Governments in office in Ireland 2016–2017 and 2017–2020
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.[1]
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.
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.[2]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.[3] On 6 April and 14 April, further votes were taken on proposals to nominate candidates for the position of Taoiseach, with no candidate successful.[4][5] On 6 May, a motion proposing Enda Kenny for appointment as Taoiseach was approved by the Dáil.[6] Kenny was re-appointed as Taoiseach by PresidentMichael D. Higgins.[7]
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Enda Kenny proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[7] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[9]
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.[7][9][13] On 19 May 2016, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 15 further ministers of state.[14][15][16]
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.[34]
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Leo Varadkar proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[37] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[39]
The Thirty-seventh Amendment was proposed by Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan and approved in a referendum on 26 October 2018.[73] It removed the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution. It was followed by the Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019.[74]
The Thirty-eighth Amendment had been proposed by Josepha Madigan as a private member's bill before her appointment to government, and proposed to reduce the waiting period for divorce. It was supported by the Minister for Justice and Equality, who amended it remove the reference to a required period of separation before divorce, and to regulate foreign divorce. It was approved in a referendum on 24 May 2019 and was followed by the Family Law Act 2019.[75][76]
Budgets
The Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, delivered the following budgets:
On 20 February 2019, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for HealthSimon Harris proposed by Louise O'Reilly for Sinn Féin was defeated, with 53 votes in favour to 58 votes against and 37 registered abstentions.[78]
On 3 December 2019, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy proposed by Catherine Murphy for the Social Democrats was defeated, with 53 votes in favour to 56 votes against and 35 registered abstentions.[79]
Dissolution and resignation
On 14 January, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sought a dissolution of the Dáil which was granted by the president, with the new Dáil to convene on 20 February at 12 noon.[80][81] The general election took place on 8 February.
^Environment, Community and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 394 of 2016). Signed on 19 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 357 of 2016). Signed on 5 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 421 of 2016). Signed on 19 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 131 of 2017). Signed on 28 March 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 26 March 2021.
^Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 334 of 2016). Signed on 28 June 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 26 March 2021.
^Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 376 of 2016). Signed on 13 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 26 March 2021.
^Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 364 of 2017). Signed on 26 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 350 of 2017). Signed on 26 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2017, s. 1: Department of Rural and Community Development (No. 18 of 2017, s. 1). Enacted on 19 July 2017. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 August 2019.
^Social Protection (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 366 of 2017). Signed on 23 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 358 of 2017). Signed on 23 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
^Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 315 of 2017). Signed on 5 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 January 2021.; Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 641 of 2017). Signed on 19 December 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 January 2021.
^Housing, Planning and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 473 of 2017). Signed on 17 October 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 February 2021.; Housing, Planning and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 340 of 2019). Signed on 2 July 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 February 2021.
^Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 362 of 2017). Signed on 26 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.; Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 569 of 2017). Signed on 12 December 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.
^Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 314 of 2017). Signed on 11 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 20 March 2021.
^Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 363 of 2017). Signed on 26 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.; Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 570 of 2017). Signed on 12 December 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.
^Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 352 of 2017). Signed on 26 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.
^Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 449 of 2018). Signed on 23 October 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 January 2021.
^Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 472 of 2018). Signed on 13 November 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 20 March 2021.
^Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Act 2018 ([1]). Enacted on 18 September 2018. Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.
^Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Act 2018 ([2]). Enacted on 27 November 2018. Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.
^Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (No. 43 of 2019). Enacted on 25 October 2019. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 20 March 2021.
^Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Act 2019 ([3]). Enacted on 11 June 2019. Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.