Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (Irish: An Roinn Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide) is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and regulates, protects and develops the natural resources of Ireland. The head of the department is the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Department overview
Formed	26 August 1921
Jurisdiction	Government of Ireland
Headquarters	Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin 53.335849°N 6.234909°W / 53.335849; -6.234909
Employees	500
Minister responsible	Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications
Department executive	Oonagh Buckley, Secretary General
Website	Official website

Departmental team

The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are at Adelaide Road, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:

• Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications: Eamon Ryan, TD^[1]
  • Minister of State for Postal Policy: James Lawless, TD
  • Minister of State for Communications and the Circular economy: Ossian Smyth, TD
• Secretary General of the Department: Oonagh Buckley

Structure

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is subdivided into the following divisions:

• Climate – The Department has three major aims regarding climate change: To develop a competitive energy supply industry, to ensure security and reliability of energy supply, and to develop energy conservation and end-use efficiency.
• Communications – The core policy objective of the Communications Sector is to contribute to sustained macro-economic growth and competitiveness and ensure that the Republic of Ireland is best placed to avail of the emerging opportunities provided by the information and knowledge society, by promoting investment in state-of-the-art infrastructures, by providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment and by developing a leading edge research and development reputation in the information, communications and digital technologies.
• Natural Resources – This division is subdivided into three sectors: the Exploration and Mining Division, Petroleum Affairs Division, and the Geological Survey of Ireland.

Affiliated bodies

Among the State Agencies and other bodies affiliated to the Department in some way are:

• Commission for Regulation of Utilities
• Commission for Communications Regulation
• National Cyber Security Centre
• Digital Hub Development Agency
• National Digital Research Centre
• Geological Survey of Ireland
• Mining Board
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
• National Oil Reserves Agency
• Central and Regional Fisheries Boards
• Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (North/South body)

Among the state-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland under the aegis of the Minister are:

• Electricity Supply Board
• Bord na Móna
• EirGrid
• An Post
• Irish National Petroleum Corporation

History

The Department of Fisheries was created in 1921 during the Ministry of Dáil Éireann. It was given a statutory basis by the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, soon after the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. This act provided it with:^[2]

the administration and business generally of public services in connection with fisheries, including deep-sea fisheries, tidal waters fisheries, coastal fisheries, inland waters fisheries, and industries connected with or auxiliary to the same, and all powers duties and functions connected with the same, and shall include in particular the business powers, duties and functions of the branches and officers of the public services specified in the Seventh Part of the Schedule to this Act, and of which Department the head shall be, and shall be styled, an t-Aire Iascaigh or (in English) the Minister for Fisheries.

The Schedule assigned it with the duties of the following bodies:^[3]

• Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland—Fisheries Branch.
• Congested Districts Board for Ireland—Fisheries Branch, and Rural Industries Branch.
• The Conservators of Fisheries.

Alteration of name and transfer of functions

The name and functions of the department have changed several times by statutory instruments.

Date	Change
2 June 1924	Establishment of the Department of Fisheries[4]
22 July 1927	Transfer of Irish Land Commission from the Department of Agriculture[5]
1 September 1928	Renamed as the Department of Lands and Fisheries[6]
1 December 1933	Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture[7]
1 April 1934	Renamed as the Department of Lands Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture[8]
9 April 1957	Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture[9]
3 May 1965	Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture[10]
8 February 1977	Transfer of Lands to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries[11]
8 February 1977	Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries[12]
9 February 1977	Renamed as the Department of Fisheries[13]
19 February 1978	Renamed as the Department of Fisheries and Forestry[14]
18 February 1986	Transfer of Tourism from the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism[15]
18 February 1986	Renamed as the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry[16]
19 March 1987	Renamed as the Department of the Marine[17]
31 March 1987	Transfer of Shipping from the Department of Communications[18]
31 March 1987	Transfer of Tourism to the Department of Tourism and Transport[19]
31 March 1987	Transfer of Forestry and Wildlife to the Department of Energy[20]
11 July 1997	Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry[21]
12 July 1997	Renamed as the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources[22]
15 July 1997	Transfer of Mining from the Department of Public Enterprise[23]
1 October 1997	Transfer of Offshore Exploration from the Department of Public Enterprise[24]
18 June 2002	Transfer of Broadcasting from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands[25]
18 June 2002	Transfer of Communications from the Department of Public Enterprise[26]
19 June 2002	Renamed as the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources[27]
1 January 2004	Transfer of Forestry to Department of Agriculture and Food[28]
19 October 2007	Transfer of Fisheries to Department of Agriculture and Food[29]
20 October 2007	Renamed as the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources[30]
1 January 2008	Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland from the Department of Finance[31][32]
14 January 2015	Transfer of Worker Participation from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport[33]
1 January 2016	Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland to the Department of Justice and Equality[34]
22 July 2016	Transfer of Climate Action and Environment from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government[35]
23 July 2016	Renamed as the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment[36]
22 September 2020	Transfer of Broadcasting to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
22 September 2020	Renamed as the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

References

1. "Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications". Government of Ireland. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
2. Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, s. 1: Establishment of the Departments of State (No. 16 of 1924, s. 1). Enacted on 21 April 1924. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 November 2019.
3. Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, Schedule: Seventh Part (No. 16 of 1924, Schedule). Enacted on 21 April 1924. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 November 2019.
4. "Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (Commencement) Order 1924". Irish Statute Book. 30 May 1924. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
5. The Irish Land Commission (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1927 (S.R.O. No. 55 of 1927). Signed on 20 July 1927. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 January 2021.
6. Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1928 (Commencement) Order 1928 (S.R.O. No. 49 of 1928). Signed on 7 August 1928. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
7. Forestry (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1933 (S.R.O. No. 158 of 1933). Signed on 1 December 1933. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 January 2021.
8. Fisheries (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1934 (S.R.O. No. 40 of 1934). Signed on 27 March 1934. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Executive Council. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 August 2020.
9. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1957 (S.I. No. 67 of 1957). Signed on 2 April 1957. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 August 2020.
10. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1965 (S.I. No. 83 of 1965). Signed on 3 May 1965. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
11. Lands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 28 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
12. Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 30 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
13. Lands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 29 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
14. Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1978 (S.I. No. 195 of 1978). Signed on 18 February 1978. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
15. Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1986 (S.I. No. 42 of 1986). Signed on 18 February 1986. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
16. Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986 (S.I. No. 40 of 1986). Signed on 18 February 1986. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
17. Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 82 of 1987). Signed on 19 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
18. Communications (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 91 of 1987). Signed on 31 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
19. Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 95 of 1987). Signed on 31 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
20. Forestry and Wildlife (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 96 of 1987). Signed on 31 March 1987. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
21. Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 300 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
22. Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 301 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
23. Exploration and Mining (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 314 of 1997). Signed on 15 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
24. Petroleum and Offshore Exploration (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 429 of 1997). Signed on 30 September 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
25. Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 299 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 July 2020.
26. Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 300 of 2002). Signed on 30 September 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
27. Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 307 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
28. Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2003 (S.I. No. 691 of 2003). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 2 February 2024.
29. Sea Fisheries, foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 707 of 2007). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
30. Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 706 of 2007). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
31. Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007, s. 25: Amendment of Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001 (No. 37 of 2007, s. 25). Enacted on 31 October 2007. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 September 2020.
32. Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 730 of 2007). Signed on 1 November 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 September 2020.
33. Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1977 (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 11 of 2015). Signed on 14 January 2015. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 September 2020.
34. Ordnance Survey Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 637 of 2015). Signed on 1 December 2015. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 September 2020.
35. Climate Action and Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 393 of 2016). Signed on 19 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
36. Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 421 of 2016). Signed on 19 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.

External links

• Official website