Minister for Labour (Ireland)

The Minister for Labour (Irish: Aire Oibreachais[1]) was originally a position in the Government of the Irish Republic, the self-declared state which was established in 1919 by Dáil Éireann, the parliamentary assembly made up of the majority of Irish MPs elected in the 1918 general election. Constance Markievicz was the first person to hold the post. The office did not continue into the Executive Council of the Irish Free State.

Department of Equality and Law Reform
Roinn Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí
Department overview
Formed12 July 1966
Preceding agencies
Dissolved8 July 1997
Superseding agencies
JurisdictionIreland
Minister responsible
  • Minister for Equality and Law Reform

The later office of Minister for Labour was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1966 as a member of the Government of Ireland.

In 1993, the minister's functions were transferred to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment and was succeeded by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, a position which existed during the Fianna Fáil–Labour coalition led by Albert Reynolds (1993–94) and the Fine Gael–Labour–Democratic Left coalition (1994–97) led by John Bruton. Its primary functions were in the area of civil and family law reform (including divorce legislation) and equality legislation. Under both governments, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform was Labour Party TD Mervyn Taylor, although Máire Geoghegan-Quinn served as Minister between November and December 1994, after Labour had left the coalition with Fianna Fáil.

In 1997, the minister's functions were transferred to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Department of Equality and Law Reform ceased to exist but was not formally abolished. The functions formerly exercised by the Minister for Labour are now exercised by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The functions formerly exercised by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform are now exercised by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Minister for Justice.

History

Alteration of name and transfer of functions
Date Change
13 July 1966 Establishment of the Department of Labour[2][3]
13 July 1966 Transfer of Labour from the Department of Industry and Commerce[4]
3 October 1966 Transfer of Labour from the Department of Social Welfare[5]
20 January 1993 Transfer of Labour to the Department of Industry and Commerce[6]
21 January 1993 Renamed as the Department of Equality and Law Reform[7]
3 February 1993 Transfer of Civil law reform, civil legal aid and the family mediation service from the Department of Justice[8]
8 July 1997 Transfer of Equality and Law Reform to the Department of Justice[9]

Legislation introduced by the Department of Equality and Law Reform

The following legislation was introduced by the Department:

  • Matrimonial Home Bill 1993 (struck down by the Supreme Court)
  • Interpretation (Amendment) Act 1993 - providing for gender inclusive language in Acts of the Oireachtas
  • Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act 1993 - providing for international enforcement of civil judgments
  • Maintenance Act 1994 - EC enforcement of maintenance orders
  • Maternity Protection Act 1994 - implemented EC law on maternity leave
  • Stillbirths Registration Act 1994 - provided for registration of stillborn children for the first time in Irish law
  • Adoptive Leave Act 1995 - extended maternity leave-type rights to adoptive parents
  • Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 - put civil legal aid scheme on statutory basis
  • Family Law Act 1995 - reformed law relating to judicial separation
  • Occupiers Liability Act 1995 - provided for reduced liability to trespassers and recreational users
  • Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland 1995 - provided for divorce in the Constitution
  • Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 1996 - provided for increased damages for fatal injuries cases
  • Domestic Violence Act 1996 - extended remedies in domestic violence cases
  • Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 - introduced divorce on a statutory basis
  • Powers of Attorney Act 1996 - provided for enduring powers of attorney
  • Registration of Births Act 1996 - provided for gender neutral birth certificates
  • Family Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 - miscellaneous amendments.

The following legislation had originally been drafted by the Department but later enacted under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform:

  • Children Act 1997 - extending family law entitlements of natural fathers and grandparents and other amendments
  • Employment Equality Act 1998
  • Equal Status Act 2000.

List of office-holders

Minister for Labour 1919–1922

Name Term of office Party Government(s)[lower-alpha 1]
Constance Markievicz 2 April 1919 9 January 1922 Sinn Féin 2nd DM • 3rd DM
Joseph McGrath 11 January 1922 9 September 1922 Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) 4th DM • 1st PG
Patrick Hogan (acting) 17 July 1922 9 September 1922 Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) 1st PG

Minister for Labour 1966–1993

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Patrick Hillery 13 July 1966 2 July 1969 Fianna Fáil 12th
Joseph Brennan 2 July 1969 14 March 1973 Fianna Fáil 13th
Michael O'Leary 14 March 1973 5 July 1977 Labour 14th
Gene Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 2] 5 July 1977 16 December 1980 Fianna Fáil 15th • 16th
Tom Nolan 16 December 1980 30 June 1981 Fianna Fáil 16th
Liam Kavanagh[lower-alpha 2] 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Labour 17th
Gene Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 2] 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Fianna Fáil 18th
Liam Kavanagh[lower-alpha 2] 14 December 1982 13 December 1983 Labour 19th
Ruairi Quinn[lower-alpha 2] 13 December 1983 20 January 1987 Labour 19th
Gemma Hussey 20 January 1987 10 March 1987 Fine Gael 19th
Bertie Ahern 10 March 1987 14 November 1991 Fianna Fáil 20th • 21st
Michael O'Kennedy 14 November 1991 11 February 1992 Fianna Fáil 21st
Brian Cowen 11 February 1992 12 January 1993 Fianna Fáil 22nd
Mervyn Taylor 12 January 1993 21 January 1993 Labour 23rd

Minister for Equality and Law Reform 1993–1997

Name Term of office Party Government(s)
Mervyn Taylor 21 January 1993 17 November 1994 Labour 23rd
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn[lower-alpha 3] 18 November 1994 15 December 1994 Fianna Fáil 23rd
Mervyn Taylor 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 Labour 24th
John O'Donoghue[lower-alpha 3] 26 June 1997 8 July 1997 Fianna Fáil 25th
Notes
  1. DM – Dáil Ministry; PG – Provisional Government;
  2. Also Minister for the Public Service
  3. Also Minister for Justice

Minister of State at the Department of Labour 1978–1993}

Under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, the government may appoint a member of the Oireachtas to act as a Minister of State in a department. The Minister of State did not hold cabinet rank.

Name Term of office Party Responsibilities Government
George Birmingham 16 December 1982 13 February 1986 Fine Gael Youth Affairs 19th
Enda Kenny 13 February 1986 10 March 1987 Fine Gael Youth Affairs

References
  1. "THE NEW MINISTRY. – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Friday, 26 August 1921". Houses of the Oireachtas.
  2. "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1966". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  3. "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1966 (Appointed Day) Order 1966". Irish Statute Book. 12 July 1966. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  4. "Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1966". Irish Statute Book. 12 July 1966. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  5. "Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1966". Irish Statute Book. 20 September 1966. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  6. "Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993". Irish Statute Book. 20 January 1993. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  7. "Labour (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993". Irish Statute Book. 20 January 1993. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  8. "Justice (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1993". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. "Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
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