Records of members of the Oireachtas

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This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland, which consists of the President of Ireland, and two Houses, Dáil Éireann, a house of representatives whose members are known as Teachtaí Dála or TDs, and Seanad Éireann, a senate whose members are known as senators.

The First Dáil consisted of the Sinn Féin MPs who were elected in the United Kingdom general election of 14 December 1918. They refused to attend the British House of Commons and instead assembled for the first time on 21 January 1919 in the Mansion House in Dublin as the revolutionary unicameral Dáil Éireann.

1,292 TDs have served in the Dáil between 1919 and 2018. The title Father of the Dáil is usually and unofficially conferred on the longest-serving member.

## Longest-serving former TDs

[edit]

This is a list of former TDs who have served at least 30 years in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election. Unless stated, the TD listed did not stand in the end-date election.

Name  | Party  | Elected
b – by-election | Vacated seat  | Dáil Service  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Paddy Smith |  |

* Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1923 | 1977 | 53y 11m  | Cabinet minister
Frank Aiken |  |

* Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1923 | 1973 | 49y 6m  | Longest-serving cabinet minister (1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1969)
Neil Blaney |  |

* Fianna Fáil
* Independent Fianna Fáil

| 1948 b | Died on 8 November 1995  | 46y 11m  | Cabinet minister
Thomas McEllistrim |  |

* Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1923 | 1969 | 45y 10m  |
Séamus Pattison |  | Labour | 1961 | 2007 | 45y 8m  | Ceann Comhairle (1997–2002)
Seán MacEntee |  |

* Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1918 | 1969 | 45y 6m  | Did not hold office between the 1922 and June 1927 elections
James Ryan |  |

* Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1918 | 1965 | 45y 2m  | Long-serving cabinet minister. Did not hold office between the 1922 and 1923 elections (1y 2m)
Seán Lemass |  |

* Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1924 b | 1969 | 44y 7m  | Taoiseach (1959–1966)
James Everett |  |

* Labour
* National Labour

| 1923 | Died on 18 December 1967  | 44y 4m  | Cabinet minister; leader of the breakaway National Labour (1944–1950)
Enda Kenny |  | Fine Gael | 1975 b | 2020 | 44y 2m  | Taoiseach (2011–2017)
Oliver J. Flanagan |  | Fine Gael | 1943 | 1987 | 43y 8m  | Cabinet minister
Bernard Durkan |  | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2024 | 43y 5m  | TD, Senator from February 1982 to November 1982
Richard Bruton |  | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2024 | 43y 1m  | Cabinet minister; senator from October 1981 to February 1982
Martin Corry |  | Fianna Fáil | June 1927 | 1969 | 41y 10m  |
Patrick McGilligan |  |

* Cumann na nGaedheal
* Fine Gael

| 1923 b | 1965 | 41y 5m  | Attorney General (1954–1957)
Richard Mulcahy |  |

* Sinn Féin
* Cumann na nGaedheal
* Fine Gael

| 1918 | 1961 | 41y  | Did not hold office between the 1937 and 1938 elections, nor between those of 1943 and 1944
Éamon de Valera |  |

* Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1918 | Elected President in 1959 | 40y 6m  | Taoiseach and President of Ireland; first elected to Westminster at the June 1917 by-election
Cormac Breslin |  | Fianna Fáil | 1937 | 1977 | 40y  | Ceann Comhairle (1967–1973)
Patrick Hogan |  | Labour | 1923 | Died on 24 January 1969  | 39y 8m  | Did not hold office between the 1938 and 1943 elections, nor between those of 1944 and 1948
Michael Noonan |  | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2020 | 38y 7m  | Cabinet minister. Leader of Fine Gael (2001–2002)
Gerald Boland |  |

* Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1923 | 1961 | 38y 2m  | Long-serving cabinet minister
Liam Cosgrave |  | Fine Gael | 1943 | 1981 | 38y  | Taoiseach (1973–1977)
Dan Spring |  |

* Labour
* National Labour

| 1943 | 1981 | 38y  | Member of the breakaway National Labour (1944–1950)
Ruairi Quinn |  | Labour | 1977 | 2016 | 38y  | Senator from 1981 to February 1982
Michael Kennedy |  | Fianna Fáil | June 1927 | 1965 | 37y 10m  |
Brendan Howlin |  | Labour | 1987 | 2024 | 37y 8m  | Cabinet minister; leader of Labour (2016–2020); senator from 1983 to 1987
Seán Brady |  | Fianna Fáil | September 1927 | 1965 | 37y 7m  |
Bob Briscoe |  | Fianna Fáil | September 1927 | 1965 | 37y 7m  |
James Dillon |  |

* National Centre Party
* Fine Gael
* Independent

| 1932 | 1969 | 37y 4m  | Leader of Fine Gael (1959–1965)
David Andrews |  | Fianna Fáil | 1965 | 2002 | 37y 1m  |
Ben Briscoe |  | Fianna Fáil | 1965 | 2002 | 37y 1m  |
Bobby Molloy |  |

* Fianna Fáil
* Progressive Democrats

| 1965 | 2002 | 37y 1m  | Joined Progressive Democrats in 1986; previously Fianna Fáil
Brendan Corish |  | Labour | 1945 b | February 1982 | 36y 2m  | Tánaiste (1973–1977)
Dan Breen |  |

* Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1923 | 1965 | 35y 11m  | Did not hold office between the June 1927 and 1932 elections
Paddy Harte |  | Fine Gael | 1961 | 1997 | 35y 8m  | Father of the Dáil (1997–2007)
Charles Haughey |  | Fianna Fáil | 1957 | 1992 | 35y 8m  | Taoiseach (1979–1981, 1982, 1987–1992)
Seán Treacy |  |

* Labour
* Independent

| 1961 | 1997 | 35y 8m  | Ceann Comhairle (1987–1997)
John A. Costello |  | Fine Gael | 1933 | 1969 | 35y 7m  | Did not hold office between the 1943 and 1944 elections. Taoiseach (1948–1951, 1954–1957)
Vivion de Valera |  | Fianna Fáil | 1945 b | 1981 | 35y 7m  | Son of Éamon de Valera
John Bruton |  | Fine Gael | 1969 | Resigned on 31 October 2004 | 35y 4m  | Taoiseach (1994–1997). Resigned as TD to become EU Ambassador to the United States
Erskine H. Childers |  | Fianna Fáil | 1938 | Elected President in 1973 | 35y  | Tánaiste (1969–1973) and President of Ireland (1973–1974)
Frank Fahy |  |

* Sinn Féin
* Fianna Fáil

| 1918 | Died on 14 July 1953  | 34y 10m  | Ceann Comhairle (1932–1951)
Mícheál Ó Móráin |  | Fianna Fáil | 1938 | 1973 | 34y 8m  | Cabinet minister
Maurice E. Dockrell |  | Fine Gael | 1943 | 1977 | 34y 1m  |
Desmond O'Malley |  |

* Fianna Fáil
* Progressive Democrats

| 1968 b | 2002 | 34y  | Founder of the Progressive Democrats and cabinet minister
Dinny McGinley |  | Fine Gael | February 1982 | 2016 | 34y  |
Bertie Ahern |  | Fianna Fáil | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m  | Taoiseach (1997–2008)
Rory O'Hanlon |  | Fianna Fáil | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m  | Ceann Comhairle (2002–2007)
Jim O'Keeffe |  | Fine Gael | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m  | Cabinet minister
Michael Woods |  | Fianna Fáil | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m  | Cabinet minister
Daniel Morrissey |  |

* Cumann na nGaedheal
* Fine Gael

| 1923 | 1957 | 33y 7m  | Cabinet minister
Jack Lynch |  | Fianna Fáil | 1948 | 1981 | 33y 4m  | Taoiseach (1966–1973, 1977–1979)
Seán Barrett |  | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2020 | 33y 4m  | Did not hold office between the 2002 and 2007 elections. Ceann Comhairle (2011–2016) and cabinet minister.
John Browne |  | Fianna Fáil | November 1982 | 2016 | 33y 3m  |
Séamus Kirk |  | Fianna Fáil | November 1982 | 2016 | 33y 3m  | Ceann Comhairle (2009–2011)
Gerald Bartley |  | Fianna Fáil | 1932 | 1965 | 33y 2m  | Cabinet minister
Seán Mac Eoin |  |

* Cumann na nGaedheal
* Fine Gael

| 1932 | 1965 | 33y 2m  | Cabinet minister
Michael P. Kitt |  | Fianna Fáil | 1975 b | 2016 | 32y 11m  | Senator from 1977 to 1981, and from 2002 to 2007
Charles Flanagan |  | Fine Gael | 1987 | 2024 | 32y 8m  | Cabinet minister; did not hold office between the 2002 and 2007 elections
Noel Davern |  | Fianna Fáil | 1969 | 2007 | 32y 4m  | Did not hold office between the 1981 and 1987 elections
Éamon Ó Cuív |  | Fianna Fáil | 1992 | 2024 | 31y 11m  | Cabinet minister; senator from 1989 to 1992
Róisín Shortall |  |

* Social Democrats
* Labour
* Independent

| 1992 | 2024 | 31y 11m  | Co-leader of the Social Democrats (2015–2023); longest-serving female TD
Michael Ring |  | Fine Gael | 1994 b | 2024 | 30y 5m  | Cabinet minister
Michael Creed |  | Fine Gael | 1989 | 2024 | 30y 4m  | Cabinet minister; did not hold office between the 2002 and 2007 elections

## Shortest-serving former TDs

[edit]

This is a list of former TDs who served for less than 1 year in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election.

Name  | Party  | Elected
b = by-election | Vacated seat  | Months  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Kieran Doherty |  | Anti H-Block | 1981 | Died on 2 August 1981  | 2m  | Died after 73 days on hunger strike; was a TD for 52 days
Malcolm Byrne |  | Fianna Fáil | November 2019 b | Lost seat in February 2020 | 2m  | 71 days between election and defeat
Pierce McCan |  | Sinn Féin | 1918 | Died in prison of influenza, 6 March 1919  | 3m  | The Westminster election was on 14 December 1918, but the First Dáil did not sit until 21 January 1919
Michael Carter |  | Farmers' Party | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Arthur Clery |  | Independent | June 1927 | Did not contest September 1927 | 3m  |
Denis Cullen |  | Labour | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
William Duffy |  | National League | June 1927 | Did not contest September 1927 | 3m  |
Thomas Falvey |  | Farmers' Party | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Hugh Garahan |  | Farmers' Party | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
John Gill |  | Labour | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Gilbert Hewson |  | Independent | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
John Horgan |  | National League | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
John Jinks |  | National League | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Gilbert Lynch |  | Labour | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Eugene Mullen |  | Fianna Fáil | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
David O'Gorman |  | Farmers' Party | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Timothy Quill |  | Labour | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
James Shannon |  | Labour | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Thomas Tynan |  | Fianna Fáil | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m  |
Frank Drohan |  | Sinn Féin | 1921 | Resigned on 5 January 1922  | 7m  | Returned unopposed on 24 May 1921; the Second Dáil convened on 16 August 1921.
George Lee |  | Fine Gael | June 2009 b | Resigned on 8 February 2010  | 8m  |
Carrie Acheson |  | Fianna Fáil | 1981 | Lost seat in February 1982 | 9m  |
Paddy Agnew |  | Anti H-Block | 1981 | Did not contest February 1982 | 9m  |
Carey Joyce |  | Fianna Fáil | 1981 | Lost seat in February 1982 | 9m  |
Seán Dublin Bay Loftus |  | Independent | 1981 | Lost seat in February 1982 | 9m  |
Hugh Kennedy |  | Cumann na nGaedheal | October 1923 b | Resigned on 25 June 1924  | 9m  | Resigned to become Chief Justice of the Irish Free State
Thomas Bellew |  | Fianna Fáil | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m  |
Gerry Brady |  | Fianna Fáil | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m  |
Ned Brennan |  | Fianna Fáil | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m  |
Jim Corr |  | Fine Gael | February 1982 | Did not contest November 1982 | 10m  |
Henry Coyle |  | Cumann na nGaedheal | 1923 | Disqualified on 9 May 1924  | 10m  | Sentenced to three years' imprisonment for bouncing cheques
Alexis FitzGerald Jnr |  | Fine Gael | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m  |
Patrick Gallagher |  | Sinn Féin The Workers' Party | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m  |
Thomas O'Mahony |  | Cumann na nGaedheal | 1923 | Died on 20 July 1924  | 11m  |
Richard Stapleton |  | Labour | 1943 | Lost seat in 1944 | 11m  |

The following were eligible for membership of the Dáil, but as Unionists, they did not recognise it. Those elected to Westminster in 1918 were eligible for the First Dáil.[1]

Name  | Party  | Elected  | Vacated Westminster seat  | Months  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Hugh Anderson |  | Irish Unionist | 1918 | Resignation in 1919  | < 3m  | By-election was held on 4 March 1919
Robert McCalmont |  | Irish Unionist | 1918 | Appointment as Commander of the Irish Guards in 1919  | < 6m  | By-election was held on 27 May 1919
Arthur Samuels |  | Irish Unionist | 1918 | Appointment to the King's Bench in 1919  | < 8m  | By-election was held on 28 July 1919

## Current office-holders, longest service in the Oireachtas

[edit]

This is a list of current members of the Oireachtas who have served for at least 20 years, with continuous or broken service. Unless otherwise specified, start dates given are those of the relevant election.

Name  | Party  | Office  | First elected/appointed
b = by-election | Years/Months
(as of 10 July 2025) | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Michael D. Higgins |  | Labour |

* Senator
* TD
* President

| 1973  | 46 years, 6 month(s)
(as of Jan 2025)  | Current President of Ireland
Did not hold office between 1977 and 1981, and February and November 2011
Willie O'Dea |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | February 1982 | 43 years, 4 months  | Father of the Dáil
Michael Lowry |  | Independent | TD  | 1987 | 38 years, 4 months  |
Micheál Martin |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | 1989 | 36 years  | Leader of Fianna Fáil
Brendan Smith |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | 1992 | 32 years, 7 months  |
John McGuinness |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | 1997  | 28 years, 1 month  |
Michael Moynihan |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | 1997  | 28 years, 1 month  |
Seán Fleming |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | 1997  | 28 years, 1 month  |
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher |  | Fianna Fáil | TD  | 1981  | 27 years, 2 months
(as of Jan 2025)  | TD from 1981 to 1997, 2002 to 2009, 2016 to 2020, and from 2024
Seán Ó Fearghaíl |  | Fianna Fáil |

* Senator
* TD

| 2000 b | 25 years  | Senator from 2000 to 2002
Noel Grealish |  | Independent | TD  | 2002  | 23 years, 1 month  |
Aengus Ó Snodaigh |  | Sinn Féin | TD  | 2002  | 23 years, 1 month  |
Timmy Dooley |  | Fianna Fáil |

* TD
* Senator

| 2002  | 21 years, 11 months
(as of Jan 2025)  | Senator from 2002 to 2007, and 2020 to 2024. TD from 2007 to 2020 and from 2024
Michael McDowell |  | Independent |

* TD
* Senator

| 1987  | 20 years, 5 months
(as of Jan 2025)  | Did not hold office between 1989 and 1992, 1997 and 2002, 2007 and 2016. Senator from 2016

## Longest-serving Senators

[edit]

This is a list of current and former senators who have served for at least 20 years in the Seanad, including both the Free State Seanad and the Seanad established under the 1937 Constitution. There was a 22-month gap between the abolition of the Free State Seanad in 1936 and the inauguration in 1938 of the 2nd Seanad, the first incarnation of the new body.

*   denotes serving senator

Name  | Party  | First elected  | Vacated seat  | Years/Months  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

David Norris |  | Independent | 25 April 1987  | 22 January 2024  | 36 years, 8 months  | Resigned seat
Henry Barniville |  | Fine Gael | 6 December 1922  | 23 September 1960 | 35 years, 11 months  | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
Paddy Burke |  | Fine Gael | 17 February 1993  | 30 January 2025  | 31 years, 11 months  |
Margaret Mary Pearse |  | Fianna Fáil | 27 April 1938  | 7 November 1968  | 30 years, 6 months  |
Denis O'Donovan |  | Fianna Fáil | 1 November 1989  | 30 January 2025  | 30 years, 3 months  | Did not serve in 20th or 22nd Seanad
Eoin Ryan Snr |  | Fianna Fáil | 22 May 1957  | 3 April 1987  | 29 years, 10 months  |
Liam Ó Buachalla |  | Fianna Fáil | 7 October 1939  | 24 July 1969  | 29 years, 9 months  |
Shane Ross |  | Independent | 8 October 1981  | 26 February 2011  | 29 years, 4 months  |
James G. Douglas |  | Independent | 6 December 1922  | 16 September 1954  | 28 years, 9 months  | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad;
Did not serve in 4th Seanad
Rory Kiely |  | Fianna Fáil | 27 October 1977  | 22 July 2007  | 28 years, 9 months  | Did not serve in 16th Seanad
Patrick McGowan |  | Fianna Fáil | 23 June 1965  | 3 October 1999  | 28 years, 5 months  | Did not serve in 15th, 16th and 17th Seanad
Des Hanafin |  | Fianna Fáil | 5 November 1969  | 26 June 2002  | 27 years, 10 months  | Did not serve in 20th Seanad
William Ryan |  | Fianna Fáil | 14 December 1961 | 5 July 1989  | 27 years, 6 months  |
Michael Hayes |  | Fine Gael | 27 April 1938  | 28 April 1965  | 27 years  |
Charles McDonald |  | Fine Gael | 14 December 1961  | 17 December 1992  | 26 years, 4 months  | Did not serve in 13th Seanad
Paschal Mooney |  | Fianna Fáil | 25 April 1987  | April 2016  | 26 years, 4 months  | Did not serve 2y, 6m from July 2007 to January 2010
John Counihan |  | Independent | 6 December 1922  | 25 July 1951  | 26 years, 3 months  | Did not serve in 2nd Seanad
Thomas Ruane |  | Fianna Fáil | 6 December 1934  | 28 April 1965  | 25 years, 9 months  | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad;
Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad
Patrick O'Reilly |  | Fianna Fáil | 18 August 1944  | 24 July 1969  | 24 years, 11 months  |
Seán O'Donovan |  | Fianna Fáil | 27 April 1938  | 24 July 1969  | 24 years, 10 months  | Did not serve in 6th and 8th Seanad
Mick Lanigan |  | Fianna Fáil | 27 October 1977  | 26 June 2002  | 24 years, 7 months  |
Joe O'Toole |  | Independent | 25 April 1987  | 29 April 2011  | 24 years  |
Donie Cassidy |  | Fianna Fáil | 13 May 1982  | 29 April 2011  | 24 years  | Did not serve in 22nd Seanad from 2002 to 2007
Feargal Quinn |  | Independent | 17 February 1993  | April 2016  | 23 years, 2 months  |
James Parkinson |  | Fine Gael | 6 December 1922  | 31 July 1947  | 22 years, 9 months  | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
Diarmuid Wilson |  | Fianna Fáil | 12 September 2002  | Incumbent | 22 years, 9 months  |
Paul Coghlan |  | Fine Gael | 20 September 1997  | 27 March 2020  | 22 years, 6 months  |
Patrick Baxter |  | Clann na Talmhan | 6 December 1934  | 3 April 1959  | 22 years, 5 months  | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
John Butler |  | Labour | 27 April 1938  | 28 April 1965  | 22 years, 3 months  | Did not serve in 9th Seanad
Seán Hayes |  | Fianna Fáil | 27 April 1938  | 28 April 1965  | 22 years, 2 months  | Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad
William O'Callaghan |  | Independent | 27 April 1938  | 1 September 1961  | 22 years, 2 months  | Did not serve in 4th Seanad
James Tunney |  | Labour | 27 April 1938  | 1 September 1961  | 22 years, 2 months  | Did not serve in 4th Seanad
Thomas Foran |  | Labour | 28 November 1923  | 12 March 1948  | 22 years  | Did not serve in 2nd Seanad
Patrick Fitzsimons |  | Independent | 21 April 1948  | 30 March 1973  | 22 years  | Did not serve in 8th Seanad
Peter Lynch |  | Independent | 7 September 1938  | 1 September 1961  | 22 years  |
Sir John Keane |  | Independent | 6 December 1922  | 12 March 1948  | 21 years, 10 months  | Did not serve in 1934–1936 Seanad
Francis O'Brien |  | Fianna Fáil | 1 October 1989  | 29 April 2011  | 21 years, 7 months  |
William Quirke |  | Independent | 6 December 1931  | 5 March 1955  | 21 years, 4 months  | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
William Bedell Stanford |  | Independent | 21 April 1948  | 24 July 1969  | 21 years, 3 months  |
Michael Yeats |  | Fianna Fáil | 14 August 1951  | 12 March 1980  | 21 years  | Did not serve in 8th and 9th Seanad
James Dooge |  | Fine Gael | 14 December 1961  | 3 April 1987  | 20 years, 10 months  | Did not serve in 14th Seanad
Micheál Prendergast |  | Fine Gael | 22 July 1954  | 26 May 1977  | 20 years, 9 months  | Did not serve from March 1973 to April 1975
Brian Mullooly |  | Fianna Fáil | 8 October 1981  | 26 June 2002  | 20 years, 8 months  |
Brendan Ryan |  | Independent | 13 May 1982  | 22 July 2007  | 20 years, 5 months  | Did not serve in 20th Seanad
Eddie Bohan |  | Fianna Fáil | 25 April 1987  | 22 July 2007  | 20 years, 2 months  |
Don Lydon |  | Fianna Fáil | 25 April 1987  | 22 July 2007  | 20 years, 2 months  |
Bernard McGlinchey |  | Fianna Fáil | 14 December 1961  | 21 December 1982  | 20 years, 2 months  | Did not serve in 15th Seanad
Patrick Quinlan |  | Independent | 22 May 1957  | 26 May 1977  | 20 years  |

## Oldest living former office-holders

[edit]

Aged 85 or older:

Name  | Office(s) held  | Date of birth  | Age  | Year retired

|
|
|
|

Tom Fitzpatrick | TD  | 29 July 1926  | 98 years, 11 months  | 1982
Patrick Norton | TD / Senator  | 1928  | 96 years, 6 months+  | 1973
Patrick Cooney | TD / Senator / MEP  | 2 March 1931  | 94 years, 4 months  | 1994
Gerard Lynch | TD / Senator  | 15 June 1931  | 94 years  | 1981
Eileen Lemass | TD / MEP  | 7 July 1932  | 93 years  | 1989
Roger Garland | TD  | February 1933  | 92 years, 4 months+  | 1992
Liam Hyland | TD / Senator / MEP  | 23 April 1933  | 92 years, 2 months  | 2004
Tom Raftery | Senator / MEP  | 15 August 1933  | 91 years, 10 months  | 1993
Jim Corr | TD  | 25 January 1934  | 91 years, 5 months  | 1982
Rory O'Hanlon | TD  | 7 February 1934  | 91 years, 5 months  | 2011
Catherine McGuinness | Senator  | 14 November 1934  | 90 years, 7 months  | 1987
Ann Ormonde | Senator  | 20 January 1935  | 90 years, 5 months  | 2011
Bríd Rodgers | Senator  | 20 February 1935  | 90 years, 4 months  | 2002
Brian Mullooly | Senator  | 21 February 1935  | 90 years, 4 months  | 2002
David Andrews | TD  | 15 March 1935  | 90 years, 3 months  | 2002
Barry Desmond | TD  | 15 May 1935  | 90 years, 1 month  | 1994
Charles McDonald | TD / Senator / MEP  | 11 June 1935  | 90 years  | 1993
Brendan Griffin | TD  | 28 August 1935  | 89 years, 10 months  | 1989
Michael Woods | TD  | 8 December 1935  | 89 years, 7 months  | 2011
Camilla Hannon | Senator  | 21 July 1936  | 88 years, 11 months  | 1982
Máirín Quill | TD / Senator  | 15 September 1936  | 88 years, 9 months  | 2002
Barry Cogan | TD / Senator  | 27 September 1936  | 88 years, 9 months  | 1982
Matt Brennan | TD  | 16 October 1936  | 88 years, 8 months  | 2002
Jim Fitzsimons | TD / MEP  | 16 December 1936  | 88 years, 6 months  | 2004
John Donnellan | TD  | 27 March 1937  | 88 years, 3 months  | 1989
Donal Carey | TD  | 15 October 1937  | 87 years, 8 months  | 2002
Mick Lanigan | Senator  | 30 January 1938  | 87 years, 5 months  | 2002
Ray MacSharry | TD  | 29 April 1938  | 87 years, 2 months  | 1988
Gerry Collins | TD / MEP  | 16 October 1938  | 86 years, 8 months  | 2004
Joe Jacob | TD  | 1 April 1939  | 86 years, 3 months  | 2007
Pádraig Flynn | TD  | 9 May 1939  | 86 years, 2 months  | 1999
Tom Gildea | TD  | September 1939  | 85 years, 10 months  | 2004
Tom Moffatt | TD  | January 1940  | 85 years, 6 months  | 2002

## Oldest ever office-holders

[edit]

Office holders aged 75 or older:

Name  | Office  | Age  | Year retired

|
|
|

Éamon de Valera | President  | Retired aged 90  | 1973
Gerald Boland | Senator  | Retired aged 84  | 1969
Michael D. Higgins | President  | In office aged 84 years, 2 months  | —
Seán MacEntee | TD  | Retired aged 80  | 1969
Maurice Hayes | Senator  | Retired aged 80  | 2007
Charles Fagan | TD  | Retired aged 80  | 1961
David Norris | Senator  | Retired aged 79  | 2024
Jackie Healy-Rae | TD  | Retired aged 79  | 2011
Feargal Quinn | Senator  | Retired aged 79  | 2016
Bernard Durkan | TD  | Lost seat aged 79  | 2024
James Ryan | Senator  | Retired aged 77  | 1969
Seán T. O'Kelly | President  | Retired aged 77  | 1959
P. J. Sheehan | TD  | Retired aged 77  | 2011
Rory O'Hanlon | TD  | Retired aged 77  | 2011
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | TD  | In office aged 77 years, 4 months  | —
Paddy Smith | TD  | Retired aged 76  | 1977
Ann Ormonde | Senator  | Lost seat aged 76  | 2011
Labhrás Ó Murchú | Senator  | Retired aged 76  | 2016
Michael Noonan | TD  | Retired aged 76  | 2020
Paul Coghlan | Senator  | Retired aged 75  | 2020
Seán Barrett | TD  | Retired aged 75  | 2020

## Youngest ever office-holders

[edit]

Name  | Office  | Age on election  | Year elected

|
|
|

William J. Murphy | TD  | 21y 1m  | 1949
Joseph Sweeney | TD  | 21y 6m  | 1918
Lorcan Allen | TD  | 21y 6m  | 1961
Kathleen O'Connor | TD  | 21y 7m  | 1956
Ivan Yates | TD  | 21y 8m  | 1981
Mary Coughlan | TD  | 21y 9m  | 1987
John Bruton | TD  | 22y 1m  | 1969
Paddy Smith | TD  | 22y 2m  | 1923
Miriam Kearney | Senator  | 22y 3m  | 1981
Myra Barry | TD  | 22y 4m  | 1979
Síle de Valera | TD  | 22y 6m  | 1977
Kathryn Reilly | Senator  | 22y 7m  | 2011
James O'Connor | TD  | 22y 7m  | 2020
Oliver J. Flanagan | TD  | 23y 1m  | 1943
Liam Cosgrave | TD  | 23y 2m  | 1943

## Longest surviving cabinet members

[edit]

Government  | Members

|

Brugha (1919) | Richard Mulcahy (died 1971)
De Valera (1919–1921) | Éamon de Valera (died 1975)
De Valera (1921–1922)
Griffith (1922) | Michael Hayes (died 1976)
Collins (1922)
Cosgrave (1922) | Ernest Blythe (died 1975)
Cosgrave (1922–1923)
Cosgrave (1923–1927) | Patrick McGilligan (died 1979)
Cosgrave (1927)
Cosgrave (1927–1930)
Cosgrave (1930–1932)
De Valera (1932–1933) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
De Valera (1933–1937)
De Valera (1937)
De Valera (1937–1938)
De Valera (1938–1943)
De Valera (1943–1944)
De Valera (1944–1948)
Costello (1948–1951) | Noël Browne (died 1997)
De Valera (1951–1954) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
Costello (1954–1957) | Liam Cosgrave (died 2017)
De Valera (1957–1959) | Kevin Boland (died 2001)
Lemass (1959–1961) | Patrick Hillery (died 2008)
Lemass (1961–1965)
Lemass (1965–1966)
Lynch (1966–1969) | Pádraig Faulkner (died 2012)
Lynch (1969–1973) | Gerry Collins
Cosgrave (1973–1977) | Patrick Cooney
Lynch (1977–1979) | Gerry Collins
Haughey (1979–1981) | Ray Burke, Gerry Collins, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Ray MacSharry, Michael Woods
FitzGerald (1981–1982) | Patrick Cooney, Alan Dukes
Haughey (1982) | Ray Burke, Gerry Collins, Pádraig Flynn, Ray MacSharry, Michael Woods

## Longest surviving Dáil members

[edit]

Dáil  | Election  | Members

|
|

1st Dáil | 1918 | Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
2nd Dáil | 1921 | Tom Maguire (died 1993)
3rd Dáil | 1922
4th Dáil | 1923
5th Dáil | 1927 (June) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
6th Dáil | 1927 (Sept)
7th Dáil | 1932 | James Dillon (died 1986)
8th Dáil | 1933 | James McGuire (died 1989)
9th Dáil | 1937 | James Dillon (died 1986)
10th Dáil | 1938
11th Dáil | 1943 | Liam Cosgrave (died 2017)
12th Dáil | 1944
13th Dáil | 1948 | William J. Murphy (died 2018)
14th Dáil | 1951 | Liam Cosgrave (died 2017)
15th Dáil | 1954 | Patrick Byrne (died 2021)
16th Dáil | 1957 | Brigid Hogan (died 2022)
17th Dáil | 1961 | Lorcan Allen, John Donnellan
18th Dáil | 1965 | Lorcan Allen, David Andrews, John Donnellan,
Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Patrick Norton

## Longest lived former office-holders

[edit]

Aged 90 or more at time of death:

Name  | Date of birth  | Date of death  | Age

|
|
|

Philip Brady | 10 June 1893  | 6 January 1995  | 101 years, 6 months
Eddie Filgate | 16 September 1915  | 19 January 2017  | 101 years, 4 months
Tom Maguire | 28 March 1892  | 5 July 1993  | 101 years, 3 months
T. K. Whitaker | 8 December 1916  | 9 January 2017  | 100 years, 1 month
Tom Fitzpatrick | 29 July 1926  |  | 98 years, 11 months
Edward MacLysaght | 6 November 1887  | 4 March 1986  | 98 years, 3 months
Seán Ó Ceallaigh | 17 April 1896  | 15 June 1994  | 98 years, 1 month
Domhnall Ua Buachalla | 5 February 1866  | 30 October 1963  | 97 years, 8 months
Liam Cosgrave | 13 April 1920  | 4 October 2017  | 97 years, 5 months
Matthew Stafford | 1852  | 12 June 1950  | 97 years, 5 months+
Patrick Byrne | 2 April 1925  | 19 October 2021  | 96 years, 6 months
Patrick Norton | 1928  |  | 96 years, 6 months
George Noble Plunkett | 3 December 1851  | 12 March 1948  | 96 years, 3 months
Séamus Dolan | 10 December 1914  | 10 August 2010  | 95 years, 8 months
Thomas Finlay | 17 September 1922  | 3 December 2017  | 95 years, 2 months
John A. Murphy | 17 January 1927  | 28 February 2022  | 95 years, 1 month
Thomas Westropp Bennett | 30 January 1867  | 1 February 1962  | 95 years
Jimmy Leonard | 5 June 1927  | 13 April 2022  | 94 years, 10 months
Seán Treacy | 23 September 1923  | 23 March 2018  | 94 years, 6 months
Kathleen Clarke | 11 April 1878  | 29 September 1972  | 94 years, 5 months
Robert Barton | 4 March 1881  | 10 August 1975  | 94 years, 5 months
Joseph Farrell | 1 July 1905  | 24 November 1999  | 94 years, 4 months
Seán MacEntee | 22 August 1889  | 10 January 1984  | 94 years, 4 months
William McMullen | 22 July 1888  | 12 December 1982  | 94 years, 4 months
Patrick Cooney | 2 March 1931  |  | 94 years, 4 months
Pádraig Faulkner | 12 March 1918  | 1 June 2012  | 94 years, 2 months
Jack Harte | 10 December 1920  | 9 March 2015  | 94 years, 2 months
Tom O'Donnell | 30 August 1926  | 8 October 2020  | 94 years, 1 month
Gerard Lynch | 15 June 1931  |  | 94 years
Hugh Conaghan | 6 May 1926  | 25 March 2020  | 93 years, 10 months
Tras Honan | 4 January 1930  | 25 November 2023  | 93 years, 10 months
Richard Barry | 4 September 1919  | 28 April 2013  | 93 years, 7 months
Tony Herbert | 9 August 1920  | 6 March 2014  | 93 years, 6 months
Patrick Finucane | 5 December 1890  | 10 April 1984  | 93 years, 4 months
Denis Cullen | 23 September 1878  | 26 November 1971  | 93 years, 2 months
Peadar O'Donnell | 22 February 1893  | 13 May 1986  | 93 years, 2 months
Donal Creed | 7 September 1924  | 23 November 2017  | 93 years, 2 months
Sam McAughtry | 24 March 1921  | 28 March 2014  | 93 years
Kit Ahern | 13 January 1915  | 27 December 2007  | 92 years, 11 months
Eileen Lemass | 7 July 1932  |  | 93 years
Éamon de Valera | 14 October 1882  | 29 August 1975  | 92 years, 10 months
William Sheldon | 18 January 1907  | 1 November 1999  | 92 years, 9 months
Charles Fagan | 1 October 1881  | 8 May 1974  | 92 years, 7 months
Ted Russell | 1 April 1912  | 28 November 2004  | 92 years, 7 months
Roger Garland | February 1933  |  | 92 years, 5 months
Joseph Dowling | 2 February 1922  | 31 May 2014  | 92 years, 3 months
Liam Hyland | 23 April 1933  |  | 92 years, 2 months
Patrick O'Reilly | 1911  | March 2003  | 92 years+
Patrick Shanahan | 10 March 1908  | 1 February 2000  | 91 years, 10 months
Andy O'Brien | 21 January 1915  | 4 December 2006  | 91 years, 10 months
Kieran Crotty | 30 August 1930  | 22 July 2022  | 91 years, 10 months
Tom Raftery | 15 August 1933  |  | 91 years, 10 months
Eileen Costello | 27 June 1870  | 4 March 1962  | 91 years, 8 months
John N. Ross | 17 May 1920  | 24 December 2011  | 91 years, 7 months
Robert Malachy Burke | 1 March 1907  | 20 September 1998  | 91 years, 6 months
Peter Sands | 1 May 1924  | 17 October 2015  | 91 years, 5 months
Séamus de Brún | 1 October 1911  | 5 March 2003  | 91 years, 5 months
Hugh Gibbons | 6 July 1916  | 13 November 2007  | 91 years, 4 months
Thomas Meaney | 11 August 1931  | 26 December 2022  | 91 years, 4 months
Jim Corr | 25 January 1934  |  | 91 years, 5 months
Rory O'Hanlon | 7 February 1934  |  | 91 years, 5 months
Jackie Fahey | 23 January 1928  | 18 March 2019  | 91 years, 1 month
Conor Cruise O'Brien | 3 November 1917  | 18 December 2008  | 91 years, 1 month
Edward McGuire | 28 August 1901  | 27 October 1992  | 91 years, 1 month
Richard Conroy | 12 September 1933  | 14 October 2024  | 91 years, 1 month
Bryan Cusack | 2 August 1882  | 24 May 1973  | 90 years, 9 months
Thomas Johnson | 17 May 1872  | 17 January 1963  | 90 years, 8 months
Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins | 10 March 1932  | 2 November 2022  | 90 years, 7 months
Patrick McGilligan | 12 April 1889  | 15 November 1979  | 90 years, 7 months
Catherine McGuinness | 14 November 1934  |  | 90 years, 7 months
Dominick Murphy | 1918  | 1 June 2009  | 90 years, 5 months+
Maurice Hayes | 8 July 1927  | 23 December 2017  | 90 years, 5 months
William J. Murphy | 17 May 1928  | 18 September 2018  | 90 years, 4 months
Ann Ormonde | 20 January 1935  |  | 90 years, 5 months
David Andrews | 15 March 1935  |  | 90 years, 3 months
Margaret Mary Pearse | 24 August 1878  | 7 November 1968  | 90 years, 2 months
Michael D'Arcy | 7 March 1934  | 1 May 2024  | 90 years, 1 month
Richie Ryan | 27 February 1929  | 17 March 2019  | 90 years
John Griffith | 5 October 1848  | 21 October 1938  | 90 years
Patrick Lalor | 21 July 1926  | 29 July 2016  | 90 years

## Shortest lived office-holders

[edit]

Aged 40 or younger at time of death:

Name  | Date of birth  | Date of death  | Age  | Cause of death

|
|
|
|

Kieran Doherty | 16 October 1955  | 2 August 1981  | 25y  | Hunger strike
Liam Mellows | 25 May 1895  | 8 December 1922  | 27y 6m  | Execution during the Irish Civil War
Michael Collins | 16 October 1890  | 22 August 1922  | 31y 10m  | Shot during the Irish Civil War
Don Davern | 4 March 1935  | 2 November 1968  | 33y 7m  | Sudden illness
Michael Derham | 1889  | 20 November 1923  | 34y 10m-  | Sudden illness
Kevin O'Higgins | 7 June 1892  | 10 July 1927  | 35y 1m  | Assassinated by former Civil War opponents
Séamus Dwyer | 15 November 1886  | 20 December 1922  | 36y 1m  | Assassinated during the Irish Civil War
Billy Fox | 3 January 1939  | 12 March 1974  | 35y 2m  | Assassinated during the Troubles
Harry Boland | 27 April 1887  | 31 July 1922  | 35y 3m  | Shot during the Irish Civil War
Frank Carney | 25 April 1896  | 19 October 1932  | 36y 5m  | Ill-health
Pierce McCan | 2 August 1882  | 6 March 1919  | 36y 7m  | Influenza epidemic
Séamus Ryan | 6 December 1895  | 30 June 1933  | 37y 6m  | Sudden illness
Thomas A. Finlay | 11 October 1893  | 22 November 1932  | 39y 1m  | Typhoid fever
A. P. Byrne | 12 June 1913  | 26 July 1952  | 39y 1m  |
Sir Osmond Esmonde | 4 April 1896  | 22 July 1936  | 40y 3m  | Sudden illness
Clement Coughlan | 14 August 1942  | 1 February 1983  | 40y 5m  | Traffic accident

## Members who died in office

[edit]

Main article: List of members of Dáil Éireann who died in office

Main article: List of members of Seanad Éireann who died in office

## Longest-serving cabinet ministers (in same office)

[edit]

Name  | Office  | Years

|
|

Seán Lemass | Minister for Industry and Commerce | 19 years, 2 months
Éamon de Valera | Minister for External Affairs | 15 years, 11 months
Frank Aiken | Minister for External Affairs | 15 years, 3 months
James Ryan | Minister for Agriculture | 14 years, 10 months
Thomas Derrig | Minister for Education | 14 years, 1 month
Gerald Boland | Minister for Justice | 11 years, 4 months
Oscar Traynor | Minister for Defence | 11 years, 4 months
Seán MacEntee | Minister for Finance | 10 years, 5 months

## Shortest-serving cabinet ministers

[edit]

This table lists the shortest periods that a member of government held a particular ministerial office. In some of these cases, the minister held it as well as another ministerial office, being appointed after the resignation of another member of government. Acting Ministers are not listed. Jim McDaid, who was proposed as Minister for Defence on 13 November 1991, but whose name was withdrawn later that day, is not included.[2][3]

Name  | Office  | Length  | Term of Office  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Bertie Ahern | Minister for Industry and Commerce | 8 days  | 4 January 1993  | 12 January 1993  | Following nomination of Pádraig Flynn as European Commissioner
Brian Cowen | Minister for Energy | 11 days  | 12 January 1993  | 20 January 1993  | Prior to reconfiguration of government departments
Frank Aiken | Minister for Agriculture | 11 days  | 16 November 1957  | 27 November 1957  | Following death of Seán Moylan
Barry Cowen | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | 17 days  | 27 June 2020  | 14 July 2020  | Sacked as minister
Kevin O'Higgins | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 17 days  | 23 June 1927  | 10 July 1927  | Died in office
Arthur Griffith | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 17 days  | 26 July 1922  | 12 August 1922  | Died in office
Thomas Derrig | Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | 19 days  | 8 September 1939  | 27 September 1939  |
Seán T. O'Kelly | Minister for Education | 19 days  | 8 September 1939  | 27 September 1939  |
Paddy Power | Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | 20 days  | 7 October 1982  | 27 October 1982  | Following resignation of Desmond O'Malley
Erskine Childers | Director of Propaganda | 20 days  | 12 February 1921  | 8 March 1921  |
John Wilson | Minister for Communications | 27 days  | 10 March 1987  | 31 March 1987  | Prior to reconfiguration of government departments
Bertie Ahern | Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | 27 days  | 18 November 1994  | 15 December 1994  | Following resignation of Michael D. Higgins
Charlie McCreevy | Minister for Enterprise and Employment | 27 days  | 18 November 1994  | 15 December 1994  | Following resignation of Ruairi Quinn
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | Minister for Equality and Law Reform | 27 days  | 18 November 1994  | 15 December 1994  | Following resignation of Mervyn Taylor
Michael Smith | Minister for Education | 27 days  | 18 November 1994  | 15 December 1994  | Following resignation of Niamh Bhreathnach
Michael Woods | Minister for Health | 27 days  | 18 November 1994  | 15 December 1994  | Following resignation of Brendan Howlin
Dara Calleary | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | 38 days  | 15 July 2020  | 21 August 2020  | Resignation

## People appointed to cabinet at the start of their first term as TD

[edit]

Name  | Office  | Date

|
|

Noël Browne | Minister for Health | February 1948
Kevin Boland | Minister for Defence | March 1957
Martin O'Donoghue | Minister for Economic Planning and Development | July 1977
Alan Dukes | Minister for Agriculture | June 1981
Niamh Bhreathnach | Minister for Education | January 1993
Katherine Zappone | Minister for Children and Youth Affairs | May 2016
Norma Foley | Minister for Education | June 2020
Roderic O'Gorman | Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth | June 2020

## People appointed as Minister of State at the start of their first term as TD

[edit]

Name  | Office[a] | Date

|
|

John O'Donovan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Government | June 1954
John M. Kelly | Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | March 1973
Mary Flaherty | Minister of State for Poverty and the Family | June 1981
Dick Spring | Minister of State for Law Reform | June 1981
Ted Nealon | Minister of State for Western Development | June 1981
Joan Burton | Minister of State for Poverty | January 1993
Eithne FitzGerald | Minister of State for the National Development Plan | January 1993
Tim O'Malley | Minister of State for Mental Health Services and Food Safety | June 2002
Ciarán Cannon | Minister of State for Training and Skills | March 2011
Alan Kelly | Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport | March 2011
Seán Canney | Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief | May 2016
Ossian Smyth | Minister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernment | July 2020
Malcolm Noonan | Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform | July 2020

## Senators appointed to cabinet

[edit]

Name  | Office  | Date  | Government

|
|
|

Joseph Connolly | Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | March 1932  | 6th Exec. Council
Minister for Lands and Fisheries | February 1933  | 7th Exec. Council
Seán Moylan | Minister for Agriculture | May 1957  | 8th government
James Dooge | Minister for Foreign Affairs | October 1981  | 17th government

## Oldest person currently in office

[edit]

Politicians born before 1955:

Name  | Office  | Date of birth  | Age as of 10 July 2025

|
|
|

Michael D. Higgins | President  | 18 April 1941  | 84 years, 2 months
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | TD  | 10 March 1948  | 77 years, 4 months
Séamus Healy | TD  | 9 August 1950  | 74 years, 11 months
Michael McDowell | Senator  | 1 May 1951  | 74 years, 2 months
Willie O'Dea | TD  | 1 November 1952  | 72 years, 8 months
Dessie Ellis | TD  | 23 September 1953  | 71 years, 9 months
Gerard Craughwell | Senator  | 22 November 1953  | 71 years, 7 months
Marian Harkin | TD  | 26 November 1953  | 71 years, 7 months
Danny Healy-Rae | TD  | 16 July 1954  | 70 years, 11 months
Eamon Scanlon | TD  | 20 September 1954  | 70 years, 9 months

## Youngest person currently in office

[edit]

Politicians born since 1985:

Name  | Office  | Date of birth  | Age as of 10 July 2025

|
|
|

Eoghan Kenny | TD  | February 2000  | 25 years, 4 months
Albert Dolan | TD  | 1 December 1998  | 26 years, 7 months
James O'Connor | TD  | 20 June 1997  | 28 years
Barry Heneghan | TD  | 1997  | 28 years, 6 months
Louis O'Hara | TD  | 1997  | 28 years, 6 months
Paul Lawless | TD  | 1996  | 29 years, 6 months
Ryan O'Meara | TD  | 1994  | 31 years, 6 months
Conor Sheehan | TD  | 15 June 1993  | 32 years
Claire Kerrane | TD  | 24 April 1992  | 33 years, 2 months
Jack Chambers | TD  | 21 November 1990  | 34 years, 7 months
Mairéad Farrell | TD  | 6 January 1990  | 35 years, 6 months
Eileen Flynn | Senator  | 1990  | 35 years, 6 months
Pádraig Rice | TD  | 1990  | 35 years, 6 months
Holly Cairns | TD  | 4 November 1989  | 35 years, 8 months
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire | TD  | 8 February 1989  | 36 years, 5 months
John Cummins | TD  | 29 June 1988  | 37 years
Naoise Ó Cearúil | TD  | 1988  | 37 years, 6 months
Eoin Hayes | TD  | 15 October 1987  | 37 years, 8 months
Gary Gannon | TD  | 18 February 1987  | 38 years, 4 months
Simon Harris | TD  | 17 October 1986  | 38 years, 8 months
Helen McEntee | TD  | 8 June 1986  | 39 years, 1 month
Aidan Farrelly | TD  | 1986  | 39 years, 6 months
James Geoghegan | TD  | 1985  | 40 years, 6 months
Conor D. McGuinness | TD  | 1985  | 40 years, 6 months

## Members of the current government by age

[edit]

Main article: 35th government of Ireland

Name  | Date of birth  | Age as of 10 July 2025

|
|

Micheál Martin | 1 August 1960  | 64 years, 11 months
Jim O'Callaghan | 5 January 1968  | 57 years, 6 months
Norma Foley | 1970  | 55 years, 6 months
Dara Calleary | 10 May 1973  | 52 years, 2 months
Darragh O'Brien | 8 July 1974  | 51 years
Paschal Donohoe | 19 September 1974  | 50 years, 9 months
James Browne | 15 October 1975  | 49 years, 8 months
James Lawless | 19 August 1976  | 48 years, 10 months
Patrick O'Donovan | 21 March 1977  | 48 years, 3 months
Martin Heydon | 9 August 1978  | 46 years, 11 months
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill | 5 September 1980  | 44 years, 10 months
Peter Burke | 22 October 1982  | 42 years, 8 months
Helen McEntee | 8 June 1986  | 39 years, 1 month
Simon Harris | 17 October 1986  | 38 years, 8 months
Jack Chambers | 21 November 1990  | 34 years, 7 months

## Longest service (cumulative)

[edit]

Name  | Office(s)  | Years

|
|

Éamon de Valera | TD / President | 55
Paddy Smith | TD  | 54
Frank Aiken | TD  | 50
James Ryan | TD / Senator  | 50
Neil Blaney | TD / MEP | 47
Gerald Boland | TD / Senator  | 46

## Married couples/Domestic partners in the same Oireachtas

[edit]

Couple  | Oireachtas | Notes[b]

|
|

Michael O'Higgins | Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins | 16th, 17th and 18th Dáil | Married in 1958 when both were members of the 16th Dáil
Alexis FitzGerald Jnr | Mary Flaherty | 23rd Dáil and 15th Seanad; 24th Dáil and 17th Seanad | Married couple
Joe McHugh | Olwyn Enright | 29th Dáil and 22nd Seanad; 30th Dáil | Married in 2005 when they were a Senator and TD respectively
Paul Bradford | Lucinda Creighton | 24th Seanad and 31st Dáil | Married in 2013 when they were a Senator and TD respectively
Martin McAleese | Mary McAleese | 24th Seanad and President of Ireland | Married couple
Francis Noel Duffy | Catherine Martin | 33rd Dáil | Married couple
Eoin Ó Broin | Lynn Boylan | 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad | Domestic partners
Colm Brophy | Maeve O'Connell | 34th Dáil | Married couple

## Members of both the British Parliament and of the Oireachtas

[edit]

This lists those with a separate mandate to the Oireachtas and the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and therefore does not include members of the 1st Dáil.

Name  | Parliament of the United Kingdom | Oireachtas

|
|

Gerry Adams |  | MP 1983–1992  | TD 2011–2020
MP 1997–2011
Dermot Bourke, 7th Earl of Mayo |  | Peer 1890–1927R | Senator 1922–1927
P. J. Brady |  | MP 1910–1918  | Senator 1927–1928
Alfie Byrne |  | MP 1915–1918  | TD 1922–1928
TD 1932–1956
Senator 1928–1931
James Campbell, later Lord Glenavy |  | MP 1898–1900  | Senator 1922–1928 (Cathaoirleach)
MP 1903–1917
| Peer 1921–1931H
Bryan Cooper |  | MP 1910  | TD 1923–1930
James Cosgrave |  | MP 1914–1918  | TD 1923–1927
William Duffy |  | MP 1900–1918  | TD 1927
Sir John Esmonde |  | MP 1915–1918  | TD 1937–1944
Sir Thomas Esmonde |  | MP 1885–1918  | Senator 1922–1934
Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard |  | Peer 1889–1948H | Senator 1922–1934
Laurence Ginnell |  | MP 1906–1918  | TD 1918–1923
Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh |  | Peer 1967–1992H | Senator 1973–1977 (Nominated by the Taoiseach)
Edward Haughey, later Lord Ballyedmond |  | Peer 2004–2014L | Senator 1994–2002 (Nominated by the Taoiseach)
Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow |  | Peer 1905–1946R | Senator 1922–1928
Hugh Law |  | MP 1902–1918  | TD 1927–1932
Elisha McCallion |  | MP 2017–2019  | Senator 2020 (Industrial and Commercial Panel)
Seamus Mallon |  | MP 1986–2005  | Senator 1982–1983 (Nominated by the Taoiseach)
James O'Mara |  | MP 1900–1907  | TD 1918–1921
TD 1924–1927
Stephen O'Mara |  | MP 1886  | Senator 1925–1926
Earl of Kerry, later Marquess of Lansdowne |  | MP 1908–1918  | Senator 1922–1929
| Peer 1927–1936H
Horace Plunkett |  | MP 1892–1900  | Senator 1922–1923
William Redmond |  | MP 1910–1922  | TD 1923–1932
Geoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort |  | Peer 1894–1943H | Senator 1922–1928
Windham Wyndham-Quin,
4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl |  | Peer 1871–1926H | Senator 1922–1926

Notes:

R Sat as an Irish representative peer under the Act of Union 1800
H Sat as a hereditary peer
L Sat as a life peer

## Diversity records

[edit]

### Women

[edit]

* First female TD – Constance Markievicz, elected to the First Dáil in 1918
* First female minister – Constance Markievicz was appointed as Minister for Labour in the Ministry of Dáil Éireann from 1919 to 1922
* First female Senators – Eileen Costello, Ellen Cuffe, Alice Stopford Green and Jennie Wyse Power, elected or nominated in 1922
* First female Minister of State – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy in 1977 (becoming Minister of State in 1978 when the position was reformed)
* First female cabinet minister since independence – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed Minister for the Gaeltacht in 1979
* First female party leader in the Dáil – Mary Harney (Progressive Democrats), 1993
* First female President of Ireland – Mary Robinson, who was elected in 1990 and served until 1997
* First female Tánaiste – Mary Harney, appointed in 1997
* First female Leader of the Opposition – Mary Lou McDonald – 2020
* First female Ceann Comhairle – Verona Murphy – 2024

### Religion

[edit]

* First Jewish Senator – Ellen Cuffe, appointed to the Irish Free State Seanad Éireann as an independent member (1922–1931)
* First Jewish TD – Robert Briscoe, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South (1932–1948) and Dublin South-West (1948–1961)
* First openly atheist TD – Jim Kemmy, Democratic Socialist Party/Labour Party TD for Limerick East 1981–1982 and 1987–1997
* First Muslim TD – Moosajee Bhamjee, Labour Party TD for Clare from 1992 to 1997
* First Quaker Senator – James G. Douglas, Independent Senator from 1922 to 1936 and 1938 to 1954

### LGBT people

[edit]

#### Seanad

[edit]

* First openly gay Oireachtas member – David Norris, independent senator for Dublin University from 1987 to 2024.
* First openly lesbian Oireachtas member – Katherine Zappone, independent senator from 2011 to 2016.
* First member of the Oireachtas in a recognised same-sex relationship – Katherine Zappone, who married Ann Louise Gilligan in British Columbia, Canada in 2003. This was recognised in Irish law as a civil partnership from 2010 and as marriage from 2015.
* First serving member of the Oireachtas to enter into a same-sex marriage – Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael senator) in December 2017.
* First serving member of the Oireachtas to come out as bisexual – Annie Hoey, (Labour Party senator) in 2020.
* First openly gay Cathaoirleach – Jerry Buttimer from December 2022 to November 2024

#### Dáil

[edit]

* First openly gay TDs – John Lyons (Labour Party TD) and Dominic Hannigan (Labour Party TD), both elected in 2011.
* First serving member of the Oireachtas to come out – Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael), Senator 2007–2011 and since 2016, TD 2011–2016, came out in April 2012.
* First openly lesbian TD – Katherine Zappone, Independent TD from 2016 to 2020.
* First openly gay TD elected in a by-election, and first openly gay Fianna Fáil TD – Malcolm Byrne, elected in November 2019, served until February 2020, and again from November 2024.
* First openly gay Social Democrats TD – Cian O'Callaghan, TD since February 2020. Previously first openly gay mayor of a city or county council in Ireland. Mayor of Fingal County Council in 2012.
* First openly gay Green Party TD – Roderic O'Gorman, TD since February 2020.
* First openly gay Independent Ireland TD – Ken O'Flynn, TD since November 2024.[4]
* First openly gay TD to be elected the leader of a political party in Dáil Eireann – Leo Varadkar (leader of Fine Gael from June 2017 to March 2024[5][6]). (Roderic O'Gorman became the second openly gay TD to be elected leader of a political party in the Dáil when he was elected leader of the Green Party in July 2024).[7]
* First openly gay deputy leader of Fianna Fáil – Jack Chambers, since June 2024.[8]
* First Dáil constituency to elect two openly gay TDs in the same election – Dublin West since February 2020, with Roderic O'Gorman and Leo Varadkar. A third TD for Dublin West, Jack Chambers, came out as gay in January 2024.[9] This made the four-seater Dublin West constituency the first constituency to be represented by a majority of openly gay TDs in the same Dáil.[10]
* First serving TD to enter into a same-sex marriage – Roderic O'Gorman (Green Party TD) in August 2023.

#### Government

[edit]

* First serving cabinet minister to come out – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), first elected in 2007, became a Minister in 2011, came out in 2015. Pat Carey (Fianna Fáil) who was a TD from 1997 to 2011, and served as a Minister from 2010 to 2011, came out in 2015 after his retirement.
* First openly lesbian serving cabinet minister – Katherine Zappone, Minister from 2016 to 2020.
* First openly gay Taoiseach – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), Taoiseach from June 2017 to June 2020.
* First openly gay Tánaiste – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), Tánaiste from June 2020 to December 2022.
* First constituency to have two openly gay cabinet Ministers – Dublin West since June 2020; Leo Varadkar and Roderic O'Gorman, and again from 26 June 2024, Jack Chambers and Roderic O'Gorman.
* First serving cabinet minister to enter into a same-sex marriage – Roderic O'Gorman (Green Party TD) in August 2023.

### Ethnic minorities

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* First Indian South African/Irish of Indian descent in the Oireachtas – Moosajee Bhamjee, Labour TD for Clare 1992–1997.
* First Irish of Indian descent to be a government minister (2011), Taoiseach (2017–2020, 2022–2024) and Tánaiste (2020–2022) – Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael TD elected in 2007 for Dublin West.
* First Irish of Czech descent member of the Oireachtas – Ivana Bacik, elected to the Seanad in 2007 for the Labour Party.
* First person of Traveller descent member of the Oireachtas – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Féin TD elected to the Dáil in 2011 for Donegal.
* First Traveller member of the Oireachtas – Eileen Flynn, appointed to the Seanad in 2020.

## Party leaders

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Party leaders serving 10 years or more:

Leader  | Tenure  | Party  | Period  | Constituency

|
|
|
|

Éamon de Valera | 42y  |  | Sinn Féin | 1917–1926  |

* East Clare
* Clare

| Fianna Fáil | 1926–1959
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh | 39y  |  | Sinn Féin | 1970–1983  | Longford–Westmeath
| Republican Sinn Féin | 1986–2009
Gerry Adams | 35y  |  | Sinn Féin | 1983–2018  |

* Belfast West
* Louth

William Norton | 28y  |  | Labour | 1932–1960  | Kildare
Tomás Mac Giolla | 26y  |  | Sinn Féin | 1962–1970  | Dublin West
| Sinn Féin (Official) | 1970–1977
| Sinn Féin The Workers' Party | 1977–1982
| Workers' Party | 1982–1988
Joseph Blowick | 21y  |  | Clann na Talmhan | 1944–1965  | Mayo South
W. T. Cosgrave | 20y  |  | Cumann na nGaedheal | 1923–1933  |

* Kilkenny City
* North Kilkenny
* Carlow–Kilkenny
* Cork Borough

| Fine Gael | 1934–1944
Seán MacBride | 19y  |  | Clann na Poblachta | 1946–1965  | Dublin County
John Redmond | 18y  |  | Irish Parliamentary | 1900–1918  | Waterford City
Brendan Corish | 17y  |  | Labour | 1960–1977  | Wexford
Richard Mulcahy | 15y  |  | Fine Gael | 1944–1959[c][d] | Tipperary
Dick Spring | 15y  |  | Labour | 1982–1997  | Kerry North
Enda Kenny | 15y  |  | Fine Gael | 2002–2017  |

* Mayo West
* Mayo

Bertie Ahern | 14y  |  | Fianna Fáil | 1994–2008  |

* Dublin Finglas
* Dublin Central

Mary Harney | 14y  |  | Progressive Democrats |

* 1993–2006
* 2007–2008

* Dublin South-West
* Dublin Mid-West

Micheál Martin | 14y  |  | Fianna Fáil | 2011–present  | Cork South-Central
Jack Lynch | 13y  |  | Fianna Fáil | 1966–1979  | Cork City
Charles Haughey | 13y  |  | Fianna Fáil | 1979–1992  | Dublin North-Central
Margaret Buckley | 13y  |  | Sinn Féin | 1937–1950  | None
Eamon Ryan | 13y  |  | Green | 2011–2024  | Dublin Bay South
Liam Cosgrave | 12y  |  | Fine Gael | 1965–1977  | Dún Laoghaire
John Bruton | 11y  |  | Fine Gael | 1990–2001  | Meath
Garret FitzGerald | 10y  |  | Fine Gael | 1977–1987  | Dublin South-East

## See also

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* Families in the Oireachtas
* List of Irish politicians
* List of Irish politicians who changed party affiliation
* List of members of the Oireachtas imprisoned since 1923
* List of members of the Oireachtas imprisoned during the Irish revolutionary period
* List of female cabinet ministers of the Republic of Ireland
* List of female members of Dáil Éireann
* List of female members of Seanad Éireann
* Records of Irish heads of government since 1922
* First women holders of political offices in Ireland
* List of members of Seanad Éireann who died in office
* List of members of Dáil Éireann who died in office
* Father of the Dáil

## Footnotes

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1. ^ The office was called Parliamentary Secretary until 1978.
2. ^ David Cullinane and Kathleen Funchion were both elected to the Dáil in 2016. They had been married from 2007 to 2013.
3. ^ While Mulcahy was a member of the Seanad in 1944, Tom O'Higgins acted as parliamentary party leader.
4. ^ Between 1948 and 1959, John A. Costello served as parliamentary leader.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "3. AN ROLLA. – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 21 January 1919". Houses of the Oireachtas (in Irish). Retrieved 23 March 2020.
2. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 November 1991". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
3. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 November 1991". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 August 2020. "I wish to request leave of the House to withdraw the motion concerning nomination of Members of the Government which I moved today."
4. ^ O'Keeffe, Donal (24 September 2022). ""We met in the wine section": Cork councillor on finding love and canvassing plans for the honeymoon". The Echo. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
5. ^ "Varadkar outlines his priorities after winning election". RTÉ News. 2 June 2017.
6. ^ Wall, Martin; Leahy, Pat (25 March 2024). "Simon Harris rules out early election after taking over as Fine Gael leader". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
7. ^ McGee, Harry; Leahy, Pat (8 July 2024). "Roderic O'Gorman 'deeply humbled' after being elected new leader of the Green Party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
8. ^ Irish Times (19 June 2024). ""Micheál Martin names Jack Chambers as Fianna Fáil's deputy leader"". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
9. ^ Bray, Jennifer; Beesley, Arthur (14 January 2024). "Minister of State Jack Chambers announces he is gay". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
10. ^ Linehan, Alice (15 January 2024). "Irish Cabinet minister Jack Chambers comes out as gay". GCN. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

## External links

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* Directory of Members - Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais