The Taoiseach is the head of the Government of Ireland. Under Article 13 of the Constitution of Ireland, the Taoiseach is appointed by the President of Ireland on the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas.Constitution of Ireland, Article 13.1.2°. The Taoiseach must be a member of Dáil Éireann.Constitution of Ireland, Article 28.7.1°.
After a general election or the resignation or death of a Taoiseach, members of the Dáil are proposed and seconded for the nomination of the Dáil to the position of Taoiseach. They are voted on in the order in which they are proposed. The candidate reaching a majority of votes cast wins the nomination, and is formally appointed as Taoiseach by the President in Áras an Uachtaráin. Before 2016, all successful candidates obtained the votes of 50% or more of the house, but following the 2016 election, Enda Kenny was elected with the votes of just over one-third of TDs after Fianna Fáil abstained as part of a confidence and supply arrangement. Since 2016, it has been possible to formally register an abstention in Dáil votes. The Ceann Comhairle casts a vote only in the case of a tie.
The Constitution of Ireland came into operation on 29 December 1937. From 6 December 1922 to 29 December 1937, during the period of the Irish Free State, the head of government was the President of the Executive Council, who was nominated by Dáil Éireann, and appointed by the Governor-General. The Governor-General was abolished in 1936. After the 1937 general election, before the coming into operation of the Constitution of Ireland, the President of the Executive Council took office immediately on the election by the Dáil.
Prior to 6 December 1922, during the period of the Irish Republic, the head of government was the President of Dáil Éireann who was elected by Dáil Éireann.
A breakdown of votes is on the pages of governments formed, while support for unsuccessful candidates is noted below.
DáilDateFollowingCandidatePartyYesNoAbstainGovernmentNotes1st1918 electionCathal Brugha Unopposed1st MinistryTemporary government while many members of Sinn Féin were in prisonResignation of BrughaÉamon de Valera Unopposed2nd Ministry2nd1921 electionÉamon de Valera Unopposed3rd MinistryResignation of de ValeraÉamon de Valera Total figures are the Sinn Féin members of the Second Dáil after the 1921 electionResignation of de ValeraArthur Griffith No division4th MinistryAnti-Treaty members left the Dáil before the vote was called3rd1922 electionW. T. Cosgrave No division5th MinistryLabour Party and other TDs in opposition but did not call a voteEstablishment of the Irish Free StateW. T. Cosgrave No division1st Executive CouncilLabour Party and other TDs in opposition but did not call a vote4th1923 electionW. T. Cosgrave No division2nd Executive CouncilLabour Party and other TDs in opposition but did not call a vote5thJune 1927 electionW. T. Cosgrave 3rd Executive CouncilFianna Fáil abstained from the Dáil until 12 August.6thSeptember 1927 electionW. T. Cosgrave 4th Executive CouncilResignation of CosgraveÉamon de Valera Thomas J. O'Connell W. T. Cosgrave 5th Executive Council7th1932 electionÉamon de Valera 6th Executive Council8th1933 electionÉamon de Valera 7th Executive Council9th1937 electionÉamon de Valera 8th Executive CouncilBecame the 1st Government of Ireland on 29 December 193710th1938 electionÉamon de Valera 2nd Government11th1943 electionÉamon de Valera 3rd GovernmentW. T. Cosgrave 12th1944 electionÉamon de Valera 4th Government13th1948 electionÉamon de Valera John A. Costello 5th Government14th1951 electionJohn A. Costello Support of parties of the outgoing governmentÉamon de Valera 6th Government15th1954 electionÉamon de Valera John A. Costello 7th Government16th1957 electionÉamon de Valera 8th GovernmentResignation of de ValeraSeán Lemass 9th Government17th1961 electionSeán Lemass 10th GovernmentJames Dillon Brendan Corish 18th1965 electionSeán Lemass 11th GovernmentJames Dillon Brendan Corish Resignation of LemassJack Lynch 12th GovernmentLiam Cosgrave Brendan Corish 19th1969 electionJack Lynch 13th GovernmentLiam Cosgrave Brendan Corish 20th1973 electionJack Lynch Liam Cosgrave 14th Government21st1977 electionJack Lynch 15th GovernmentResignation of LynchCharles Haughey 16th Government22nd1981 electionCharles Haughey Garret FitzGerald 17th Government23rdFeb. 1982 electionCharles Haughey 18th GovernmentGarret FitzGerald 24thNov. 1982 electionCharles Haughey Garret FitzGerald 19th Government25th1987 electionGarret FitzGerald Charles Haughey 20th GovernmentCeann Comhairle Seán Treacy exercised his casting vote in favour of the nomination of HaugheyDesmond O'Malley 26th1989 electionCharles Haughey Haughey resigned as Taoiseach but continued to carry out his dutiesAlan Dukes Support of the Progressive DemocratsDick Spring Support of the Workers' Party, Democratic Socialist Party and Tony GregoryCharles Haughey 21st GovernmentAlan Dukes Dick Spring Resignation of HaugheyAlbert Reynolds 22nd GovernmentJohn Bruton 27th1992 electionAlbert Reynolds Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach but continued to carry out his dutiesJohn Bruton Support of the Progressive DemocratsDick Spring Support of Democratic Left, Green Party and Tony GregoryAlbert Reynolds 23rd GovernmentJohn Bruton Resignation of ReynoldsBertie Ahern John Bruton 24th Government28th1997 electionJohn Bruton Support of the parties of the outgoing governmentBertie Ahern 29th2002 electionBertie Ahern 26th GovernmentEnda Kenny Ruairi Quinn Trevor Sargent 30th2007 electionBertie Ahern 27th GovernmentEnda Kenny Support of Labour PartyResignation of AhernBrian Cowen 28th GovernmentEnda Kenny Eamon Gilmore 31st2011 electionEnda Kenny 29th Government32nd2016 electionEnda Kenny Support of Labour Party.Kenny resigned as Taoiseach but continued to carry out his dutiesMicheál Martin Gerry Adams Richard Boyd Barrett Enda Kenny Micheál Martin Ruth Coppinger Enda Kenny Micheál Martin Enda Kenny 30th GovernmentFianna Fáil abstained as part of a confidence and supply arrangementResignation of KennyLeo Varadkar 31st Government33rd2020 electionLeo Varadkar Varadkar resigned as Taoiseach but continued to carry out his dutiesMicheál Martin Mary Lou McDonald Support of Solidarity–People Before Profit and Independents 4 ChangeEamon Ryan Micheál Martin 32nd GovernmentMary Lou McDonald Rotation of Taoiseach under Programme for GovernmentLeo Varadkar 33rd GovernmentResignation of VaradkarSimon Harris 34th GovernmentMichael Healy-Rae 34th18 December 20242024 electionMary Lou McDonald23 January 2025Micheál Martin 35th GovernmentMary Lou McDonald
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