Government of the 33rd Dáil
There have been two Governments of the 33rd Dáil, both coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. This followed the 2020 general election to Dáil Éireann held on 8 February, and negotiations on a programme for government that lasted till June. The parties agreed on a rotation, with the two major party leaders alternating as Taoiseach. The makeup of the parties resulted in a centrist coalition. It was the first time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have participated in the same government, which Leo Varadkar described as the end of what has often been referred to as Civil War politics.
The 32nd Government of Ireland (27 June 2020 to 17 December 2022) was led by Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, as Taoiseach, and Leo Varadkar, leader of Fine Gael, as Tánaiste. It lasted 906 days.
The 33rd Government of Ireland (17 December 2022 to present) is led by Varadkar as Taoiseach and Martin as Tánaiste. It has lasted 407 days to date.
32nd Government of Ireland
32nd Government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date formed | 27 June 2020 |
| Date dissolved | 17 December 2022 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Michael D. Higgins |
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin |
| Tánaiste | Leo Varadkar |
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) 81 / 160 (51%)
|
| Opposition cabinet | Sinn Féin Front Bench |
| Opposition party | Sinn Féin |
| Opposition leader | Mary Lou McDonald |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2020 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Budget(s) | |
| Incoming formation | 2020 government formation |
| Predecessor | 31st Government |
| Successor | 33rd Government |
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 33rd Dáil first met on 20 February 2020. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader 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. Varadkar announced that he would resign as Taoiseach but that under the provisions of Article 28.11 of the Constitution, the members of the government would continue to carry out their duties until their successors were appointed.
On 27 June, the Dáil again debated nominations for the position of Taoiseach. The nomination of Martin was approved by the Dáil. Martin was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Michael D. Higgins.
| 27 June 2020 Nomination of Micheál Martin (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Norma Foley and seconded by James O'Connor Absolute majority: 81/160 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
 Yes |
Fianna Fáil (37), Fine Gael (35), Green Party (12), Independents (9) | 93 / 160
|
| No | Sinn Féin (37), Independents (7), Labour Party (6), Social Democrats (6), Solidarity–People Before Profit (5), Aontú (1), Right to Change (1) | 63 / 160
|
| Abstain | Independents (3) | 3 / 160
|
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1) | 1 / 160
|
Members of the Government
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Micheál Martin proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
- Martin served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine between the sacking of Cowen on 14 July 2020 and the appointment of Calleary to government on 15 July 2020. He served again from 21 August to 2 September 2020 after the resignation of Calleary.
- The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation was renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 10 November 2020.
- The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment was renamed the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on 24 September 2020.
- The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport was renamed the Department of Transport on 17 September 2020.
- The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was renamed the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on 30 September 2020.
- The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was renamed the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on 15 October 2020.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs on 24 September 2020.
- The Department of Justice and Equality was renamed the Department of Justice on 1 November 2020.
- The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established on 2 August 2020. Harris was a minister without portfolio until that date.
- The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection was renamed the Department of Social Protection on 21 October 2020.
- The Department of Education and Skills was renamed the Department of Education on 22 October 2020.
- The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government was renamed the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 30 September 2020.
Attorney General
Paul Gallagher SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach, a role he had previously served in from 2007 to 2011.
Ministers of State
On 27 June 2020, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Dara Calleary, TD, Hildegarde Naughton, TD, and Sen. Pippa Hackett as Ministers of State attending at cabinet without a vote. Pippa Hackett is the first senator to have been appointed as a Minister of State. On 1 July, the government appointed a further seventeen Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dara Calleary (In attendance at cabinet) |
Taoiseach Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Transport, Tourism and Sport |
Government Chief Whip Gaeltacht and Sport |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Hildegarde Naughton (In attendance at cabinet) |
Transport Environment, Climate and Communications |
International and Road Transport and Logistics, Postal Policy and Eircodes |
Fine Gael | |
| Pippa Hackett (In attendance at cabinet) |
Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Land Use and Biodiversity | Green | |
| Thomas Byrne | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs |
European Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Patrick O'Donovan | Public Expenditure and Reform | Office of Public Works | Fine Gael | |
| Ossian Smyth | Public Expenditure and Reform Environment, Climate and Communications |
Public Procurement and eGovernment Communications and the Circular Economy |
Green | |
| Jack Chambers | Finance | Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Josepha Madigan | Education | Special Education and Inclusion | Fine Gael | |
| Martin Heydon | Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development |
Fine Gael | |
| Anne Rabbitte | Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Health |
Disability | Fianna Fáil | |
| Colm Brophy | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora | Fine Gael | |
| Charlie McConalogue | Justice | Law Reform | Fianna Fáil | |
| Niall Collins | Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
Skills and Further Education | Fianna Fáil | |
| Joe O'Brien | Rural and Community Development Social Protection |
Community Development and Charities | Green | |
| Peter Burke | Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Local Government and Planning | Fine Gael | |
| Malcolm Noonan | Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Heritage and Electoral Reform | Green | |
| Robert Troy | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Trade Promotion | Fianna Fáil | |
| Damien English | Enterprise, Trade and Employment Social Protection |
Employment Affairs and Retail Businesses | Fine Gael | |
| Mary Butler | Health | Mental Health and Older People | Fianna Fáil | |
| Frank Feighan | Health | Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy |
Fine Gael | |
Changes 15 July 2020Following the appointment of Calleary to Government. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Jack Chambers (In attendance at cabinet) |
Taoiseach Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
Government Chief Whip Gaeltacht and Sport |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Fleming | Finance | Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance |
Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 2 September 2020Following the appointment of McConalogue to Government. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| James Browne | Justice | Law Reform | Fianna Fáil | |
Change 17 November 2020Additional assignment. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Jack Chambers (In attendance at cabinet) |
Defence | Defence | Fianna Fáil | |
Change 27 April 2021Additional assignments during the maternity leave of Helen McEntee, expired on 1 November 2021. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Hildegarde Naughton (In attendance at cabinet) |
Justice | Criminal justice | Fine Gael | |
| James Browne | Justice | Civil justice and immigration | Fianna Fáil | |
Change 31 August 2022Following the resignation of Robert Troy on 24 August 2022. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Dara Calleary | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation |
Fianna Fáil | |
Events affecting the government
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Barry Cowen was sacked on 14 July 2020 because of driving offences which he had committed but not disclosed to Micheál Martin prior to his appointment to cabinet. He was replaced by Dara Calleary.
Legislation was passed to allow each of three Ministers of State who attend cabinet meetings to receive an allowance, as previous legislation had provided an allowance for two only. After public dissatisfaction with the proposal, the three ministers of state agreed on 28 July 2020 to share the existing allowance between them, rather than accept the increase.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Dara Calleary resigned on 21 August 2020 after the fallout from the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal. Phil Hogan resigned as European Commissioner for Trade on 26 August 2020 in response to the same events.
In October 2020, Village magazine published a claim that Leo Varadkar had provided a copy of a confidential document to the head of the National Association of General Practitioners that had been part of negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation in April 2019 while Taoiseach. Fine Gael issued a statement which described the article as "both inaccurate and grossly defamatory", and while accepting that the provision of the agreement by private channels was "not best practice", said there was nothing unlawful about what had occurred. Sinn Féin tabled a motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste. In response, the Taoiseach moved a motion of confidence.
At a cabinet meeting in July 2021, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney announced the appointment of Katherine Zappone, former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to the newly created position of Special Envoy to the UN for Freedom of Opinion and Expression. It emerged that the proposed appointment had not been flagged by Coveney with the Taoiseach in advance of the meeting. Zappone declined the appointment after the Merrion Hotel controversy arose, in which the Irish Independent reported that six days prior to the announcement of her appointment, Zappone had hosted a gathering for 50 guests, including Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, at the Merrion Hotel while the COVID-19 pandemic was ongoing. Comparisons were made between the gathering and the Golfgate scandal earlier in the pandemic. Sinn Féin tabled a motion of no confidence in Coveney, to be debated on 15 September on the return of the Dáil from the summer recess. In response, the Taoiseach moved a motion of confidence.
On 6 July 2022, the government lost its majority after Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh voted against legislation underpinning a €2.7 billion mica redress scheme and subsequently resigned the Fine Gael party whip. Sinn Féin tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, to be debated on 12 July before the summer recess. In response, the Taoiseach moved a motion of confidence.
On 24 August 2022, Robert Troy resigned as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment after his failure to declare property interest was revealed by The Ditch. He was succeeded by former Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary.
In December 2022, People Before Profit–Solidarity tabled a motion of no confidence in Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien, to be debated on 13 December, four days before a new government was formed. The group claimed the worsening housing and homelessness crisis under O'Brien was "tearing apart the social fabric of Irish society and leading to the scapegoating of refugees". In response, the Taoiseach moved a motion of confidence.
Budgets
The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, delivered the following budgets:
- 2021 budget, delivered on 13 October 2020
- 2022 budget, delivered on 12 October 2021
- 2023 budget, delivered on 27 September 2022
Confidence in the government
On 10 November 2020, a motion of confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, proposed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, was approved with 92 votes in favour to 65 against.
On 15 September 2021, a motion of confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney, proposed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, was approved with 92 votes in favour to 59 against.
On 12 July 2022, a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, was approved with 85 votes in favour to 66 against, with one abstention.
On 13 December 2022, a motion of confidence in the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, proposed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, was approved with 86 votes in favour to 63 against, with one abstention.
Resignation
Micheál Martin resigned as Taoiseach on Saturday 17 December 2022 to allow the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach and the formation of a new government, a continuation of the coalition between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party for the remainder of the 33rd Dáil. The date agreed in the Programme for Government had been Thursday 15 December, but this date was put back to facilitate Martin's attendance at a meeting of the European Council.
33rd Government of Ireland
33rd Government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date formed | 17 December 2022 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Michael D. Higgins |
| Taoiseach | Leo Varadkar |
| Tánaiste | Micheál Martin |
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) 81 / 160 (51%)
|
| Opposition cabinet | Sinn Féin Front Bench |
| Opposition party | Sinn Féin |
| Opposition leader | Mary Lou McDonald |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2020 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Budget(s) | 2024 |
| Incoming formation | 2020 government formation |
| Predecessor | 32nd Government |
Nomination of Taoiseach
After the resignation of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach on 17 December 2022, 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.
| 17 December 2022 Nomination of Leo Varadkar (FG) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Richard Bruton and seconded by Emer Higgins Absolute majority: 81/160 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Yes |
Fianna Fáil (36), Fine Gael (32), Green Party (12), Independents (7) | 87 / 160
|
| No | Sinn Féin (36), Labour Party (7), Social Democrats (5), People Before Profit–Solidarity (5), Aontú (1), Right to Change (1), Independents (7) | 62 / 160
|
| Abstain | Independent (1) | 1 / 160
|
| Absent or Not voting |
Ceann Comhairle, Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Fine Gael (1), Social Democrats (1), Independents (6) | 10 / 160
|
- Catherine Connolly was presiding at time of the vote.
- Helen McEntee and Holly Cairns had a pairing agreement for the duration of McEntee's maternity leave.
Members of the Government
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.
- The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was renamed the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on 1 February 2023.
- Harris served as Minister for Justice from December 2022 to June 2023 during the maternity leave of Helen McEntee.
- McEntee was a minister without portfolio during her maternity leave.
Attorney General
Rossa Fanning SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of State
On 17 December 2022, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Hildegarde Naughton, TD, Jack Chambers, TD, and Sen. Pippa Hackett as Ministers of State attending at cabinet without a vote. On 21 December, the government appointed a further seventeen Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hildegarde Naughton (In attendance at cabinet) |
Taoiseach Health |
Government Chief Whip Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy |
Fine Gael | |
| Jack Chambers (In attendance at cabinet) |
Transport Environment, Climate and Communications |
International and Road Transport and Logistics Postal Policy |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Pippa Hackett (In attendance at cabinet) |
Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Land Use and Biodiversity | Green | |
| Peter Burke | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs Defence |
European Affairs | Fine Gael | |
| Patrick O'Donovan | Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
Office of Public Works Gaeltacht |
Fine Gael | |
| Ossian Smyth | Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Environment, Climate and Communications |
Public Procurement and eGovernment Communications and the Circular Economy |
Green | |
| Jennifer Carroll MacNeill | Finance | Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance |
Fine Gael | |
| Josepha Madigan | Education | Special Education and Inclusion | Fine Gael | |
| Martin Heydon | Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development |
Fine Gael | |
| Anne Rabbitte | Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Health |
Disability | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Fleming | Foreign Affairs | International Development and Diaspora | Fianna Fáil | |
| James Browne | Justice | Law Reform and Youth Justice | Fianna Fáil | |
| Niall Collins | Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
Skills and Further Education | Fianna Fáil | |
| Joe O'Brien | Rural and Community Development Social Protection Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth |
Community Development and Charities Integration |
Green | |
| Kieran O'Donnell | Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Local Government and Planning | Fine Gael | |
| Malcolm Noonan | Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Heritage and Electoral Reform | Green | |
| Dara Calleary | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation | Fianna Fáil | |
| Damien English | Enterprise, Trade and Employment Social Protection |
Employment Affairs and Retail Business | Fine Gael | |
| Mary Butler | Health | Mental Health and Older People | Fianna Fáil | |
| Thomas Byrne | Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media | Sport and Physical Education | Fianna Fáil | |
Change 13 January 2023Following the resignation of Damien English on 12 January 2023. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Neale Richmond | Enterprise, Trade and Employment Social Protection |
Employment Affairs and Retail Business | Fine Gael | |
Events affecting the government
A month after the government was formed, in January 2023, news website The Ditch published a story claiming Minister of State for Employment Affairs and Retail Business Damien English failed to declare ownership of an existing home in his planning application for a new property in 2008. It also claimed he neglected to declare such ownership in the Dáil register of interests. He resigned as Minister of State on 12 January 2023. He was succeeded by Neale Richmond.
Also in January, the Sunday Independent revealed that Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe failed to properly declare a donation from a company in 2016. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) made a complaint against Donohoe that the Designer Group engineering firm used two company vans and six employees to erect and later remove election posters for Donohoe in his Dublin Central constituency during the 2016 general election campaign. On 14 January, Donohoe began conducting a review of his election expenses statements amid the allegations which he had denied. The next day, on 15 January, he apologised for making incorrect declarations of election expenses and donations during his campaign and said he would recuse himself from any decision making around ethics legislation while the SIPO investigated him, but refused to resign as minister. The controversy intensified on 20 January when Donohoe identified a new issue over expenses from the 2020 general election.
In March 2023, the government ended a ban on evictions, with effect from 31 March. Sinn Féin tabled a motion calling on the government to extend the ban until the end of January 2024. A government amendment to this motion was carried by a vote of 83 to 68. In a series of votes, Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan broke with the government whip, leading to her suspension from the parliamentary party. The Labour Party tabled a motion of no confidence in the government.
Budgets
The Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, and Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, delivered the following budgets:
- 2024 budget, delivered on 10 October 2023
Confidence in the government
On 29 March 2023, a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, was approved with 86 votes in favour to 67 against.