Government Of The 34th Dáil

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. It has lasted to date.

Government formation talks

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 was agreed that the government will last until November 2027, after which the positions will rotate, with the Fine Gael leader forming a new government as Taoiseach, and the Fianna Fáil leader serving as Tánaiste.

It is the second time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have participated in the same government; the two parties were in government during the lifetime of the previous Dáil, from June 2020 to January 2025, with the Green Party.

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 34th Dáil first met on 18 December. Harris resigned as Taoiseach before the Dáil convened. Under the provisions of Article 28.11 of the Constitution, the members of the government continued to carry out their duties until their successors were appointed. 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. McDonald failed to obtain majority support.

On 22 January 2025, the Dáil again met to consider nominations for the position of Taoiseach. Opposition parties raised the issue of a technical group supporting the programme for government registering as an opposition group with speaking rights. Amid chaotic scenes, the Dáil was suspended three times before Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy suspended sitting for the day. Micheál Martin said the failure to elect a Taoiseach was "the subversion of the Irish constitution" and a "premeditated" and "coordinated" effort by the opposition, adding it was the first time in over 100 years that the Dáil had failed to elect a government.

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

Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Martin proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.

Attorney General

Rossa Fanning SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of state

Events affecting the government

Prior to the nomination of Taoiseach, a row ensued after four TDs of the Regional Independent Group ( Michael Lowry, Gillian Toole, Barry Heneghan and Danny Healy-Rae) sought to be part of a technical group, granting them Dáil speaking rights and positioning itself on the opposition benches, while also supporting the government. This was rejected by opposition parties, resulting in chaotic exchanges in the Dáil. On 3 February 2025, eleven days after the government was formed, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy ruled that the Regional Group could not form a technical group for the purposes of speaking rights. This was welcomed by opposition parties. The next day, the Regional Independent Group and government parties conceded and said they would not challenge Murphy's ruling.

However, on 25 March, angry and chaotic exchanges broke out in the Dáil again leading Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to adjourn the session after the government won a vote to change standing orders which allowed the Regional Independents' technical group, coalition backbenchers and government-aligned independents additional speaking time in the Dáil, a reduction in time for debating the order of business and halving Taoiseach's Questions time. Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the changes, stating that they did not alter Opposition speaking time or reduce government accountability, dismissing Opposition reactions as "wholly disproportionate." Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald strongly criticised the move, calling it an "absurd brazen stroke" that would undermine the Dáil. The following day, the Opposition parties informed Murphy that they had no confidence in her to perform the role of Ceann Comhairle and that she had a week to consider resigning before they tabled an official motion of no confidence in her. The vote was held on 1 April 2025, with Murphy retaining her position as Ceann Comhairle by 96 votes to 71.

References

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34th Dáil
Cabinets established in 2025
Governments of Ireland
Coalition governments of Ireland
Dáil
Grand coalition governments