Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Infobox official post
Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The Taoiseach (Template:IPAc-en, Template:Respell)Template:Efn is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland.Template:Efn The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the office-holder must retain the support of a majority in the Dáil to remain in office.
The Irish word taoiseach means "chief" or "leader", and was adopted in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland as the title of the "head of the Government or Prime Minister".Template:Efn It is the official title of the head of government in both English and Irish, and is not used for the prime ministers of other countries, who are instead referred to in Irish by the generic term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.Template:Efn The phrase an Taoiseach is sometimes used in an otherwise English-language context, and means the same as "the Taoiseach".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The incumbent Taoiseach is Micheál Martin, TD, leader of Fianna Fáil, who took office on 23 January 2025, following the 2024 general election and an agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and independent TDs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
OverviewEdit
Template:Refimprove section Under the Constitution of Ireland, the Taoiseach is nominated by a simple majority of the voting members of Dáil Éireann.<ref>Constitution of Ireland, Article 13.1.2°.</ref> The Taoiseach is then formally appointed to office by the President,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> who is required to appoint whomever the Dáil designates, without the option of declining to make the appointment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For this reason, the Taoiseach may informally be said to have been "elected" by Dáil Éireann.
If the Taoiseach loses the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann, he or she is not automatically removed from office. Instead, he or she is compelled either to resign or to persuade the President to dissolve the Dáil and call new elections. If the President "in his absolute discretion" refuses to grant a dissolution, this effectively forces the Taoiseach to resign. To date, no President has ever refused a dissolution, although the option to exercise this prerogative arose in 1944 and 1994, and twice in 1982. The Taoiseach may lose the support of Dáil Éireann by the passage of a vote of no confidence, or implicitly, through the failure of a vote of confidence. Alternatively, the Dáil may refuse supply.Template:Efn In the event of the Taoiseach's resignation, he or she continues to exercise the duties and functions of office until the appointment of a successor.
The Taoiseach nominates the remaining members of the Government, who are then, with the consent of the Dáil, appointed by the President. The Taoiseach may advise the President to dismiss cabinet ministers from office; the President does not have discretion on accepting such advice. The Taoiseach is also responsible for appointing eleven members of the sixty members of the upper house of parliament, the Seanad.
The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department which supports and advises the Taoiseach in carrying out his or her various duties. The Taoiseach is assisted by one or more Ministers of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, one of whom is the Government Chief Whip.
SalaryEdit
The Taoiseach's salary is €248,773, as of 1 March 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Taoiseach's salary was cut from €214,187 to €200,000 when Enda Kenny took office in 2011 before being cut further to €185,350 under the Haddington Road Agreement in 2013.
A proposed increase of €38,000 in 2007 was deferred when Brian Cowen became Taoiseach<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in October 2008, the government announced a 10% salary cut for all ministers, including the Taoiseach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However this was a voluntary cut and the salaries remained nominally the same with both ministers and Taoiseach essentially refusing 10% of their salary. This caused controversy in December 2009 when a salary cut of 20% was based on the higher figure before the refused amount was deducted.<ref name="Paycuts criticised">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Taoiseach is also allowed an additional €118,981 in annual expenses.
ResidenceEdit
There is no official residence of the Taoiseach. In 2008 it was reported speculatively that the former Steward's Lodge at Farmleigh adjoining the Phoenix Park would become the official residence of the Taoiseach. However, no official statements were made nor any action taken.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The house, which forms part of the Farmleigh estate acquired by the State in 1999 for €29.2 million, was renovated at a cost of nearly €600,000 in 2005 by the Office of Public Works. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern did not use it as a residence, but his successor Brian Cowen used it occasionally,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as did later Taoisigh Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar, who each paid €50 per night for the use of the house to avoid benefit-in-kind tax being levied on them for use of the house as a grace and favour mansion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
SaluteEdit
"{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" ("More of Cloyne") is a traditional air collected by Patrick Weston Joyce in 1873.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ainm">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Amhrán Dóchais" ("Song of Hope") is a poem written by Osborn Bergin in 1913.<ref name="ainm"/><ref name="cuiv">Template:Cite book</ref> John A. Costello chose the air as his musical salute.<ref name="cuiv"/> The salute is played by army bands on the arrival of the Taoiseach at state ceremonies. Though the salute is often called "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}", Brian Ó Cuív argued "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" is the correct title.<ref name="cuiv"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
Origins and etymologyEdit
The words {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (deputy prime minister) are both from the Irish language and of ancient origin. The Taoiseach is described in the Constitution of Ireland as "the head of the Government or Prime Minister",Template:Efn its literal translation is Template:Gloss or Template:Gloss.<ref name=youthzone>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Although Éamon de Valera, who introduced the title in 1937, was a democratic politician who had in the past associated with paramilitaries, some have remarked that the meaning Template:Gloss in 1937 made the title similar to the titles of fascist dictators of the time, such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (for Adolf Hitler), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (for Benito Mussolini) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (for Francisco Franco).<ref name=McCarthy2010a>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Quigley1944a>Template:Cite book Published in New York, 1944 (publisher not identified); Original from University of Minnesota; Digitised 6 May 2016</ref><ref name=IPA1970a>Template:Cite bookOriginal from the University of California; Digitised 6 December 2006</ref> {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, in turn, refers to the system of tanistry, the Gaelic system of succession whereby a leader would appoint an heir apparent while still living.
In Scottish Gaelic, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} translates as 'clan chief' and both words originally had similar meanings in the Gaelic languages of Scotland and Ireland.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn The related Welsh language word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (current meaning: 'prince') has a similar origin and meaning.Template:Efn It is hypothesised that both derive ultimately from the proto-Celtic {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'chieftain, leader'.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The plural of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Northern and Western {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Southern: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}).<ref name=youthzone/>
Although the Irish form {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is sometimes used in English instead of 'the Taoiseach',<ref name=Oops2017-02-09a>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the English version of the Constitution states that they "shall be called … the Taoiseach".Template:Efn
Debate on the titleEdit
In 1937 when the draft Constitution of Ireland was being debated in the Dáil, Frank MacDermot, an opposition politician, moved an amendment to substitute "Prime Minister" for the proposed "Taoiseach" title in the English text of the Constitution. It was proposed to keep the "Taoiseach" title in the Irish language text. The proponent remarked:<ref>Frank Mr. MacDermot of the National Centre Party – Bunreacht na hÉireann (Dréacht)—Coiste (Ath-thógaint) – Wednesday, 26 May 1937; Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 67 No. 9 Template:Webarchive.</ref>
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
It seems to me to be mere make-believe to try to incorporate a word like "Taoiseach" in the English language. It would be pronounced wrongly by 99 percent of the people. I have already ascertained it is a very difficult word to pronounce correctly. That being so, even for the sake of the dignity of the Irish language, it would be more sensible that when speaking English we should be allowed to refer to the gentleman in question as the Prime Minister... It is just one more example of the sort of things that are being done here as if for the purpose of putting off the people in the North. No useful purpose of any kind can be served by compelling us, when speaking English, to refer to An Taoiseach rather than to the Prime Minister.{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries}}
{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}
The President of the Executive Council, Éamon de Valera, gave the term's meaning as "chieftain" or "Captain". He said he was "not disposed" to support the proposed amendment and felt the word "Taoiseach" did not need to be changed. The proposed amendment was defeated on a vote and "Taoiseach" was included as the title ultimately adopted by plebiscite of the people.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Modern officeEdit
The modern position of Taoiseach was established by the 1937 Constitution of Ireland and is the most powerful role in Irish politics. The office replaced the position of President of the Executive Council of the 1922–1937 Irish Free State.
The positions of Taoiseach and President of the Executive Council differed in certain fundamental respects. Under the Constitution of the Irish Free State, the latter was vested with considerably less power and was largely just the chairman of the cabinet, the Executive Council. For example, the President of the Executive Council could not dismiss a fellow minister on his own authority. Instead, the Executive Council had to be disbanded and reformed entirely to remove a member. The President of the Executive Council also did not have the right to advise the Governor-General to dissolve Dáil Éireann on his own authority, that power belonging collectively to the Executive Council.
In contrast, the office of Taoiseach as created in 1937 possesses a much more powerful role. The holder of the position can both advise the President to dismiss ministers and dissolve Parliament on his own authority—advice that the President is almost always required to follow by convention.Template:Efn
The Taosieach's role is significantly enhanced on paper compared to its counterparts in other parliamentary systems because it is vested with both de jure and de facto executive authority. In other parliamentary systems, the head of state is at least nominal chief executive, but is either bound by convention to act on the advice of the cabinet, or must have their acts countersigned by a minister. In Ireland, the Constitution explicitly vests executive authority in the Government, of which the Taoiseach is the leader.
Generally, where there have been multi-party or coalition governments, the Taoiseach has been the leader of the largest party in the coalition. One exception to this was John A. Costello, who was not the leader of his party, but an agreed choice to head the government, because the other parties refused to accept then Fine Gael leader Richard Mulcahy as Taoiseach. In 2011 Taoiseach Brian Cowen, resigned as party leader and was succeeded by Micheál Martin, but continued as Taoiseach until the formation of a new government following a general election.
Following the 2020 election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael entered coalition together for the first time. The two agreed to rotate the role of Taoiseach, with Micheál Martin going first before becoming Tánaiste under Leo Varadkar, and later Simon Harris, of the smaller Fine Gael party.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The two parties opted to continue this rotation after the 2024 election.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
List of office holdersEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Before the enactment of the 1937 Constitution, the head of government was the President of the Executive Council. This office was held by W. T. Cosgrave of Cumann na nGaedheal from 1922 to 1932, and by Éamon de Valera of Fianna Fáil from 1932 to 1937. By convention, Taoisigh are numbered to include Cosgrave;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> therefore, Micheál Martin is considered the 15th Taoiseach, not the 14th.
TimelineEdit
<timeline> Define $width = 1000 # 4 pixels per year ($end - $start) × 4 Define $warning = 880 # $width - 120 Define $height = 500 # 16 × 25 + 150 Define $footnote = 800 # $width - 400
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1880 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}}} Define $start = 01/01/1880 # Just before eldest (Cosgrave) was born Define $end = 31/12/2025 Define $now = {{#time:d/m/Y|-3 hours}}
ImageSize = width:$width height:$height PlotArea = right:10 left:1 bottom:80 top:60 Period = from:$start till:$end TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1
Colors =
id:bg value:white
id:lightline value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8)
id:lighttext value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
id:LIFESPAN value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: Lifespan
id:CnnG value:rgb(0.6, 0.8, 0.9) Legend: Cumann_na_nGaedheal
id:FF value:rgb(0.4, 0.7, 0.4) Legend: Fianna_Fáil
id:FG value:rgb(0.4, 0.6, 0.9) Legend: Fine_Gael
id:NAME value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05)
id:TODAY value:green
BackgroundColors = canvas:bg ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:1880
Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar
LineData=
at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1
PlotData=
bar:1 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:05/06/1880 till:06/12/1922 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:W. T. Cosgrave color:LIFESPAN from:06/12/1922 till:16/11/1965 color:CnnG from:06/12/1922 till:09/03/1932
bar:2 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:14/10/1882 till:09/03/1932 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Éamon de Valera color:LIFESPAN from:09/03/1932 till:29/08/1975 color:FF from:09/03/1932 till:18/02/1948 color:FF from:13/06/1951 till:02/06/1954 color:FF from:20/03/1957 till:23/06/1959
bar:3 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:20/06/1891 till:18/02/1948 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John A. Costello color:LIFESPAN from:18/02/1948 till:05/01/1976 color:FG from:18/02/1948 till:13/06/1951 color:FG from:02/06/1954 till:20/03/1957
bar:4 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:15/07/1899 till:23/06/1959 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Seán Lemass color:LIFESPAN from:23/06/1959 till:11/05/1971 color:FF from:23/06/1959 till:10/11/1966
bar:5 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:15/08/1917 till:10/11/1966 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Jack Lynch color:LIFESPAN from:10/11/1966 till:20/10/1999 color:FF from:10/11/1966 till:14/03/1973 color:FF from:05/07/1977 till:11/12/1979
bar:6 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:13/04/1920 till:14/03/1973 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Liam Cosgrave color:LIFESPAN from:14/03/1973 till:04/10/2017 color:FG from:14/03/1973 till:05/07/1977
bar:7 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:16/09/1925 till:11/12/1979 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Charles Haughey color:LIFESPAN from:11/12/1979 till:13/06/2006 color:FF from:11/12/1979 till:30/06/1981 color:FF from:09/03/1982 till:14/12/1982 color:FF from:10/03/1987 till:11/02/1992
bar:8 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:09/02/1926 till:30/06/1981 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Garret FitzGerald color:LIFESPAN from:30/06/1981 till:19/05/2011 color:FG from:30/06/1981 till:09/03/1982 color:FG from:14/12/1982 till:10/03/1987
bar:9 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:03/11/1932 till:11/02/1992 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Albert Reynolds color:LIFESPAN from:11/02/1992 till:21/08/2014 color:FF from:11/02/1992 till:15/12/1994
bar:10 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:18/05/1947 till:15/12/1994 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:John Bruton color:LIFESPAN from:15/12/1994 till:06/02/2024 color:FG from:15/12/1994 till:26/06/1997
bar:11 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:12/09/1951 till:26/06/1997 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Bertie Ahern color:LIFESPAN from:26/06/1997 till:$now color:FF from:26/06/1997 till:07/05/2008
bar:12 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:10/01/1960 till:07/05/2008 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Brian Cowen color:LIFESPAN from:07/05/2008 till:$now color:FF from:07/05/2008 till:09/03/2011
bar:13 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:24/04/1951 till:09/03/2011 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Enda Kenny color:LIFESPAN from:09/03/2011 till:$now color:FG from:09/03/2011 till:14/06/2017
bar:14 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:18/01/1979 till:14/06/2017 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Leo Varadkar color:LIFESPAN from:14/06/2017 till:$now color:FG from:14/06/2017 till:27/06/2020 color:FG from:17/12/2022 till:09/04/2024
bar:15 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/08/1960 till:27/06/2020 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Micheál Martin color:LIFESPAN from:27/06/2020 till:$now color:FF from:27/06/2020 till:17/12/2022 color:FF from:23/01/2025 till:$now
bar:16 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:17/10/1986 till:09/04/2024 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Simon Harris color:LIFESPAN from:09/04/2024 till:$now color:FG from:09/04/2024 till:23/01/2025
TextData =
fontsize:M textcolor:green pos:($warning,30) text:Updated 08/2025
TextData =
pos:(290,$height) fontsize:L textcolor:black text:"Lifespan and terms of office of each Taoiseach"</timeline>
Further readingEdit
BiographiesEdit
Biographies are also available of de Valera, Lemass, Lynch, Cosgrave, FitzGerald, Haughey, Reynolds and Ahern. FitzGerald wrote an autobiography, while an authorised biography was produced of de Valera.
Some biographies and memoirs of former Taoisigh and presidents of the Executive Council:
- Tim Pat Coogan, Éamon de Valera
- John Horgan, Seán Lemass
- Brian Farrell, Seán Lemass
- T. P. O'Mahony, Jack Lynch: A Biography
- T. Ryle Dwyer, Nice Fellow: A Biography of Jack Lynch
- Stephen Collins, The Cosgrave Legacy
- Garret FitzGerald, All in a Life
- Garret FitzGerald, Just Garret: Tales from the Political Frontline
- Raymond Smith, Garret: The Enigma
- T. Ryle Dwyer, Short Fellow: A Biography of Charles Haughey
- Martin Mansergh, Spirit of the Nation: The Collected Speeches of Haughey
- Joe Joyce & Peter Murtagh The Boss: Charles Haughey in Government
- Tim Ryan, Albert Reynolds: The Longford Leader
- Albert Reynolds, My Autobiography
- Bertie Ahern, My Autobiography
See alsoEdit
- Politics of the Republic of Ireland
- Records of Irish heads of government since 1922
- Irish heads of government since 1919
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project
Template:Prime Ministers of Ireland {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Europe heads of state and government Template:European Council Template:Types of heads of government Template:Prime Minister