Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

{{Short description|Irish government department}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox government agency

|agency_name = Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

|type = Department

|image = Dept of Climate, Energy & Environment.png

|logo_width =

|logo_caption =

|seal =

|seal_width =

|seal_caption =

|formed = 26 August 1921

|preceding2 =

|dissolved =

|superseding =

|jurisdiction = Government of Ireland

|headquarters = Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin

|coordinates = {{coord|53.335849|-6.234909|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|employees = 500

|budget =

|minister1_name = Darragh O'Brien

|minister1_pfo =
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

|chief1_name = Oonagh Buckley

|chief1_position =
Secretary General

|child1_agency =

|website = {{official website}}

|footnotes =

}}

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment ({{langx|ga|An Roinn Aeráide, Fuinnimh agus Comhshaoil}}) 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 Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Departmental team

The official headquarters and ministerial offices are at Tom Johnson House, Beggar's Bush, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:

Overview

The department has responsibilities in the areas of:

=Energy=

  • To develop a competitive energy supply industry
  • To ensure security and reliability of energy supply
  • To develop energy conservation and end-use efficiency.

=Communications=

  • Communications development – promotion of the provision and development of competitive high quality and world class services in the communications, electronic and mobile commerce sectors.
  • Business and technology – focusing on new business and technology applications and the development of policies, initiatives and legislation as appropriate.
  • Regulatory affairs – the development of effective policies for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and management of the radio frequency spectrum.
  • Postal services – the development of an effective policy for the Irish postal sector based on open market principles.
  • It is seen as a successor to the old Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

=Natural Resources=

  • The Petroleum Affairs Division aims to:
  • maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production of indigenous oil and gas resources;
  • ensure that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users.
  • The Exploration and Mining Division of the department is charged with:
  • applying the Minerals Development Act to minerals exploration and development;
  • encouraging the early identification and responsible development by private investors of the Nation's minerals deposits in accordance with best international practice;
  • enhancing the attractiveness of Ireland for international and national minerals investment by active promotional measures.
  • The Geological Survey of Ireland is:
  • Ireland's National Earth Science Agency, and is responsible for providing geological advice and information.

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 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:

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

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:{{Cite ISB|year=1924|parl=ifs|num=16|section=1|title=Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924|stitle=Establishment of the Departments of State|date=21 April 1924|access-date=3 November 2019}}

{{blockquote|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:{{Cite ISB|year=1924|num=16|schedule=y|title=Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924|parl=ifs|stitle=Seventh Part|date=21 April 1924|access-date=3 November 2019}}

  • 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.

class="wikitable"
Date

! Change

2 June 1924

|Establishment of the Department of Fisheries{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1924/sro/804/made/en/print|title=Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (Commencement) Order 1924|date=30 May 1924|access-date=14 September 2019|website=Irish Statute Book}}

22 July 1927

|Transfer of Irish Land Commission from the Department of Agriculture{{Cite ISB |year=1927|type=sro|parl=ifs|num=55|title=The Irish Land Commission (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1927|date=20 July 1927|access-date=17 January 2021}}

1 September 1928

|Renamed as the Department of Lands and Fisheries{{Cite ISB |year=1928|type=sro|num=49|title=Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1928 (Commencement) Order 1928|parl=ifs|date=7 August 1928|access-date=14 September 2019}}

1 December 1933

|Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture{{Cite ISB |year=1933|type=sro|num=158|title=Forestry (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1933|parl=ifs|date=1 December 1933|access-date=17 January 2021}}

1 April 1934

|Renamed as the Department of Lands
Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture{{Cite ISB |year=1934|type=sro|num=40|parl=ifs|title=Fisheries (Re-Distribution of Public Services) Order 1934|date=27 March 1934|access-date=14 August 2020}}

9 April 1957

|Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture{{Cite ISB |year=1957|type=si |num=67|title=Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1957|date=2 April 1957|access-date=14 August 2020}}

3 May 1965

|Transfer of Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture{{Cite ISB |year=1965|type=si |num=83|title=Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1965|date=3 May 1965|access-date=14 September 2019}}

8 February 1977

|Transfer of Lands to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries{{Cite ISB |year=1977|type=si |num=28|title=Lands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977|date=8 February 1977|access-date=14 September 2019}}

8 February 1977

|Transfer of Fisheries from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries{{Cite ISB |year=1977|type=si |num=30|title=Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977|date=8 February 1977|access-date=14 September 2019}}

9 February 1977

|Renamed as the Department of Fisheries{{Cite ISB |year=1977|type=si |num=29|title=Lands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977|date=8 February 1977|access-date=14 September 2019}}

19 February 1978

|Renamed as the Department of Fisheries and Forestry{{Cite ISB |year=1978|type=si |num=195|title=Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1978|date=18 February 1978|access-date=14 September 2019}}

18 February 1986

|Transfer of Tourism from the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism{{Cite ISB |year=1986|type=si |num=42|title=Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1986|date=18 February 1986|access-date=14 September 2019}}

18 February 1986

|Renamed as the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry{{Cite ISB |year=1986|type=si |num=40|title=Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986|date=18 February 1986|access-date=14 September 2019}}

19 March 1987

|Renamed as the Department of the Marine{{Cite ISB |year=1987|type=si |num=82|title=Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1987|date=19 March 1987|access-date=14 September 2019}}

31 March 1987

|Transfer of Shipping from the Department of Communications{{Cite ISB |year=1987|type=si |num=91|title=Communications (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987|date=31 March 1987|access-date=14 September 2019}}

31 March 1987

|Transfer of Tourism to the Department of Tourism and Transport{{Cite ISB |year=1987|type=si |num=95|title=Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987|date=31 March 1987|access-date=14 September 2019}}

31 March 1987

|Transfer of Forestry and Wildlife to the Department of Energy{{Cite ISB |year=1987|type=si |num=96|title=Forestry and Wildlife (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987|date=31 March 1987|access-date=14 September 2019}}

11 July 1997

|Transfer of Forestry from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry{{Cite ISB |year=1997|type=si |num=300|title=Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997|date=8 July 1997|access-date=14 September 2019}}

12 July 1997

|Renamed as the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources{{Cite ISB |year=1997|type=si |num=301|title=Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997|date=8 July 1997|access-date=14 September 2019}}

15 July 1997

|Transfer of Mining from the Department of Public Enterprise{{Cite ISB |year=1997|type=si |num=314|title=Exploration and Mining (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997|date=15 July 1997|access-date=14 September 2019}}

1 October 1997

|Transfer of Offshore Exploration from the Department of Public Enterprise{{Cite ISB |year=1997|type=si |num=429|title=Petroleum and Offshore Exploration (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997|date=30 September 1997|access-date=14 September 2019}}

18 June 2002

|Transfer of Broadcasting from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands{{Cite ISB |year=2002|type=si |num=299|title=Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002|date=18 June 2002|access-date=18 July 2020}}

18 June 2002

|Transfer of Communications from the Department of Public Enterprise{{Cite ISB |year=2002|type=si |num=300|title=Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002|date=30 September 1997|access-date=14 September 2019}}

19 June 2002

|Renamed as the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources{{Cite ISB |year=2002|type=si |num=307|title=Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997|date=18 June 2002|access-date=14 September 2019}}

1 January 2004

|Transfer of Forestry to Department of Agriculture and Food{{Cite ISB |year=2003|type=si |num=691|title=Forestry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2003|date=9 October 2007|access-date=2 February 2024}}

19 October 2007

|Transfer of Fisheries to Department of Agriculture and Food{{Cite ISB |year=2007|type=si |num=707|title=Sea Fisheries, foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2007|date=9 October 2007|access-date=14 September 2019}}

20 October 2007

|Renamed as the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources{{Cite ISB |year=2007|type=si |num=706|title=Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997|date=9 October 2007|access-date=14 September 2019}}

1 January 2008

|Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland from the Department of Finance{{Cite ISB |year=2007|num=37|section=25|title=Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 |stitle=Amendment of Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001|date=31 October 2007|access-date=17 September 2020}}{{Cite ISB |year=2007|type=si |num=730|title=Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007|date=1 November 2007|access-date=17 September 2020}}

14 January 2015

|Transfer of Worker Participation from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport{{Cite ISB |year=2015|type=si |num=11|title=Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1977 (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2015|date=14 January 2015|access-date=21 September 2020}}

1 January 2016

|Transfer of Ordnance Survey Ireland to the Department of Justice and Equality{{Cite ISB |year=2015|type=si |num=637|title=Ordnance Survey Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2015|date=1 December 2015|access-date=17 September 2020}}

22 July 2016

|Transfer of Climate Action and Environment from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government{{Cite ISB |year=2016|type=si |num=393|title=Climate Action and Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2016|date=19 July 2016|access-date=14 September 2019}}

23 July 2016

|Renamed as the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment{{Cite ISB |year=2016|type=si |num=421|title=Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016|date=19 July 2016|access-date=14 September 2019}}

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

{{Reflist}}