Government of the 34th Dáil

Incumbent government of Ireland since 2025

35th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed| 23 January 2025
People and organisations
President| Michael D. Higgins
Taoiseach| Micheál Martin
Tánaiste| Simon Harris
No. of ministers| 15 (to be confirmed)
Member parties|

* Fianna Fáil
* Fine Gael
* Independents

Status in legislature| Majority Coalition
95 / 174 (55%)

Opposition cabinet| Sinn Féin Front Bench
Opposition party| Sinn Féin
Opposition leader| Mary Lou McDonald
History
Election| 2024 general election
Legislature terms|

* 34th Dáil
* 27th Seanad

Predecessor| 34th government

The 35th government of Ireland is the government of Ireland which was formed on 23 January 2025 following the 2024 general election to the 34th Dáil held on 29 November 2024. It is a coalition government of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with the participation of independent TDs at the rank of minister of state.

## Government formation talks

[edit]

Government formation followed negotiations on a programme for government for a coalition government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group (a group of independent politicians led by former government minister Michael Lowry). Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will serve as Taoiseach, with Fine Gael leader Simon Harris serving as Tánaiste. It has been agreed that the government will last until November 2027, after which the positions will rotate, with the then Fine Gael leader forming a new government as Taoiseach, and the then Fianna Fáil leader serving as Tánaiste.[1] It is the second time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have participated in the same government, a continuation of the coalition government formed in 2020, with Independents replacing the Greens.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

The 34th Dáil first met on 18 December. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was proposed for nomination as Taoiseach, with other parties abstaining from nomination as the government formation talks had not yet concluded.[2] McDonald failed to obtain majority support.[2] Harris announced that he would resign as Taoiseach but that under the provisions of Article 28.11 of the Constitution, the members of the government would continue to carry out their duties until their successors were appointed.[3]

On 22 January 2025, the Dáil again met to consider nominations for the position of Taoiseach. Opposition parties raised the issue of a group supporting the programme for government registering as an opposition group with speaking rights. The Dáil was suspended a number of times before Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy suspended sitting for the day.[4]

On 23 January 2025, following talks between party leaders, the Dáil again sat to consider nomination.[5] Mary Lou McDonald and Micheál Martin were nominated. The nomination of Mary Lou McDonald was not considered as, following a vote, the nomination of Martin was approved by the Dáil by a vote of 95 to 76.[6] President Michael D. Higgins subsequently signed the warrant of appointment and presented the seal of Taoiseach and the seal of Government to Martin at Áras an Uachtaráin.

23 January 2025
Nomination of Micheál Martin (FF) as Taoiseach
Motion proposed by Albert Dolan and seconded by Catherine Ardagh
Absolute majority: 88/174[7]

Vote | Parties | Votes
Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (48), Fine Gael (37), Independents (10) |

95 / 174

No | Sinn Féin (39), Labour (11), Social Democrats (9), Independents (6), Independent Ireland (4), PBP–Solidarity (3), Aontú (2), 100% Redress (1), Green Party (1) |

76 / 174

Absent or not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Fine Gael (1), Social Democrats (1) |

3 / 174

## Government ministers

[edit]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party

|
|
|

Taoiseach | Micheál Martin | 2025–present  |  | Fianna Fáil
Tánaiste
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister for Defence | Simon Harris |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Finance | Paschal Donohoe |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Health | Jennifer Carroll MacNeill |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Education and Youth | Helen McEntee |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine | Martin Heydon |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment | Peter Burke |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport | Patrick O'Donovan |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration | Jim O'Callaghan |  | Fianna Fáil
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation | Jack Chambers |  | Fianna Fáil
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage | James Browne |  | Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social Protection
Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht | Dara Calleary |  | Fianna Fáil
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy
Minister for Transport | Darragh O'Brien |  | Fianna Fáil
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | James Lawless |  | Fianna Fáil
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality | Norma Foley |  | Fianna Fáil

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Loughlin, Elaine (16 January 2025). "'Ambitious' programme for government with Martin as Taoiseach until November 2027". Irish Examiner.
2. ^ a b "As it happened: Day one of the 34th Dáil". RTÉ News. 18 December 2024.
3. ^ Constitution of Ireland, Article 28.11.
4. ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (22 January 2025). "Verona Murphy's turbulent first day: 'She should have got the metre stick out'". The Irish Times.
5. ^ "Dáil Éireann: Irish Parliament to make second attempt to elect taoiseach". BBC News. 23 January 2025.
6. ^ Finn, Christina (23 January 2025). "Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin elected as Taoiseach for the second time". TheJournal.ie.
7. ^ "Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Martin cabinet (2025–present)

* Taoiseach: Micheál Martin

* Simon Harris

* v
* t
* e

Governments of Ireland

Ministry of Dáil Éireann (1919–1922)|

* Brugha
* De Valera
* 1
* 2
* Griffith
* W. T. Cosgrave 1

Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|

* Collins
* W. T. Cosgrave 1

Executive Council of the Irish Free State (1922–1937)|

* W. T. Cosgrave
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* De Valera
* 3
* 4
* 5

Government of Ireland (1937–present)|

* De Valera
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* Costello 1
* De Valera 10
* Costello 2
* De Valera 11
* Lemass
* 1
* 2
* 3
* Lynch
* 1
* 2
* L. Cosgrave
* Lynch 3
* Haughey 1
* FitzGerald 1
* Haughey 2
* FitzGerald 2
* Haughey
* 3
* 4
* Reynolds
* 1
* 2
* Bruton
* Ahern
* 1
* 2
* 3
* Cowen
* Kenny
* 1
* 2
* Varadkar 1
* Martin 1
* Varadkar 2
* Harris
* Martin 2

Formation, confidence and resignations|

* Dáil vote for Taoiseach
* Confidence motions in Dáil Éireann
* Resignation and sackings of ministers

* v
* t
* e

Governments of member states of the European Union

* Schallenberg II
* De Croo
* Zhelyazkov
* Plenković III
* Christodoulides
* Fiala
* Frederiksen II
* Michal
* Orpo
* Bayrou
* Scholz
* Mitsotakis II
* Orbán V
* Martin II
* Meloni
* Siliņa
* Paluckas
* Frieden
* Abela II
* Schoof
* Tusk III
* Montenegro
* Ciolacu II
* Fico IV
* Golob
* Sánchez III
* Kristersson

Von der Leyen Commission II
*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template