Government Of The 32Nd Dáil
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.
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
30th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Government of Ireland | |
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| Date formed | 6 May 2016 |
| Date dissolved | 14 June 2017 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Michael D. Higgins |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Tánaiste | Frances Fitzgerald |
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Minority coalition |
| Opposition cabinet | Third Martin front bench |
| Opposition party | Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leader | Micheál Martin |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2016 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Budget(s) | 2017 |
| Incoming formation | 2016 government formation |
| Predecessor | 29th government |
| Successor | 31st government |
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. 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. On 6 April and 14 April, further votes were taken on proposals to nominate candidates for the position of Taoiseach, with no candidate successful. On 6 May, a motion proposing Enda Kenny for appointment as Taoiseach was approved by the Dáil. Kenny was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Michael D. Higgins.
| 6 May 2016 Nomination of Enda Kenny (FG) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Noel Rock and seconded by Catherine Byrne Absolute majority: 79/158 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
 Yes | Fine Gael (50), Independent (9) | 59 / 158 |
| No | Sinn 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 voting | Fianna 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. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
- Changes to Departments
Attorney General
Máire Whelan SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
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. On 19 May 2016, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 15 further ministers of state.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Term | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regina Doherty (In attendance at cabinet) | Taoiseach | Government Chief Whip | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| Paul Kehoe (In attendance at cabinet) | Taoiseach Defence | Defence | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| Finian McGrath (In attendance at cabinet) | Health Justice and Equality Social Protection | Disability Issues | 2016–2017 | Independent | |
| Seán Kyne | Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Communications, Climate Action and Environment | Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| Damien English | Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government | Housing and Urban Renewal | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| Dara Murphy | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs and Trade Justice and Equality | 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 | Food, Forestry and Horticulture | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| Pat Breen | Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Employment and Small Business | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| John Halligan | Education and Skills Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Training and Skills | 2016–2017 | Independent | |
| Helen McEntee | Health | Mental Health and Older People | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| Marcella Corcoran Kennedy | Health | Health Promotion | 2016–2017 | Fine Gael | |
| David Stanton | Justice and Equality | 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 | 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 2017In accordance with shared ministry deal between Kevin "Boxer" Moran and Seán Canney | |||||
| Kevin "Boxer" Moran | Public Expenditure and Reform | Office of Public Works and Flood Relief | 2017 | Independent | |
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.
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.
31st government of Ireland
31st government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date formed | 14 June 2017 |
| Date dissolved | 27 June 2020 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Michael D. Higgins |
| Taoiseach | Leo Varadkar |
| Tánaiste |
|
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Minority coalition |
| Opposition cabinet | Third Martin front bench |
| Opposition party | Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leader | Micheál Martin |
| History | |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Budget(s) | |
| Predecessor | 30th government |
| Successor | 32nd government |
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. This motion was approved and Varadkar was appointed by President Michael D. Higgins. 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 Motion proposed by Enda Kenny and seconded by Josepha Madigan Absolute majority: 79/158 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Yes | Fine Gael (50), Independents (7) | 57 / 158 |
| No | Sinn 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 |
| Abstain | Fianna 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. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
- Changes to Departments