The Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Irish: Aire Stáit ag an Roinn Cosanta) is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Defence of the Government of Ireland. The post supports the senior Minister for Defence. The position is usually, but not currently, held jointly with that of the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, who is the government Chief Whip. The Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank (and does not have a vote) but does attend cabinet meetings as a "super junior" minister. The position was created on 1 January 1978, replacing the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.