Minister of State (Ireland)

An Irish Minister of State is a junior minister of non-cabinet rank, attached to one or more government departments. Unlike Irish cabinet Ministers who are appointed by the President of Ireland on the Advice of the Taoiseach, with the prior nomination of Dáil Éireann, Ministers of State are appointed by the Government (cabinet), though in reality the Government usually chooses those proposed by the Taoiseach.

The post of Minister of State was created by an Act of the Oireachtas in 1978. The position was created to replace the post of Parliamentary Secretary, the junior rank of ministers which had existed from 1924 until 1978.

In 1978 the number of Ministers of State was limited to 15. In 1995 it was raised to 17.