#Government Formation

All the news about the negotiations to form a government

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Paul Hosford: Dáil ends low-energy term as TDs break for summer holidays
Paul Hosford: Dáil ends low-energy term as TDs break for summer holidays
After months of political rows and few laws passed, TDs leave a flat Dáil term behind as summer recess begins

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Irish government cabinet meeting
Super juniors treated 'identically' to senior ministers, court told
The assertion was made in the High Court by former minister Shane Ross — who in turn was accused of breaching a constitutional obligation to respect Cabinet confidentiality

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Junior ministerial roles legal action
Government accepts super juniors are involved in Cabinet decision-making, court told
At present, there are four super junior ministers attending Cabinet: Fianna Fáil’s Mary Butler, Hildegarde Naughton of Fine Gael, and Noel Grealish and Seán Canney of the Regional Independent Group

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

TD's super junior ministers challenge seeks 'unprecedented' intervention of judiciary, court told
TD's super junior ministers challenge seeks 'unprecedented' intervention of judiciary, court told
The Attorney General said the practice of ministers of state attending Cabinet meetings has been ratified and recognised multiple times by members of the Oireachtas

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

'That creature simply does not exist': Super junior ministers challenge opens at High Court
'That creature simply does not exist': Super junior ministers challenge opens at High Court
The court heard that Article 28 of the Constitution limits the number of government members to 15, including the Taoiseach

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Pa Daly: Why Sinn Féin is challenging the Government on super junior ministers
Pa Daly: Why Sinn Féin is challenging the Government on super junior ministers
If we allow the lines to be blurred, we invite further erosion of the democratic checks and balances that are essential to our system of government and to our democracy, writes Pa Daly

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Irish Government formation
'Government expects support of Regional Independents in key votes' – Jack Chambers
Regional Independent Group TDs Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole broke with the Govenment to support Sinn Féin bill on Israeli bonds

Thu, 29 May, 2025

Sinn Féin chooses John Brady to chair Dáil's Public Accounts Committee
Sinn Féin chooses John Brady to chair Dáil's Public Accounts Committee
The top jobs at Oireachtas committees include a €10,888 salary top-up

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Ireland stock
Pádraig Rice: Dáil must become a better workplace to truly represent Ireland
A little under four months into the 34th Dáil, first-time TD Pádraig Rice reflects on the chamber's composition, its workload, and its long paralysis due to the speaking rights row

Sun, 13 Apr, 2025

Oireachtas committees: Sinn Féin takes chair of powerful PAC
Oireachtas committees: Sinn Féin takes chair of powerful PAC
Sinn Féin's chairing of the PAC is in keeping with long-standing convention as the largest opposition party

Thu, 10 Apr, 2025

Taoiseach denies claims of political deals over Beaumont Hospital investment
Taoiseach denies claims of political deals over Beaumont Hospital investment
Micheál Martin insists no agreements were made with Independent TD Barry Heneghan despite local investment announcement

Thu, 10 Apr, 2025

Ceann Comhairle rules that Eoin Hayes is a Social Democrats TD despite suspension
Ceann Comhairle rules that Eoin Hayes is a Social Democrats TD despite suspension
Verona Murphy's ruling means the Social Democrats get precedence over Labour at Leaders’ Questions, committee membership selection, and speaking order

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

Labour and Social Democrats clash over Dáil committee roles amid suspended TD row
Labour and Social Democrats clash over Dáil committee roles amid suspended TD row
Social Democrats seek to count suspended TD Eoin Hayes in committee allocations, prompting criticism from Labour sources

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed
Verona Murphy faces historic no-confidence vote amid Dáil speaking time controversy
The Ceann Comhairle faces a historic no-confidence vote, tensions rise over Dáil speaking rules and Opposition tactics

Tue, 01 Apr, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed
Dáíl to vote next Tuesday on confidence motion in Ceann Comhairle
The Ceann Comhairle has “categorically” rejected accusations of partisanship in how she handled an opposition protest in the Dáil

Thu, 27 Mar, 2025

Dail speaking row
Irish Examiner view: Dáil disorder discouraging at such a fraught time
Further turmoil is to be expected

Thu, 27 Mar, 2025

Elaine Loughlin: Ceann comhairle controversy threatens stability and longevity of Government
Elaine Loughlin: Ceann comhairle controversy threatens stability and longevity of Government
Pressing a vote of no confidence in the chair of the Dáil is highly unusual

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins in heated exchange after Dáil upheaval 
Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins in heated exchange after Dáil upheaval 
Tipperary TD compared Michael Collins to the Irish revolutionary of the same name, describing both as traitors from West Cork

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Michael Lowry's actions in Dáil chamber 'tipping point' for Fianna Fáil TDs 
Michael Lowry's actions in Dáil chamber 'tipping point' for Fianna Fáil TDs 
Sources say party wants Tipperary TD to make a formal apology

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Taoiseach says opposition behaviour was 'a new low' after Dáil chaos
Taoiseach says opposition behaviour was 'a new low' after Dáil chaos
Several opposition TDs have now privately expressed a lack of confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.

Tue, 25 Mar, 2025

ieExplains: Why has the speaking rights row been going on for so long?
ieExplains: Why has the speaking rights row been going on for so long?
The speaker rights row continues to overshadow Dáil proceedings. Elaine Loughlin recaps what's happened over the last few months

Tue, 25 Mar, 2025

Dail row over speaking time resolved
Row over 'Michael Lowry and his underlings' has put Dáil into 'cold storage', TDs told
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald highlighted the fact that it is now four months on from the general election, with only 10 more sitting days until the Easter recess and yet just one piece of legislation has been passed

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025

Two newly elected TDs have yet to speak in the Dáil 
Two newly elected TDs have yet to speak in the Dáil 
Fine Gael’s David Maxwell and suspended Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes are the only two new members of the 34th Dáil who are yet to make their maiden speeches

Sun, 16 Mar, 2025

FILE PHOTO Pressure is growing for TDs to return to Leinster House for sittings of the Dail END
Opposition push to raise quorum of TDs in Dáil chamber from covid-era low
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said the lower quorum was 'resurrected to shield ministers and backbenchers from scrutiny'

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

INDEPENDENT TDS
Sarah Harte: People are trying to figure out if they can live in a log cabin. How did we get here?
Our politicians' priorities in a time of polycrisis are alarmingly off. Is this distance between them and us how societal breakdown begins?

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Leinster House media briefings
Government to contest Paul Murphy’s action seeking to injunct super junior ministers
The State argues that Mr Murphy’s proceedings are a duplication of a similar case brought by Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly earlier this year

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Elaine Loughlin: As global crises unfold, Irish politicians remain stuck in petty disputes
Elaine Loughlin: As global crises unfold, Irish politicians remain stuck in petty disputes
As Ireland faces real challenges, politicians remain locked in a petty dispute, stalling crucial government work and legislative progress

Sat, 01 Mar, 2025

Opposition parties ditch pairing arrangements with Government TDs amid rule change row
Opposition parties ditch pairing arrangements with Government TDs amid rule change row
Dáil pairing arrangements are typically arranged between the Government and Opposition in the case of ministerial absences from the Dáil.

Thu, 27 Feb, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed
Government accused of 'sleeveen politics' after passing speaking time proposals
Under the proposals, coalition backbenchers will also be permitted to ask questions of the Taoiseach, as part of “Other Members Questions”. 

Wed, 26 Feb, 2025

'Trench warfare': Opposition furious after Government approves speaking time plan
'Trench warfare': Opposition furious after Government approves speaking time plan
In a joint letter to Micheál Martin, sent just minutes prior to a Dáil reform committee meeting, opposition leaders called for a meeting with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste as a matter of urgency

Wed, 26 Feb, 2025

Cabinet meeting - Dublin
Opposition threats amid Dáil speaking time row 'unhelpful', says Tánaiste
Opposition TDs fear that the Government will force through changes to the operation of the Dáil

Wed, 26 Feb, 2025

Ireland stock
Government and opposition on collision course over speaking-time proposals
Government proposals call for the introduction of specific speaking slots for the Regional Independent Group to question government ministers

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

Leinster House media briefings
Paul Murphy gets permission to serve super junior minister injunction proceedings
The People Before Profit-Solidarity TD's case also raise questions regarding Cabinet confidentiality

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

President signs law expanding number of junior ministers amid ‘jobs for the boys’ criticism
President signs law expanding number of junior ministers amid ‘jobs for the boys’ criticism
President Higgins signs a law increasing junior ministers to a record 23, sparking criticism from opposition leaders

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Opposition rejects Government plan to grant regional independents special speaking rights
Opposition rejects Government plan to grant regional independents special speaking rights
Sinn Féin whip Pádraig MacLochlainn said that the Government is attempting to 'stifle' the Opposition

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

New Leas-Cheann Comhairle reminds TDs not to 'misbehave'
New Leas-Cheann Comhairle reminds TDs not to 'misbehave'
The new Dáil deputy chairman John McGuinness makes an apparent swipe at the Taoiseach in the wake of the 'bréaga' imbroglio

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

FILE PHOTO Pressure is growing for TDs to return to Leinster House for sittings of the Dail END
Social Democrats suggest TDs should declare their liabilities and income levels from second jobs
It has been widely reported that there was particular frustration within Fianna Fáil over speaking time arrangements, with party sources saying that government backbenchers did not get as many prime-time speaking slots as opposition TDs

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Elaine Loughlin: Seanad is padded out with has-beens, wannabes, and losers
Elaine Loughlin: Seanad is padded out with has-beens, wannabes, and losers
Taoiseach's nominees to the upper house include failed election candidates, prospective TDs, and others using the upper house of the Oireachtas as a step-down facility

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Fine Gael ‘root and branch’ review to focus on attracting new members
Fine Gael ‘root and branch’ review to focus on attracting new members
'Stocktaking exercise' will allow the party to look forward 'for the next five to 10 years'

Mon, 10 Feb, 2025

Micheál Martin balances Ireland’s neutrality with EU demands on defence spending
Micheál Martin balances Ireland’s neutrality with EU demands on defence spending
Micheál Martin navigates Ireland’s neutrality amid rising EU concerns over defence spending and security threats from Russia, writes Elaine Loughlin

Sat, 08 Feb, 2025

RTÉ sports journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn is to become a Fine Gael senator 
RTÉ sports journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn is to become a Fine Gael senator 
In a surprise announcement, Tánaiste Simon Harris said Ms Ní Chuilinn would be a 'fantastic addition' to the Fine Gael team

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Taoiseach visit to Naas
Simon Harris surprised about Regional Independents seeking Opposition speaking rights
It has led to concerns that the Government may not have the solid majority it had expected

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Micheál Martin accused of trying to 're-open' speaking rights debate
Micheál Martin accused of trying to 're-open' speaking rights debate
Ms Bacik said she was concerned about Mr Martin’s response to a letter from the combined opposition last week, after it was ruled that the Regional Independents could not sit as a technical group

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

INDEPENDENT TDS
Michael Lowry accepts decision on speaking time, but calls for Dáil reform
The Dáil Reform Committee met in Leinster House to resolve the ongoing row that has engulfed the Dáil in recent weeks

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

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