Minister for Defence (Ireland)

Minister for Defence
Incumbent
Micheál Martin
since 17 December 2022
Department of Defence
Member of
SeatNewbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
NominatorTaoiseach
AppointerPresident of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holderRichard Mulcahy
Formation22 January 1919
WebsiteDepartment of Defence

The Minister for Defence (Irish: An tAire Cosanta) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Defence. The current Minister for Defence is Micheál Martin, TD.[1] He is also Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Department of Defence headquarters are in Newbridge, County Kildare

The department is responsible for the Irish Defence Forces. The Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924 assigned the minister the additional title of Commander-in-Chief as the Chairman of the Council of Defence. The Defence Act 1954 removed this title, as a result of the reconstitution of the Council of Defence. The President of Ireland, a largely ceremonial role, is considered the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.[2] In practice, the Minister acts on the President's behalf and reports to the Irish Government. The Minister for Defence is advised by the Council of Defence on the business of the Department of Defence.[3]

The Minister is assisted by the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD.

  1. ^ "List of Ministers and Ministers of State". Government of Ireland. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  2. ^ Defence Act (No. 18 of 1954). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  3. ^ Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, s. 8: Constitution of the Council of Defence (No. 16 of 1924, s. 8), "the Minister for Defence [...] shall be assisted by a Council of Defence". Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 June 2020.

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