Government of the 31st Dáil
Government of the 31st Dáil 29th Government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Incumbent | |
 | |
| Date formed | 9 March 2011 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Mary McAleese (2011) Michael D. Higgins (2011–) |
| Head of government | Enda Kenny |
| Deputy head of government | Eamon Gilmore (2011–14) Joan Burton (2014–) |
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member party | Fine Gael Labour Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority Coalition |
| Opposition cabinet | Fianna Fáil Front Bench Sinn Féin Front Bench |
| Opposition leader | Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil) |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2011 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 31st Dáil |
| Budget(s) | 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Predecessor | 28th Government of Ireland |
The Government of the 31st Dáil is the present Government of Ireland, formed after the 2011 general election to Dáil Éireann on 25 February 2011. Fine Gael entered into discussions with the Labour Party which culminated in a joint programme for government. The 31st Dáil first met on 9 March 2011 when it nominated Seán Barrett to be the Ceann Comhairle. Following this, the house nominated Enda Kenny, the leader of Fine Gael, to be the 13th Taoiseach. Kenny then went to the Áras an Uachtaráin where President Mary McAleese appointed him as Taoiseach. On the nomination of the Taoiseach, and following the Dáil's approval the 29th Government of Ireland was appointed by the President.[1][2][3]
29th Government of Ireland
The 29th Government of Ireland (9 March 2011 – present) is composed of Fine Gael and the Labour Party.[4] The members of the cabinet are:
The following attend cabinet meetings, but do not have a vote:
| Attorney General | Máire Whelan | 2011– | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color;" | | Labour Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Chief Whip | Paul Kehoe | 2011– | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color;" | | Fine Gael |
| Minister of State for Housing and Planning | Jan O'Sullivan | 2011–14 | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color;" | | Labour Party |
| Minister of State for Business and Employment | Gerald Nash[7] | 2014– | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color;" | | Labour Party |
The government positions are listed in alphabetical order, rather than in terms of seniority.
Economic Management Council
The Economic Management Council is a cabinet subcommittee of senior ministers formed to co-ordinate the response to the ongoing Irish financial crisis and the government's dealings with the troika (European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund).[8] Its members are the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.[9] It is supported by the Department of the Taoiseach, led by Dermot McCarthy.[8][10] Brigid Laffan compared it to a war cabinet.[11] Opposition parties have suggested the Council represents a dangerous concentration of power.[12]
See also
- Members of the 31st Dáil
- Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil
- Members of the 24th Seanad
- Politics of the Republic of Ireland
References
- ^ Under Article 13.1.1 of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, the Dáil nominates a person whom it instructs the President to appoint as Taoiseach. The Taoiseach, following his appointment, then nominates his ministerial team en bloc to the Dáil for approval, in accordance with Article 13.1.2. If the Dáil duly approves the list, the President proceeds to appoint them. Though it is often said that the Taoiseach and government are elected by the Dáil that is technically incorrect. They only become ministers when the President appoints them and they receive their seal of office, not by means of the parliamentary vote, although the President's appointment is automatic when they have been duly approved.
- ^ "Enda Kenny reveals new Cabinet". RTÉ News. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Taoiseach names new Cabinet". Irish Government News Service. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Assignment of Departments of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ^ "Coalition vows to make work pay". Irish Examiner. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ^ "Varadkar is Health Minister as Kenny confirms Cabinet reshuffle". Irish Indendent. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ^ Nash is described as a "Super junior" minister, because unlike other Ministers of State, he attends cabinet meetings.
- ^ a b State's most senior civil servant to step down
- ^ "Economic Management Council". Department of the Taoiseach. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ "Cabinet Committee Meetings". Dáil debates. Oireachtas. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ Laffan, Brigid (28 August 2013). "Economic Management Council acts as a 'war cabinet' in Ireland's fight for survival". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ "Martin queries constitutionality of Economic Management Council". RTÉ News. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.