Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)

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Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The leader of the opposition (Template:Langx) in Ireland is a Script error: No such module "Lang". term sometimes used to describe the politician who leads the largest party in the parliamentary opposition in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (the Irish parliament). In the Dáil, the leader of the opposition sits on the right-hand side of the Ceann Comhairle and directly opposite the Taoiseach. The role is not an official one and is not recognised in the Irish constitution, nor in legislation.

The leader of the opposition is, by convention, the leader of the largest political party in the Dáil that is not in government. Opposition leaders leading a political party with five members or more have full speaking rights under Dáil standing orders; smaller parties and independent politicians are allowed to speak less often.

Historically the two largest parties have nearly always been Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and so the position of leader of the opposition has alternated between them. However, immediately following Irish independence from the UK in 1922, the leader of the Labour Party acted as leader of the opposition as Sinn Féin, and later Fianna Fáil, refused to take their seats in Dáil Éireann. After the 2011 general election Fine Gael became the largest party in Dáil Éireann and the Labour Party for the first time became the second largest. However, since Labour and Fine Gael entered a coalition government, the third largest party, Fianna Fáil, led the opposition in the 31st Dáil.

To date there have been 18 Opposition Leaders, 10 of whom have served terms as Taoiseach. The leader of the opposition since 2025Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". is Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin, following the formation of a government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party on 27 June 2020. She is the first female Irish opposition leader and the second to come from a party other than Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, following Labour Party's Thomas Johnson in 1927.

Leaders of the opposition

  • Leaders who later became Taoiseach are indicated in bold.
Name
(Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Portrait Constituency Term of office Party TaoiseachTemplate:Refn
From To
Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][2] 		File:Éamon de Valera.jpg Clare 9 January 1922 [2] 8 June 1922 [3] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Sinn Féin (Anti-Treaty) style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Arthur Griffith
(1922)[4]
Thomas Johnson
(1872–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][5] 		File:Tomjohnson.jpg Dublin County 9 September 1922 [6] 11 August 1927 [7] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| W. T. Cosgrave
(1922–1932)[8][9]
Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][7] 		File:Éamon de Valera.jpg Clare 11 August 1927 [7] 9 March 1932 [10] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil
W. T. Cosgrave
(1880–1965)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][11] 		File:William Thomas Cosgrave.jpg Cork Borough 9 March 1932 [12] January 1944 [12][13] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Cumann na nGaedheal style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=4| Éamon de Valera
(1932–1948)[9][10][14]
style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3| Fine Gael
Thomas F. O'Higgins
(1890–1953)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:TF O'Higgins, 1933.png Leix–Offaly January 1944 9 June 1944
Richard Mulcahy
(1886–1971)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][15] 		File:Gen. Richard Mulcahy LCCN2014717121.jpg Tipperary 9 June 1944 18 February 1948
Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][14] 		File:Éamon de Valera.jpg Clare 18 February 1948 [14] 13 June 1951 [16] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John A. Costello
(1948–1951)[9][17]
John A. Costello
(1891–1976)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:John A. Costello, 1948.png Dublin South-East 13 June 1951 2 June 1954 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fine Gael style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Éamon de Valera
(1951–1954)[9][16][18]
Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][18] 		File:Éamon de Valera, President of Ireland, in 1960s (43915959314).jpg Clare 2 June 1954 [18] 20 March 1957 [19] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John A. Costello
(1954–1957)[9][17]
John A. Costello
(1891–1976)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:John A. Costello, 1948.png Dublin South-East 20 March 1957 21 October 1959 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=5| Fine Gael style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=5| Éamon de Valera
(1957–1959)[9][19][20]
Seán Lemass
(1959–1966)[9][20]
James Dillon
(1902–1986)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:James Dillon circa 1930s.jpg Monaghan 21 October 1959 21 April 1965
Liam Cosgrave
(1920–2017)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][21] 		File:Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave-Patricks Day 1976.jpg Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown 21 April 1965 [21] 14 March 1973 [22]
Jack Lynch
(1966–1973)[9][23]
Jack Lynch
(1917–1999)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][23] 		File:Jack Lynch, 1972 (cropped).jpg Cork City North-West 14 March 1973 5 July 1977 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Liam Cosgrave
(1973–1977)[9][22]
Garret FitzGerald
(1926–2011)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][24] 		File:Garret FitzGerald 1975 (cropped).jpg Dublin South-East 5 July 1977 30 June 1981 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Fine Gael style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Jack Lynch
(1977–1979)[9][23]
Charles Haughey
(1979–1981)[9]
Charles Haughey
(1925–2006)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:Charles Haughey, 1990.jpg Dublin North-Central 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Garret FitzGerald
(1981–1982)[9][25]
Garret FitzGerald
(1926–2011)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:Garret FitzGerald 1975 (cropped).jpg Dublin South-East 9 March 1982 14 December 1982 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fine Gael style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Charles Haughey
(1982)[9][26]
Charles Haughey
(1925–2006)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:Charles Haughey, 1990.jpg Dublin North-Central 14 December 1982 10 March 1987 [27] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Garret FitzGerald
(1982–1987)[9][25]
Alan Dukes
(born 1945)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:Alan Dukes, December 1996 (cropped).jpg Kildare 10 March 1987 20 November 1990 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3| Fine Gael style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3| Charles Haughey
(1987–1992)[9][27]
John Bruton
(1947–2024)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:John Bruton, February 2002 (cropped 02).jpg Meath 20 November 1990 15 December 1994
Albert Reynolds
(1992–1994)[9][28]
Bertie Ahern
(born 1951)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1] 		File:Bertie Ahern 1997 (cropped).jpg Dublin Central 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 [29] style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John Bruton
(1994–1997)[9][28]
John Bruton
(1947–2024)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][30] 		File:John Bruton, February 2002 (cropped 02).jpg Meath 26 June 1997 [30] 9 February 2001 [30][31] style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=4| Fine Gael style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=4| Bertie Ahern
(1997–2008)[9][29]
Michael Noonan
(born 1943)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][32] 		File:Michael Noonan, Nov 1996 (cropped).jpg Limerick East 9 February 2001 [31] 6 June 2002 [31]
Enda Kenny
(born 1951)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][33] 		File:Enda Kenny EPP 2014 (cropped).jpg Mayo 6 June 2002 9 March 2011 [34]
Brian Cowen
(2008–2011)[9][35]
Micheál Martin
(born 1960)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][36] 		File:Micheal Martin (official portrait) (cropped).jpg Cork South-Central 9 March 2011 [36] 27 June 2020 [37] rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fianna Fáil style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Enda Kenny
(2011–2017)[9][34]
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Leo Varadkar
(2017–2020)[9][38]
Mary Lou McDonald
(born 1969)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[1][39] 		File:Mary Lou McDonald in 2024.jpg Dublin Central 27 June 2020 [40] Incumbent rowspan=4 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Sinn Féin style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Micheál Martin
(2020–2022)[9][37]
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Leo Varadkar
(2022–2024)[41]
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Simon Harris
(2024–2025)
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Micheál Martin
(2025–present)[9][37]

Leaders of the second largest party in opposition

  • Leaders who later became Tánaiste are indicated in italics.
Name
(Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Portrait Constituency Term of office Party Leader of the Opposition
From To
Denis Gorey
(1874–1940)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Denis Gorey, 1931.jpg Carlow–Kilkenny 9 September 1922 May 1927 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Farmers' Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Thomas Johnson
(1922–1927)[5]
Michael Heffernan
(1885–1970)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Michael Heffernan TD, circa 1910s.png Tipperary May 1927 11 August 1927
Thomas Johnson
(1872–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Tomjohnson.jpg Dublin County 11 August 1927 11 October 1927 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3| Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Éamon de Valera
(1927–1932)[7]
Thomas J. O'Connell
(1882–1969)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Tom J. O'Connell, circa 1930s.jpg Mayo South 11 October 1927 9 March 1932
William Norton
(1900–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:William Norton circa 1927 to 1932.png Kildare 9 March 1932 8 February 1933 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| W. T. Cosgrave
(1932–1944)[11]
Frank MacDermot
(1886–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Frank MacDermot, 1933.jpg Roscommon 8 February 1933 8 September 1933 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | National Centre Party
William Norton
(1900–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:William Norton circa 1927 to 1932.png Kildare (1932–1937)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Carlow–Kildare (1937–1948)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		8 September 1933 7 January 1945 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3| Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=4|
Thomas F. O'Higgins
(1944)
Richard Mulcahy
(1944–1948)[15]
Joseph Blowick
(1903–1970)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Joseph Blowick, 1950 (cropped).jpg Mayo South 7 January 1945 18 February 1948 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Clann na Talmhan
None 18 February 1948 13 June 1951 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Éamon de Valera
(1948–1951)[14]
William Norton
(1900–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[42] 		File:William Norton, circa 1945.png Kildare 13 June 1951 2 June 1954 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John A. Costello
(1951–1954)
Seán MacBride
(1904–1988)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Seán MacBride circa 1947.jpg Dublin South-West 2 June 1954 20 March 1957 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Clann na Poblachta style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Éamon de Valera
(1954–1957)[18]
William Norton
(1900–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:William Norton, circa 1945.png Kildare 20 March 1957 2 March 1960 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=4| Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=4| John A. Costello
(1957–1959)
James Dillon
(1959–1965)
Brendan Corish
(1918–1990)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Brendan Corish 1949.png Wexford 2 March 1960 14 March 1973
Liam Cosgrave
(1965–1973)[21]
None 14 March 1973 5 July 1977 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Jack Lynch
(1973–1977)[23]
Frank Cluskey
(1930–1989)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Frank Cluskey, 1981 01 (cropped).jpg Dublin South-Central 5 July 1977 12 June 1981 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3| Garret FitzGerald
(1977–1981)[24]
None 12 June 1981 17 June 1981
Michael O'Leary
(1936–2006)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Michael O'Leary, September 1979 (cropped).jpg Dublin North-Central 17 June 1981 30 June 1981 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Labour Party
Joe Sherlock
(1930–2007)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Joe Sherlock, circa 2002 01.jpg Cork East 30 June 1981 9 March 1982 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Sinn Féin the Workers Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Charles Haughey
(1981–1982)
Michael O'Leary
(1936–2006)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Michael O'Leary, September 1979 (cropped).jpg Dublin Central 9 March 1982 1 November 1982 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Garret FitzGerald
(1982)
Dick Spring
(born 1950)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Dick Spring 1995 (headshot).jpg Kerry North 1 November 1982 14 December 1982
Tomás Mac Giolla
(1924–2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Tomás Mac Giolla (cropped).jpg Dublin West 14 December 1982 21 December 1985 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Workers' Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Charles Haughey
(1982–1987)
Desmond O'Malley
(1939–2021)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Desmond O'Malley, 1979 (election box crop).tif Limerick East 21 December 1985 29 June 1989 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Progressive Democrats
style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=6| Alan Dukes
(1987–1990)
Dick Spring
(born 1950)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Dick Spring 1995 (headshot).jpg Kerry North 29 June 1989 14 December 1992 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Labour Party
John Bruton
(1990–1994)
Desmond O'Malley
(1939–2021)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Desmond O'Malley, 1979 (election box crop).tif Limerick East 14 December 1992 12 October 1993 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Progressive Democrats
Mary Harney
(born 1953)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Mary Harney cropped.jpg Dublin South-West 12 October 1993 18 November 1994
Dick Spring
(born 1950)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Dick Spring 1995 (headshot).jpg Kerry North 18 November 1994 15 December 1994 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Labour Party
Mary Harney
(born 1953)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Mary Harney cropped.jpg Dublin South-West 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Progressive Democrats style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Bertie Ahern
(1994–1997)
Dick Spring
(born 1950)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Dick Spring 1995 (headshot).jpg Kerry North 26 June 1997 13 November 1997 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=6| Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=6| John Bruton
(1997–2001)[30]
Ruairi Quinn
(born 1946)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Ruairi Quinn 2011 cropped.jpg Dublin South-East 13 November 1997 25 October 2002
Michael Noonan
(2001–2002)[32]
Enda Kenny
(2002–2011)[33]
Pat Rabbitte
(born 1949)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Pat Rabbitte, May 2015 (cropped).jpg Dublin South-West 25 October 2002 6 September 2007
Eamon Gilmore
(born 1955)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Eamon Gilmore TD 2014 (cropped).jpg Dún Laoghaire 6 September 2007 9 March 2011
Gerry Adams
(born 1948)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Gerry Adams 2015.jpg Louth 9 March 2011 10 February 2018 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Sinn Féin style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Micheál Martin
(2011–2020)[36]
Mary Lou McDonald
(born 1969)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Mary Lou McDonald, 2018.jpg Dublin Central 10 February 2018 27 June 2020
Alan Kelly
(born 1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Alan Kelly (official portrait) 2020 (cropped).png Tipperary 27 June 2020 24 March 2022 style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Labour Party style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=2| Mary Lou McDonald
(2020–present)[39]
Ivana Bacik
(born 1968)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Ivana Bacik 2021 (cropped).jpg Dublin Bay South 24 March 2022 Incumbent

See also

Notes

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References

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Template:Irish Leaders of the Opposition Script error: No such module "Navbox".

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