Department of State (Ireland)

A Department of State (Irish: Roinn Stáit) of Ireland is a department or ministry of the Government of Ireland. The head of such a department is called a Minister of the Government; prior to 1977 such ministers were called Ministers of State, a term now used for junior (non-cabinet) ministers. Most members of the government are Ministers of the Government, though there may occasionally be a minister without portfolio. The law regarding the departments of state and ministers of the government is detailed in the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 and amendments. The Constitution of Ireland also has significant legal effect on functions and structures.

There are sixteen individual departments of state in the Irish Government. Each department is led by a Minister of the Government, who is appointed by the President on the nomination of the Taoiseach and approval of Dáil Éireann, and cover matters that require direct political oversight. For all departments, the Minister in question is simply known as Minister for... and is a member of the Cabinet, a cabinet-level minister without a department is called a minister without portfolio but currently there is none of such standing. A Minister of the Government is generally supported by a team of junior ministers, officially called Ministers of State, and may delegate powers to such officials in accordance with law.

Under the terms of the Constitution, there may be no fewer than seven, and no more than fifteen members of the cabinet, though there is no restriction on individual Ministers being responsible for more than one department (this is the case at present where Simon Coveney is responsible for both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Defence; and where in the final days of the Government of the 30th Dáil some Ministers were responsible for as many as three departments).

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