There were two governments of the 32nd Dáil, which was elected at the general election held on 26 February 2016. The 30th government of Ireland (6 May 2016 – 14 June 2017) was led by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and the 31st government of Ireland (14 June 2017 – 27 June 2020) was led by Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach. They were minority governments with Fine Gael and Independent TDs at cabinet, reliant on the support of other Independent TDs, and a confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fáil. It was the first time Fine Gael had returned to government after a general election, and the succession of Varadkar as Taoiseach in 2017 was the first time a Fine Gael leader had succeeded a party colleague as Taoiseach within a Dáil term.[1]

The general election for the 33rd Dáil took place on 8 February 2020. The 33rd Dáil met for the first time on 20 February 2020. Leo Varadkar was proposed as Taoiseach, and was defeated, but no other candidate was successfully nominated. Varadkar tendered his resignation to the president, but the 31st government continued to carry out its duties until the new government was appointed on 27 July 2020.

The 30th government lasted 405 days. The 31st government lasted 982 days from its appointment until its resignation on 20 February 2020, and continued to carry out its duties for a further 128 days until the appointment of its successor, giving a total of 1,110 days.

30th government of Ireland

Quick Facts 30th government of Ireland, Date formed ...
30th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed6 May 2016
Date dissolved14 June 2017
People and organisations
PresidentMichael D. Higgins
TaoiseachEnda Kenny
TánaisteFrances Fitzgerald
No. of ministers15
Member parties
Status in legislatureMinority coalition
Opposition cabinetThird Martin front bench
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderMicheál Martin
History
Election2016 general election
Legislature terms
Budget2017
Incoming formation2016 government formation
Predecessor29th government
Successor31st government
Close

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 32nd Dáil first met on 10 March 2016. In debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, four candidates were proposed. None of the motions proposing these candidates were successful.[2] Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny resigned as Taoiseach, with the government continuing in a caretaker capacity to carry out its duties until its successors would be appointed.[3] On 6 April and 14 April, further votes were taken on proposals to nominate candidates for the position of Taoiseach, with no candidate successful.[4][5] On 6 May, a motion proposing Enda Kenny for appointment as Taoiseach was approved by the Dáil.[6] Kenny was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Michael D. Higgins.[7]

6 May 2016
Nomination of Enda Kenny (FG) as Taoiseach
[8]
Motion proposed by Noel Rock and seconded by Catherine Byrne
Absolute majority: 79/158
Vote Parties Votes
checkY YesFine Gael (50), Independent (9)
59 / 158
NoSinn Féin (23), Labour Party (7), Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit (6),
Independents 4 Change (4), Social Democrats (3), Workers and Unemployed Action (1), Independents (5)
49 / 158
Not votingFianna Fáil (43), Green Party (2), Independent (4), Ceann Comhairle (1)
50 / 158

Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Enda Kenny proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[7] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[9]

Changes to Departments
  1. On 23 July 2016 the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government was renamed the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.[10]
  2. On 7 July 2016 the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was renamed the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.[11]
  3. On 23 July 2016 the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.[12]

Attorney General

Máire Whelan SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[7][9]

Ministers of state

On 6 May 2016, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Regina Doherty, Paul Kehoe and Finian McGrath as ministers of state in attendance at cabinet but without a vote.[7][9][13] On 19 May 2016, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 15 further ministers of state.[14][15][16]

More information Name, Department(s) ...
Name Department(s) Responsibility Term Party
Regina Doherty
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach[17] Government Chief Whip 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Paul Kehoe
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach
Defence[18]
Defence 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Finian McGrath
(In attendance at cabinet)
Health[19]
Justice and Equality
Social Protection[20]
Disability Issues 2016–2017 Independent
Seán Kyne Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[21]
Communications, Climate Action and Environment[22]
Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Damien English Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government[23] Housing and Urban Renewal 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Dara Murphy Taoiseach
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Justice and Equality[24]
European Affairs, Data Protection
and the EU Single Digital Market
2016–2017 Fine Gael
Eoghan Murphy Finance
Public Expenditure and Reform
Financial Services, eGovernment
and Public Procurement
2016–2017 Fine Gael
Patrick O'Donovan Transport, Tourism and Sport Tourism and Sport 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle Agriculture, Food and the Marine[25] Food, Forestry and Horticulture 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Pat Breen Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation[26] Employment and Small Business 2016–2017 Fine Gael
John Halligan Education and Skills[27]
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation[28]
Training and Skills 2016–2017 Independent
Helen McEntee Health[29] Mental Health and Older People 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Health[30] Health Promotion 2016–2017 Fine Gael
David Stanton Justice and Equality[31] Equality, Immigration, and Integration 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Seán Canney Public Expenditure and Reform Office of Public Works and Flood Relief 2016–2017 Independent
Joe McHugh Taoiseach
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Michael Ring Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[32] Regional Economic Development 2016–2017 Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne Health
Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government
Communities and the National Drugs Strategy 2016–2017 Fine Gael

Change on 3 June 2017

In accordance with shared ministry deal between Kevin "Boxer" Moran and Seán Canney[33]

Kevin "Boxer" Moran Public Expenditure and Reform Office of Public Works and Flood Relief 2017 Independent
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Budget

The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, delivered the 2017 budget on 11 October 2016.

Confidence in the government

On 15 February 2017, a motion of confidence in the government proposed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny was approved with 57 votes in favour to 52 against and 44 registered abstentions.[34]

Resignation

On 17 May 2017, Enda Kenny resigned as leader of Fine Gael. Leo Varadkar succeeded him as leader in a party leadership election concluding on 2 June. On 13 June, Kenny resigned as Taoiseach.[35]

31st government of Ireland

Quick Facts 31st government of Ireland, Date formed ...
31st government of Ireland
Thumb
Date formed14 June 2017
Date dissolved27 June 2020
People and organisations
PresidentMichael D. Higgins
TaoiseachLeo Varadkar
Tánaiste
No. of ministers15
Member parties
Status in legislatureMinority coalition
Opposition cabinetThird Martin front bench
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderMicheál Martin
History
Legislature terms
Budgets
Predecessor30th government
Successor32nd government
Close

Nomination of Taoiseach

After the resignation of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on the previous day, on 14 June 2017, Leo Varadkar was proposed for the nomination of the Dáil for the position of Taoiseach.[36] This motion was approved and Varadkar was appointed by President Michael D. Higgins.[37] Varadkar was the first Fine Gael leader to succeed a party colleague as Taoiseach within a Dáil term.

14 June 2017
Nomination of Leo Varadkar (FG) as Taoiseach
[38]
Motion proposed by Enda Kenny and seconded by Josepha Madigan
Absolute majority: 79/158
Vote Parties Votes
checkY YesFine Gael (50), Independents (7)
57 / 158
NoSinn Féin (23), Labour Party (7), Solidarity–People Before Profit (5), Independents 4 Change (4), Green Party (2), Social Democrats (2), Workers and Unemployed Action (1), Independents (5)
50 / 158
AbstainFianna Fáil (41), Independents (4)
45 / 158
Absent or
Not Voting
Fianna Fáil (3), Solidarity–People Before Profit (1), Independent (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)
6 / 158

Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Leo Varadkar proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[37] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[39]

More information Office, Name ...
Office Name Term Party
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Minister for Defence
Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald 2017[40]
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation[a]
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe 2017–2020
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney
Minister for Justice and Equality Charles Flanagan
Minister for Health Simon Harris
Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht[b] Heather Humphreys 2017
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed 2017–2020
Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton 2017–2018
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten Independent
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross 2017–2020
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone
Minister for Rural and Community Development[c] Michael Ring Fine Gael
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection[d] Regina Doherty
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government[e] Eoghan Murphy

Changes on 30 November 2017

Following the resignation of Frances Fitzgerald on 28 November.[40][46][47]

Office Name Term Party
Tánaiste Simon Coveney 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys
Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan

Changes on 11 October 2018

Following the resignation of Denis Naughten.[48][49]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton 2018–2020 Fine Gael
Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh
Close
Changes to Departments
  1. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation was renamed the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation on 2 September 2017.[41]
  2. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was renamed the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on 1 August 2017.[42]
  3. The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017.[43] Ring served as a minister without portfolio until that date.
  4. The Department of Social Protection was renamed the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on 2 September 2017.[44]
  5. The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government was renamed the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on 1 August 2017.[45]

Attorney General

Séamus Woulfe SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[37][39]

Ministers of state

On 14 June 2017, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Joe McHugh, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, Paul Kehoe and Finian McGrath as ministers of state in attendance at cabinet but without a vote.[37] On 20 June, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 15 further ministers of state.[39]

More information Name, Department(s) ...
Name Department(s) Responsibility Term Party
Joe McHugh
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach[50]
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht[51]
Government Chief Whip and
Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Islands
2017–2018 Fine Gael
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
(In attendance at cabinet)
Education and Skills[52] Higher Education 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Paul Kehoe
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach
Defence[53]
Defence 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Finian McGrath
(In attendance at cabinet)
Health[54]
Justice and Equality
Employment Affairs and Social Protection[55]
Disability Issues 2017–2020 Independent
Helen McEntee Foreign Affairs and Trade European Affairs 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Patrick O'Donovan Finance
Public Expenditure and Reform
Public Procurement,
Open Government
and eGovernment
2017–2020 Fine Gael
Michael D'Arcy Finance
Public Expenditure and Reform
Financial Services and Insurance 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Ciarán Cannon Foreign Affairs and Trade Diaspora and International Development 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Jim Daly Health[56] Mental Health and Older People 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Brendan Griffin Transport, Tourism and Sport Tourism and Sport 2017–2020 Fine Gael
John Paul Phelan Housing, Planning and Local Government[57] Local Government and Electoral Reform 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne Health[58] Health Promotion and
National Drugs Strategy
2017–2020 Fine Gael
Pat Breen Business, Enterprise and Innovation[59]
Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Taoiseach
Justice and Equality
Trade, Employment, Business,
EU Digital Single Market
and Data Protection
2017–2020 Fine Gael
Seán Kyne Rural and Community Development[60]
Communications, Climate Action and Environment[61]
Natural Resources,
Community Affairs
and Digital Development
2017–2018 Fine Gael
John Halligan Education and Skills[62]
Business, Enterprise and Innovation[63]
Training, Skills, Innovation,
Research and Development
2017–2020 Independent
Andrew Doyle Agriculture, Food and the Marine[64] Food, Forestry and Horticulture 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Damien English Housing, Planning and Local Government[65] Housing and Urban Development 2017–2020 Fine Gael
Kevin "Boxer" Moran Public Expenditure and Reform Office of Public Works
and Flood Relief
2017–2020 Independent
David Stanton Justice and Equality[66] Equality, Immigration and Integration 2017–2020 Fine Gael

Change on 16 October 2018

Following the appointment of Joe McHugh to Cabinet.[49]

Seán Kyne
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach[67]
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht[68]
Government Chief Whip
Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Islands
2018–2020 Fine Gael
Seán Canney Rural and Community Development[69]
Communications, Climate Action and Environment[70]
Natural Resources,
Community Affairs
and Digital Development
2018–2020 Independent
Close

Constitutional referendums

The Thirty-sixth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Health Simon Harris and approved in a referendum on 25 May 2018.[71] It replaced the protection of the right of the unborn with a clause allowing the termination of pregnancy to be regulated by law. It was followed by the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.[72]

The Thirty-seventh Amendment was proposed by Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan and approved in a referendum on 26 October 2018.[73] It removed the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution. It was followed by the Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019.[74]

The Thirty-eighth Amendment had been proposed by Josepha Madigan as a private member's bill before her appointment to government, and proposed to reduce the waiting period for divorce. It was supported by the Minister for Justice and Equality, who amended it remove the reference to a required period of separation before divorce, and to regulate foreign divorce. It was approved in a referendum on 24 May 2019 and was followed by the Family Law Act 2019.[75][76]

Budgets

The Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, delivered the following budgets:

Motions of confidence

On 25 September 2018, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy proposed by Eoin Ó Broin for Sinn Féin was defeated, with 49 votes in favour to 59 votes against and 29 registered abstentions.[77]

On 20 February 2019, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health Simon Harris proposed by Louise O'Reilly for Sinn Féin was defeated, with 53 votes in favour to 58 votes against and 37 registered abstentions.[78]

On 3 December 2019, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy proposed by Catherine Murphy for the Social Democrats was defeated, with 53 votes in favour to 56 votes against and 35 registered abstentions.[79]

Dissolution and resignation

On 14 January, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sought a dissolution of the Dáil which was granted by the president, with the new Dáil to convene on 20 February at 12 noon.[80][81] The general election took place on 8 February.

The 33rd Dáil first met on 20 February. Leo Varadkar, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan were each proposed for nomination as Taoiseach. None of the four motions were successful. Leo Varadkar announced that he would resign as Taoiseach but under the provisions of Article 28.11 of the Constitution, the government continued to carry out their duties until their successors were appointed.[82][83]

On 27 June, Micheál Martin was nominated by the Dáil for appointment as Taoiseach by the President.

Response to COVID-19

The government proposed two pieces of legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic which were passed by the Oireachtas: the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020, enacted on 20 March, and the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020, enacted on 27 March. These were the first legislation to have been passed through the Oireachtas while after a government had resigned. Regulations were first introduced by Minister for Health Simon Harris on 8 April.[84][85]

References

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