | December 2 , 1976 | February 9 , 1977 | Fine Gael
|
#
| Name
| Took Office
| Left Office
| Party
|
|---|
| Brian Lenihan | July 15 , 1978 | December 11 , 1979 | Fianna Fáil
| | 17. | Paddy Power | December 12 , 1979 | June 30 , 1981 | Fianna Fáil
| | Tom Fitzpatrick ''(2nd time)'' | June 30 , 1981 | March 9 , 1982 | Fine Gael
| | 18. | Brendan Daly ''(1st time)'' | March 9 , 1982 | December 14 , 1982 | Fianna Fáil
| | 19. | Paddy O'Toole ''(1st time)'' | December 14 , 1982 | February 14 , 1986 | Fine Gael
| | 20. | Liam Kavanagh | February 14 , 1986 | February 19 , 1986 | Labour
|
#
| Name
| Took Office
| Left Office
| Party
|
|---|
| Brendan Daly ''(2nd time)'' | March 20 , 1987 | July 12 , 1989 | Fianna Fáil
| | 21. | John P. Wilson | July 12 , 1989 | February 11 , 1992 | Fianna Fáil
| | 22. | Michael Woods ''(1st time)'' | February 11 , 1992 | January 12 , 1993 | Fianna Fáil
| | 23. | David Andrews 1 | January 12 , 1993 | December 15 , 1994 | Fianna Fáil
| | 24. | Hugh Coveney 1 | December 15 , 1994 | May 23 , 1995 | Fine Gael
| | 25. | Seán Barret 1 | May 23 , 1995 | June 26 , 1997 | Fine Gael
| | Michael Woods ''(2nd time)'' | June 26 , 1997 | July 12 , 1997 | Fianna Fáil
|
#As ''Minister for Defence and the Marine''.
|
