Leo Varadkar receives seal of office to become Taoiseach for second time
Leo Varadkar with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin with his seals of office. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
Leo Varadkar has received the seal of office from President Michael D Higgins and is now Taoiseach.
A vote took place in the Dáil to nominate Mr Varadkar as Taoiseach before the Fine Gael leader travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin.
In a vote taken on a historic Saturday sitting, Mr Varadkar was comfortably elected to the highest political office in land for a second time, having previously served between 2017 and 2020. Mr Varadkar's nomination was agreed on by the Dáil with 87 TDs voting in favour. 62 TDs voted no.
Mr Varadkar was joined at Phoenix Park with around 20 of his family, friends and extended family members, including his parents, two sisters and partner, Matt Barrett.
His family members stood in the Francini corridor, looking into the State Reception room where Mr Varadkar received the seal of the Taoiseach and the seal of the government.
The President’s wife Sabina Higgins stood with Mr Varadkar’s family.
Following the seal of office, Mr Varadkar and President Higgins held a private meeting.
This is the second time Mr Varadkar will be Taoiseach following the agreement in the Programme for Government. He is due to make a speech around 5pm this evening.
Earlier, Micheál Martin tendered his resignation as Taoiseach to President Higgins and will now become Tánaiste. He said serving as Taoiseach had been the honour of a lifetime.
Following his resignation, Fine Gael's Richard Bruton formally nominated Mr Varadkar as the new Taoiseach, which was seconded by party colleague Emer Higgins.
A rotation of the role of Taoiseach has never happened before in Irish politics, however it was agreed in the Programme for Government in 2020 that Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar would switch halfway through the term.
The proposal was backed by members of the three parties in Government plus a number of independent TDs including Michael Lowry, Denis Naugten, Noel Grealish, Marc MacSharry, Peter Fitzpatrick and Cathal Berry.
Former Independent Alliance minister Sean Canney who has repeatedly voted with the Government decided to vote against while Wexford TD Verona Murphy abstained.
A number of leading independent TDs including Michael Fitzmaurice, Richard O’Donoghue, Carol Nolan, Danny Healy Rae were absent for the vote.
In his first speech as Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar paid tribute to Mr Martin who he said “put the country before party politics”.
“I want to take this opportunity to commend Micheál Martin on the leadership he has shown as Taoiseach, for putting the country before politics, and for providing reassurance and hope during difficult times. In 2020 the new Taoiseach was unable to have his wife and family with him in the Convention Centre as he received the greatest honour of his life. That, too, was leadership. I am glad they are here today,” he said.
He paid tribute to the memory of Private Sean Rooney saying he and his Government “offer our condolences to his fiancé, family and friends”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are also with Trooper Shane Carney,” he said.
He said that as Taoiseach, his mission will be to build on the achievement of 100 years ago, and work on what needs to be done for this generation and the next. Providing hope and housing, economic opportunity and a fair start for all.
“And so, I accept this nomination by the Dáil with humility and resolve, with a burning desire to make good the promise of 100 years ago and to provide new hope and new opportunities for all of our citizens,” he said.
Speaking to the at Áras an Uachtaráin, Mr Varadkar said: “I’m just honoured and privileged to have the opportunity to serve again, and I look forward to getting down to the hard work in the next few hours.”
Sinn Féin’s leader, however, said Ireland needed a general election, not a government rotation of taoiseach, as she led opposition criticism of Leo Varadkar’s nomination.
Mary Lou McDonald said the coalition could try to delay real change in the country, but said they could not halt it.
As polls continue to show Sinn Féin as the most popular party, its party president launched a scathing criticism of the Government during the special Dáil sitting to elect Mr Varadkar as taoiseach.
Stepping down as Taoiseach earlier on Saturday, Mr Martin thanked his family and the people of Cork but said the sense of community and resilience of the people of Ireland during the pandemic is something he will never forget.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Martin said: "As I finish this term in office, I would like most of all to thank my wife Mary and our family, Micheál Aodh, Aoibhe and Cillian for the unfailing advice, support, and encouragement and occasional criticism they have given me and particularly Mary who has always tried to keep me on time throughout my life.
"We have been blessed by the wonderful community of Cork, which has looked out for us and given me the strongest possible reassurance that all would be well as I spent so much time away. My upbringing in Turners Cross in Cork and the values that it imparted and the love of my late parents has guided me throughout.
"Finally, Ceann Comhairle, I would like to say thank you to members of the Dáil. We have had many very robust exchanges here, but I have never ceased to be honoured to be a member of one of the democratic world’s oldest parliamentary chambers," he said.
I’m just on my way to the Áras to meet the President.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) December 17, 2022
It’s been the honour of a lifetime to serve you as Taoiseach.
Looking forward to the second phase of this Government. We’ve done a lot, and we’ve still lots to do. pic.twitter.com/dRkbF2lLbx
The Fianna Fáil leader said it had been "both a privilege and a responsibility" to serve as head of government in a free and democratic republic.
"I have been deeply conscious of this every day I have held the office of Taoiseach," he told the Dáil.
However, he warned that are living in an increasingly polarised world.
"Everybody who participates in public life knows the impact of the ever-faster rush to judge others and the rising sharpness with which comments are made.
"I believe that we must not let this become the dominant way in which our public discourse is conducted. And within this, we must make time to acknowledge the good faith, dedication, and achievements of the many thousands in public service who work on behalf of the Irish people."
Mr Martin referred back to the first meeting of the current Dáil, which due to Covid was forced to convene in the Convention Centre and "sitting apart and sharing little of the intimacy which distinguishes this place, we were also obliged to meet without our families, friends and supporters who normally define such an important day in our democracy."
A majority of TDs in the Dáil rose to give outgoing Mr Martin a lengthy standing ovation at the close of his speech.
In a video posted on Fianna Fáil’s social media before Mr Martin tendered his resignation, the outgoing Taoiseach said the key agenda for the next phase of Government is to improve the quality of life for “all of our people.
“It has been a great honour to serve as Taoiseach for the last two and half years through some major global challenges.
“Dealing with Brexit, coming out of the Covid pandemic and of course then addressing the terrible war imposed on the people of Ukraine.
“The Irish economy with full employment and with sound management has proven to be robust and resilient.
“We are also making progress on some key issues. We’re building more houses. We’re making progress on climate change and we’re creating greater opportunities in terms of childcare and education and bringing in much needed reform to our health service.
“In the next phase of Government, Fianna Fáil with our government partners, will be doing everything we can to advance the key agenda of the Programme for Government with the key objective being to improve the quality of life for all of our people,” he said.
There are no major changes expected in the Cabinet reshuffle and it is expected Mr Martin will take up the Foreign Affairs and Defence brief, meaning Fine Gael Simon Coveney will likely take up the Cabinet portfolio for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Michael McGrath will become Minister for Finance, with Paschal Donohoe moving to Public Expenditure and Reform.
As reported in today's , Hildegarde Naughton — who is the current Fine Gael super junior minister with a seat at Cabinet — looks set to be appointed the new Government Chief Whip, replacing Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers.
Stephen Donnelly and junior minister Josepha Madigan look set to be spared the axe in the reshuffle.
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