The Minister for Defence is in charge of the Department of Defence in the Republic of Ireland. Its primary concerns are ensuring a secure and stable environment for economic growth and development, see also Military of Ireland.

Irish Defence Ministers

• Richard Mulcahy 1919
• Cathal Brugha 1919-1922
• Richard Mulcahy 1922-1924
• W.T. Cosgrave 1924
• Peter Hughes 1924-1927
• Desmond FitzGerald 1927-1932
• Frank Aiken 1932-1939
• Oscar Traynor 1939-1948
• Thomas F. O'Higgins 1948-1951
• Seán MacEoin 1951
• Oscar Traynor 1951-1954
• Seán MacEoin 1954-1957
• Kevin Boland 1957-1961
• Gerald Bartley 1961-1965
• Michael Hilliard 1965-1969
• Jim Gibbons 1969-1970
• Jerry Cronin 1970-1973
• Paddy Donegan 1973-1976
• Oliver J. Flanagan 1976-1977
• Bobby Molloy 1977-1979
• Pádraig Faulkner 1979-1980
• Sylvester Barret 1980-1981
• James Tully 1981-1982
• Paddy Power 1982
• Patrick Cooney 1982-1986
• Paddy O'Toole 1986-1987
• Michael J. Noonan 1987-1989
• Brian Lenihan 1989-1990
• Charles Haughey 1990-1991 (acting)
• Brendan Daly 1991
• Vincent Brady 1991-1992
• John Wilson 1992-1993
• David Andrews 1993-1994
• Hugh Coveney 1994-1995
• Seán Barret 1995-1997
• David Andrews 1997
• Michael Smith 1997-present

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