Taoiseach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Prime minister of Ireland)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Infobox official post

Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The TaoiseachTemplate:Efn is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland.Template:Efn The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the office-holder must retain the support of a majority in the Dáil to remain in office.

The Irish word Template:Wikt-lang means "chief" or "leader", and was adopted in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland as the title of the "head of the Government or Prime Minister".Template:Efn It is the official title of the head of government in both English and Irish, and is not used for the prime ministers of other countries, who are instead referred to in Irish by the generic term Script error: No such module "Lang"..Template:Efn The phrase an Taoiseach is sometimes used in an otherwise English-language context, and means the same as "the Taoiseach".[1]

The incumbent Taoiseach is Micheál Martin, TD, leader of Fianna Fáil, who took office on 23 January 2025, following the 2024 general election and an agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and independent TDs.[2]

Overview

Template:Refimprove section Under the Constitution of Ireland, the Taoiseach is nominated by a simple majority of the voting members of Dáil Éireann.[3] The Taoiseach is then formally appointed to office by the President,[4][5] who is required to appoint whomever the Dáil designates, without the option of declining to make the appointment.[6] For this reason, the Taoiseach may informally be said to have been "elected" by Dáil Éireann.

If the Taoiseach loses the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann, they are not automatically removed from office. Instead, they are compelled either to resign or to persuade the President to dissolve the Dáil and call new elections. If the President "in his absolute discretion" refuses to grant a dissolution, this effectively forces the Taoiseach to resign. To date, no President has ever refused a dissolution, although the option to exercise this prerogative arose in 1944 and 1994, and twice in 1982. The Taoiseach may lose the support of Dáil Éireann by the passage of a vote of no confidence, or implicitly, through the failure of a vote of confidence. Alternatively, the Dáil may refuse supply.Template:Efn In the event of the Taoiseach's resignation, they continue to exercise the duties and functions of office until the appointment of a successor.

The Taoiseach nominates the remaining members of the Government, who are then, with the consent of the Dáil, appointed by the President. The Taoiseach may advise the President to dismiss cabinet ministers from office; the President does not have discretion on accepting such advice. The Taoiseach is also responsible for appointing eleven members of the sixty members of the upper house of parliament, the Seanad.

The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department which supports and advises the Taoiseach in carrying out his or her various duties. The Taoiseach is assisted by one or more Ministers of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, one of whom is the Government Chief Whip.

Salary

The Taoiseach's salary is €248,773, as of 1 March 2025.[7]

The Taoiseach's salary was cut from €214,187 to €200,000 when Enda Kenny took office in 2011 before being cut further to €185,350 under the Haddington Road Agreement in 2013.

A proposed increase of €38,000 in 2007 was deferred when Brian Cowen became Taoiseach[8] and in October 2008, the government announced a 10% salary cut for all ministers, including the Taoiseach.[9] However this was a voluntary cut and the salaries remained nominally the same with both ministers and Taoiseach essentially refusing 10% of their salary. This caused controversy in December 2009 when a salary cut of 20% was based on the higher figure before the refused amount was deducted.[10] The Taoiseach is also allowed an additional €118,981 in annual expenses.

Residence

There is no official residence of the Taoiseach. In 2008 it was reported speculatively that the former Steward's Lodge at Farmleigh adjoining the Phoenix Park would become the official residence of the Taoiseach. However, no official statements were made nor any action taken.[11] The house, which forms part of the Farmleigh estate acquired by the State in 1999 for €29.2 million, was renovated at a cost of nearly €600,000 in 2005 by the Office of Public Works. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern did not use it as a residence, but his successor Brian Cowen used it occasionally,[12] as did later Taoisigh Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar, who each paid €50 per night for the use of the house to avoid benefit-in-kind tax being levied on them for use of the house as a grace and favour mansion.[13]

Salute

"Script error: No such module "Lang"." ("More of Cloyne") is a traditional air collected by Patrick Weston Joyce in 1873.[14][15] "Amhrán Dóchais" ("Song of Hope") is a poem written by Osborn Bergin in 1913.[15][16] John A. Costello chose the air as his musical salute.[16] The salute is played by army bands on the arrival of the Taoiseach at state ceremonies. Though the salute is often called "Script error: No such module "Lang".", Brian Ó Cuív argued "Script error: No such module "Lang"." is the correct title.[16][17]

History

Origins and etymology

The words Script error: No such module "Lang". and Script error: No such module "Lang". (deputy prime minister) are both from the Irish language and of ancient origin. The Taoiseach is described in the Constitution of Ireland as "the head of the Government or Prime Minister",Template:Efn its literal translation is Template:Gloss or Template:Gloss.[18] Although Éamon de Valera, who introduced the title in 1937, was a democratic politician who had in the past associated with paramilitaries, some have remarked that the meaning Template:Gloss in 1937 made the title similar to the titles of fascist dictators of the time, such as Script error: No such module "Lang". (for Adolf Hitler), Script error: No such module "Lang". (for Benito Mussolini) and Script error: No such module "Lang". (for Francisco Franco).[19][20][21] Script error: No such module "Lang"., in turn, refers to the system of tanistry, the Gaelic system of succession whereby a leader would appoint an heir apparent while still living.

In Scottish Gaelic, Script error: No such module "Lang". translates as 'clan chief' and both words originally had similar meanings in the Gaelic languages of Scotland and Ireland.Template:Efn[22][23]Template:Efn The related Welsh language word Script error: No such module "Lang". (current meaning: 'prince') has a similar origin and meaning.Template:Efn It is hypothesised that both derive ultimately from the proto-Celtic Template:Wikt-lang 'chieftain, leader'.[24][25]

The plural of Script error: No such module "Lang". is Script error: No such module "Lang". (Northern and Western Script error: No such module "IPA"., Southern: Script error: No such module "IPA".).[18]

Although the Irish form Script error: No such module "Lang". is sometimes used in English instead of 'the Taoiseach',[26] the English version of the Constitution states that they "shall be called … the Taoiseach".Template:Efn

Debate on the title

In 1937 when the draft Constitution of Ireland was being debated in the Dáil, Frank MacDermot, an opposition politician, moved an amendment to substitute "Prime Minister" for the proposed "Taoiseach" title in the English text of the Constitution. It was proposed to keep the "Taoiseach" title in the Irish language text. The proponent remarked:[27]

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

It seems to me to be mere make-believe to try to incorporate a word like "Taoiseach" in the English language. It would be pronounced wrongly by 99 percent of the people. I have already ascertained it is a very difficult word to pronounce correctly. That being so, even for the sake of the dignity of the Irish language, it would be more sensible that when speaking English we should be allowed to refer to the gentleman in question as the Prime Minister... It is just one more example of the sort of things that are being done here as if for the purpose of putting off the people in the North. No useful purpose of any kind can be served by compelling us, when speaking English, to refer to An Taoiseach rather than to the Prime Minister.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The President of the Executive Council, Éamon de Valera, gave the term's meaning as "chieftain" or "Captain". He said he was "not disposed" to support the proposed amendment and felt the word "Taoiseach" did not need to be changed. The proposed amendment was defeated on a vote and "Taoiseach" was included as the title ultimately adopted by plebiscite of the people.[28]

Modern office

File:Dublin Dept Taoiseach.jpg
Department of the Taoiseach at Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin

The modern position of Taoiseach was established by the 1937 Constitution of Ireland and is the most powerful role in Irish politics. The office replaced the position of President of the Executive Council of the 1922–1937 Irish Free State.

The positions of Taoiseach and President of the Executive Council differed in certain fundamental respects. Under the Constitution of the Irish Free State, the latter was vested with considerably less power and was largely just the chairman of the cabinet, the Executive Council. For example, the President of the Executive Council could not dismiss a fellow minister on his own authority. Instead, the Executive Council had to be disbanded and reformed entirely to remove a member. The President of the Executive Council also did not have the right to advise the Governor-General to dissolve Dáil Éireann on his own authority, that power belonging collectively to the Executive Council.

In contrast, the office of Taoiseach as created in 1937 possesses a much more powerful role. The holder of the position can both advise the President to dismiss ministers and dissolve Parliament on his own authority—advice that the President is almost always required to follow by convention.Template:Efn

The Taoiseach's role is significantly enhanced on paper compared to its counterparts in other parliamentary systems because it is vested with both de jure and de facto executive authority. In other parliamentary systems, the head of state is at least nominal chief executive, but is either bound by convention to act on the advice of the cabinet, or must have their acts countersigned by a minister. In Ireland, the Constitution explicitly vests executive authority in the Government, of which the Taoiseach is the leader.

Generally, where there have been multi-party or coalition governments, the Taoiseach has been the leader of the largest party in the coalition. One exception to this was John A. Costello, who was not the leader of his party, but an agreed choice to head the government, because the other parties refused to accept then Fine Gael leader Richard Mulcahy as Taoiseach. In 2011 Taoiseach Brian Cowen, resigned as party leader and was succeeded by Micheál Martin, but continued as Taoiseach until the formation of a new government following a general election.

Following the 2020 election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael entered coalition together for the first time. The two agreed to rotate the role of Taoiseach, with Micheál Martin going first before becoming Tánaiste under Leo Varadkar, and later Simon Harris, of the smaller Fine Gael party.[29] The two parties opted to continue this rotation after the 2024 election.[30]

List of office holders

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Before the enactment of the 1937 Constitution, the head of government was the President of the Executive Council. This office was held by W. T. Cosgrave of Cumann na nGaedheal from 1922 to 1932, and by Éamon de Valera of Fianna Fáil from 1932 to 1937. By convention, Taoisigh are numbered to include Cosgrave;[31][32][33][34] therefore, Micheál Martin is considered the 15th Taoiseach, not the 14th.

President of the Executive Council

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Constituency
Term of office Party Exec. Council
CompositionScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Vice President Dáil
(elected)
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=5 |1 Template:CSS image crop W. T. Cosgrave
(1880–1965)
TD for Carlow–Kilkenny until 1927
TD for Cork Borough from 1927
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1922Template:Efn
9 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1932
Sinn Féin
(Pro-Treaty)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1st SF (PT) (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=5 | Kevin O'Higgins 3 (1922)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Cumann na nGaedheal 2nd CnG (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 4 (1923)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3rd Ernest Blythe 5 (Jun.1927)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4th 6 (Sep.1927)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
5th
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=3 |2 Template:CSS image crop Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)
TD for Clare
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1932Template:Efn
29 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1937
Fianna Fáil 6th FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3 | Seán T. O'Kelly 7 (1932)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7th 8 (1933)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8th 9 (1937)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Taoiseach

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Constituency
Term of office Party Government
CompositionScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Tánaiste Dáil
(elected)
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=4 |(2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)
TD for Clare
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
29 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1937
18 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1948
Fianna Fáil 1st FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan=3 | Seán T. O'Kelly 9 ( ···· )Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2nd FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 10 (1938)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3rd FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 11 (1943)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Seán Lemass 12 (1944)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |3 Template:CSS image crop John A. Costello
(1891–1976)
TD for Dublin South-East
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
18 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1948
13 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1951
Fine Gael 5th FGLabCnPCnTNLIndScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | William Norton 13 (1948)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)
TD for Clare
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1951
2 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1954
Fianna Fáil 6th FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Seán Lemass 14 (1951)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop John A. Costello
(1891–1976)
TD for Dublin South-East
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1954
20 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1957
Fine Gael 7th FGLabCnTScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | William Norton 15 (1954)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Éamon de Valera
(1882–1975)
TD for Clare
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
20 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1957
23 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1959
Fianna Fáil 8th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Seán Lemass 16 (1957)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=3 |4 Template:CSS image crop Seán Lemass
(1899–1971)
TD for Dublin South-Central
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1959
10 NovemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1966
Fianna Fáil 9th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Seán MacEntee
10th FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 17 (1961)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan="2" | Frank Aiken 18 (1965)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=2 |5 Template:CSS image crop Jack Lynch
(1917–1999)
TD for Cork Borough until 1969
TD for Cork City North-West from 1969
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 NovemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1966
14 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1973
Fianna Fáil 12th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Erskine H. Childers 19 (1969)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |6 Template:CSS image crop Liam Cosgrave
(1920–2017)
TD for Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1973
5 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1977
Fine Gael 14th FGLabScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Brendan Corish 20 (1973)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Jack Lynch
(1917–1999)
TD for Cork City
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
5 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1977
11 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1979
Fianna Fáil 15th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan="2" | George Colley 21 (1977)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |7 Template:CSS image crop Charles Haughey
(1925–2006)
TD for Dublin Artane
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1979
30 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1981
Fianna Fáil 16th FFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |8 Template:CSS image crop Garret FitzGerald
(1926–2011)
TD for Dublin South-East
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
30 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1981
9 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982
Fine Gael 17th FGLab (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Michael O'Leary 22 (1981)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Charles Haughey
(1925–2006)
TD for Dublin North-Central
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982
14 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982
Fianna Fáil 18th FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Ray MacSharry 23 (Feb.1982)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=2 |(8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Garret FitzGerald
(1926–2011)
TD for Dublin South-East
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982
10 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1987
Fine Gael 19th FGLab
FG (minority) from Jan 1987
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Dick Spring 24 (Nov.1982)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Peter Barry
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=3 |(7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Charles Haughey
(1925–2006)
TD for Dublin North-Central
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1987
11 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1992
Fianna Fáil 20th FF (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" rowspan="2" | Brian Lenihan 25 (1987)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
21st FFPDScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 26 (1989)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John Wilson
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" rowspan=3 |9 Template:CSS image crop Albert Reynolds
(1932–2014)
TD for Longford–Roscommon
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1992
15 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1994
Fianna Fáil 22nd FFPD
FF (minority) from Nov 1992
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23rd FFLab
FF (minority) from Nov 1994
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Dick Spring 27 (1992)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Bertie Ahern
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |10 Template:CSS image crop John Bruton
(1947–2024)
TD for Meath
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
15 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1994
26 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1997
Fine Gael 24th FGLabDLScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Dick Spring
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |11 Template:CSS image crop Bertie Ahern
(b. 1951)
TD for Dublin Central
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1997
7 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2008
Fianna Fáil 25th FFPD (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". rowspan=3 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Mary Harney 28 (1997)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26th FFPDScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 29 (2002)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Michael McDowell
27th FFGreenPDScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Brian Cowen 30 (2007)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |12 Template:CSS image crop Brian Cowen
(b. 1960)
TD for Laois–Offaly
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2008
9 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2011
Fianna Fáil 28th FFGreenPD
FFGreenInd from Nov 2009
FF (minority) from Jan 2011
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Mary Coughlan
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |13 Template:CSS image crop Enda Kenny
(b. 1951)
TD for Mayo
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2011
14 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2017[35]
Fine Gael 29th FGLabScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Eamon Gilmore 31 (2011)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Joan Burton
30th FGInd (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". rowspan="3" style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Frances Fitzgerald 32 (2016)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
rowspan="2" style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |14 Template:CSS image crop Leo Varadkar
(b. 1979)
TD for Dublin West
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2017[36]
27 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2020
Fine Gael 31st FGInd (minority)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Simon Coveney
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |15 Template:CSS image crop Micheál Martin
(b. 1960)
TD for Cork South-Central
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
27 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2020
17 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2022
Fianna Fáil 32nd FFFGGreenScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Leo Varadkar 33 (2020)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
rowspan="1" style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(14)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:CSS image crop Leo Varadkar
(b. 1979)
TD for Dublin West
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
17 DecemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2022
9 AprilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2024
Fine Gael 33rd FGFFGreenScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Micheál Martin
rowspan="1" style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |16 Template:CSS image crop Simon Harris
(b. 1986)
TD for Wicklow
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 AprilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2024
23 JanuaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2025
Fine Gael 34th FGFFGreenScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" |
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" |(15) Template:CSS image crop Micheál Martin
(b. 1960)
TD for Cork South-Central
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23 JanuaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2025
Incumbent Fianna Fáil 35th FFFGIndScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Simon Harris 34 (2024)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Timeline

<timeline> Define $width = 1000 # 4 pixels per year ($end - $start) × 4 Define $warning = 880 # $width - 120 Define $height = 500 # 16 × 25 + 150 Define $footnote = 800 # $width - 400

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1880 till:31/12/2025 Define $start = 01/01/1880 # Just before eldest (Cosgrave) was born Define $end = 31/12/2025 Define $now = 24/12/2025

ImageSize = width:$width height:$height PlotArea = right:10 left:1 bottom:80 top:60 Period = from:$start till:$end TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal Legend = orientation:vertical columns:1 left:0 top:50 columnwidth:500

Colors =

    id:bg                 value:white
    id:lightline          value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8)
    id:lighttext          value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
    id:LIFESPAN           value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: Lifespan
    id:CnnG               value:rgb(0.6, 0.8, 0.9) Legend: Cumann_na_nGaedheal
    id:FF                 value:rgb(0.4, 0.7, 0.4) Legend: Fianna_Fáil
    id:FG                 value:rgb(0.4, 0.6, 0.9) Legend: Fine_Gael
    id:NAME               value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05)
    id:TODAY              value:green

BackgroundColors = canvas:bg ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:1880

Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar

LineData=

  at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1

PlotData=

 bar:1 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:05/06/1880 till:06/12/1922 shift:(50,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:W. T. Cosgrave
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:06/12/1922 till:16/11/1965
   color:CnnG
   from:06/12/1922 till:09/03/1932
 bar:2 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:14/10/1882 till:09/03/1932 shift:(60,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Éamon de Valera
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:09/03/1932 till:29/08/1975
   color:FF
   from:09/03/1932 till:18/02/1948
   color:FF
   from:13/06/1951 till:02/06/1954
   color:FF
   from:20/03/1957 till:23/06/1959
 bar:3 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:20/06/1891 till:18/02/1948 shift:(50,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John A. Costello
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:18/02/1948 till:05/01/1976
   color:FG
   from:18/02/1948 till:13/06/1951
   color:FG
   from:02/06/1954 till:20/03/1957
 bar:4 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:15/07/1899 till:23/06/1959 shift:(60,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Seán Lemass
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:23/06/1959 till:11/05/1971
   color:FF
   from:23/06/1959 till:10/11/1966
 bar:5 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:15/08/1917 till:10/11/1966 shift:(30,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Jack Lynch
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:10/11/1966 till:20/10/1999
   color:FF
   from:10/11/1966 till:14/03/1973
   color:FF
   from:05/07/1977 till:11/12/1979
 bar:6 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:13/04/1920 till:14/03/1973 shift:(50,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Liam Cosgrave
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:14/03/1973 till:04/10/2017
   color:FG
   from:14/03/1973 till:05/07/1977
 bar:7 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:16/09/1925 till:11/12/1979 shift:(60,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Charles Haughey
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:11/12/1979 till:13/06/2006
   color:FF
   from:11/12/1979 till:30/06/1981
   color:FF
   from:09/03/1982 till:14/12/1982
   color:FF
   from:10/03/1987 till:11/02/1992
 bar:8 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:09/02/1926 till:30/06/1981 shift:(70,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Garret FitzGerald
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:30/06/1981 till:19/05/2011
   color:FG
   from:30/06/1981 till:09/03/1982
   color:FG
   from:14/12/1982 till:10/03/1987
 bar:9 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:03/11/1932 till:11/02/1992 shift:(80,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Albert Reynolds
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:11/02/1992 till:21/08/2014
   color:FF
   from:11/02/1992 till:15/12/1994
 bar:10 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:18/05/1947 till:15/12/1994 shift:(60,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John Bruton
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:15/12/1994 till:06/02/2024
   color:FG
   from:15/12/1994 till:26/06/1997
 bar:11 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:12/09/1951 till:26/06/1997 shift:(60,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Bertie Ahern
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:26/06/1997 till:$now
   color:FF
   from:26/06/1997 till:07/05/2008
 bar:12 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:10/01/1960 till:07/05/2008 shift:(50,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Brian Cowen
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:07/05/2008 till:$now
   color:FF
   from:07/05/2008 till:09/03/2011
 bar:13 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:24/04/1951 till:09/03/2011 shift:(100,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Enda Kenny
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:09/03/2011 till:$now
   color:FG
   from:09/03/2011 till:14/06/2017
 bar:14 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:18/01/1979 till:14/06/2017 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Leo Varadkar
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:14/06/2017 till:$now
   color:FG
   from:14/06/2017 till:27/06/2020
   color:FG
   from:17/12/2022 till:09/04/2024
 bar:15 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:01/08/1960 till:27/06/2020 shift:(80,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Micheál Martin
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:27/06/2020 till:$now
   color:FF
   from:27/06/2020 till:17/12/2022
   color:FF
   from:23/01/2025 till:$now
 bar:16 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
   from:17/10/1986 till:09/04/2024 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Simon Harris
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:09/04/2024 till:$now
   color:FG
   from:09/04/2024 till:23/01/2025

TextData =

 fontsize:M
 textcolor:green
 pos:($warning,30)
 text:Updated 12/2025

TextData =

  pos:(290,$height)
  fontsize:L
  textcolor:black
  text:"Lifespan and terms of office of each Taoiseach"
</timeline>

Further reading

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1"..
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Biographies

Biographies are also available of de Valera, Lemass, Lynch, Cosgrave, FitzGerald, Haughey, Reynolds and Ahern. FitzGerald wrote an autobiography, while an authorised biography was produced of de Valera.

Some biographies and memoirs of former Taoisigh and presidents of the Executive Council:

  • Tim Pat Coogan, Éamon de Valera
  • John Horgan, Seán Lemass
  • Brian Farrell, Seán Lemass
  • T. P. O'Mahony, Jack Lynch: A Biography
  • T. Ryle Dwyer, Nice Fellow: A Biography of Jack Lynch
  • Stephen Collins, The Cosgrave Legacy
  • Garret FitzGerald, All in a Life
  • Garret FitzGerald, Just Garret: Tales from the Political Frontline
  • Raymond Smith, Garret: The Enigma
  • T. Ryle Dwyer, Short Fellow: A Biography of Charles Haughey
  • Martin Mansergh, Spirit of the Nation: The Collected Speeches of Haughey
  • Joe Joyce & Peter Murtagh The Boss: Charles Haughey in Government
  • Tim Ryan, Albert Reynolds: The Longford Leader
  • Albert Reynolds, My Autobiography
  • Bertie Ahern, My Autobiography

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Template:Prime Ministers of Ireland Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Europe heads of state and government Template:European Council Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Prime Minister

  1. Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Constitution of Ireland, Article 13.1.2°.
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Published in New York, 1944 (publisher not identified); Original from University of Minnesota; Digitised 6 May 2016
  21. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Original from the University of California; Digitised 6 December 2006
  22. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  25. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. Frank Mr. MacDermot of the National Centre Party – Bunreacht na hÉireann (Dréacht)—Coiste (Ath-thógaint) – Wednesday, 26 May 1937; Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 67 No. 9 Template:Webarchive.
  28. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".