Minister for Finance (Ireland) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister for Finance
Incumbent Jack Chambers since 26 June 2024
Department of Finance
Member of	Government of Ireland Eurogroup Council of the European Union Dáil Éireann
Reports to	Taoiseach
Seat	Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin, Ireland
Appointer	President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holder	Eoin MacNeill
Formation	22 January 1919

The Minister for Finance (Irish: An tAire Airgeadais) is a very important minister in the Government of Ireland. This person leads the Department of Finance. Their main job is to manage all the money matters for the country. They are seen as the second most important person in the Government of Ireland, right after the Taoiseach.

The person holding this job right now is Jack Chambers, who is a TD. He gets help from another minister called Minister of State Neale Richmond, who is also a TD.

Understanding the Minister for Finance Role

Government Buildings in Dublin is where the Department of Finance is located.

The Minister for Finance has one of the most important jobs in the Irish Cabinet. Only the Taoiseach has a more senior position. This minister is in charge of the Department of Finance. This department handles all money-related issues for Ireland.

The Irish Constitution says that the Minister for Finance must be a member of Dáil Éireann. This is also true for the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. Many people who have been Minister for Finance later became Taoiseach. Some examples include Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen.

Sometimes, people call the department and the minister the Irish Exchequer. This name was used a long time ago for similar roles.

What is the Annual Budget?

One of the Minister's biggest tasks is creating the yearly Budget. This is a plan for how the government will spend money in the coming year. The Minister announces this plan to the Dáil in a special speech. This speech must happen before October 15th. This date is set by an agreement called the Two-Pack agreement.

The budget includes a few key parts:

• A financial statement to the Dáil. This explains the government's money situation.
• A list of changes to the budget. This shows how much money will be gained or spent.
• Statistics about the budget. These are numbers that help explain the plan.
• Financial resolutions. These are official decisions about money.

Ministers for Finance Since 1919

This section lists all the people who have served as Minister for Finance since 1919.

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