Micheál Martin confirms new Cabinet for 34th Dáil in first act as Taoiseach
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin with party colleagues from Fianna Fáil at Leinster House after the vote confirming him as Taoiseach. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Micheál Martin has made several surprise appointments and demotions in his first act as Taoiseach.
He was nominated by his fellow TDs on Thursday afternoon on a score of 95 in favour to 76 against.
It came following a day of chaos in the chamber on Wednesday.
The Dáil was suspended multiple times following a row about whether members of the Regional Independents group could be given opposition speaking time.
Follow the events of the day live here.
The new Cabinet are set to be formally appointed by the President, after a vote in the Dáil that approved their nominations.
There were 97 votes in favour, to 72 votes against.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has criticised the incoming Cabinet, particularly hitting out at the lack of women represented at the table.
“You’ve got the gender balance wrong. You’re very male, some of you are pale, but you’re very, very male,” Ms McDonald said.
“I have to say, as an Irish woman, leave aside that I’m a parliamentarian, I find it kind of depressing that again, we see the absence of us.”
Only three of the senior ministers – Helen McEntee, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Norma Foley – are women.
On education, the Taosieach said that it will be as “important to shaping our future as it has been in shaping our past”.
“We will move forward with a programme of modernisation and reform which will go hand in hand with increased resources which go directly to classrooms in every community in our country,” he said.
Mr Martin also spoke of the ceasefire in Gaza, saying that “everyone who believes in the cause of peace and basic values” must hope that it holds.
He added that countries must move to a “massive programme of humanitarian aid and reconstruction”.
The new Taoiseach also highlighted Ireland’s assumption of the rotating Presidency of the European Council next year, saying that it will be “defined by action”.
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Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Martin confirmed that a new disability unit would be created within the Department of the Taoiseach, adding that “existing approaches will not achieve the breakthroughs we need”.
The Taoiseach said that there will be significant reforms of the Department of Justice, particularly highlighting that Ireland’s response to migration has been “dispersed and requires more direct leadership”.
On housing, Mr Martin said that “accelerating the number of homes available” and delivering direct supports to homebuyers would be “absolutely critical” to their work.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed his new Cabinet, with a number of surprise appointments and reshuffling.
It is as follows:
- Micheál Martin – Taoiseach
- Simon Harris – Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister for Defence.
- Paschal Donohoe – Minister for Finance
- Jack Chambers – Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
- Helen McEntee - Minister for Education and Youth
- Darragh O’Brien – Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport
- Norma Foley – Minister for Children, Disability and Equality
- Peter Burke – Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
- Dara Calleary – Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Patrick O’Donovan – Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport
- Jennifer Carroll MacNeill – Minister for Health
- James Browne – Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Jim O’Callaghan – Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
- Martin Heydon – Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine
- James Lawless – Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Mary Butler – Government Chief Whip and Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for Mental Health
- Hildegarde Naughton – Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for Disability
- Noel Grealish – Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development
- Seán Canney – Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports
- Rossa Fanning will remain as Attorney General
Mr Martin confirmed that more junior ministers would be appointed in the weeks ahead, which will require legislation to expand their ranks.
As expected, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will take over the Department of Health. She moves up from the position of Minister of State for European Affairs.
James Lawless, the outgoing junior Transport Minister, is set to be promoted to the senior ministerial ranks in Higher Education. That means that Charlie McConalogue, the former Agriculture Minister, will not return to the senior ranks in a surprise move.
Fine Gael's Peter Burke will be staying in place as Enterprise minister, but will get additional responsibility for Tourism.
Fine Gael's Patrick O'Donovan has been confirmed as the new Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport.
He moves from the Department of Higher Education.
Darragh O'Brien will move from Housing in a surprise move. He will go to Transport and will be replaced by James Browne.
Dara Calleary returns to Cabinet as Social Protection Minister, with Norma Foley becoming Children's Minister.
The Kerry TD had previously served as Minister for Education, which has now been taken up by Helen McEntee.
Fianna Fáil's Mary Butler has been appointed as chief whip, with additional responsibility for mental health.
This gives her the super junior ministerial position for Fianna Fáil. There had been expectation that she would be appointed as Children's Minister.
Jack Chambers, the Fianna Fáil deputy leader, has been appointed to the Department of Public Expenditure and Infrastructure.
As expected, Paschal Donohoe will return to the Department of Finance.
Helen McEntee will be Minister for Education and Youth, moving from the Justice brief now occupied by Jim O'Callaghan.
The Dublin Bay South TD Jim O'Callaghan will be in Cabinet. The Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson will be Minister for Justice. He was the first to meet with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Micheál Martin was applauded by his family members as he officially became Taoiseach at a ceremony with President Michael D Higgins.
Sabina Higgins embraced Mr Martin’s wife Mary a few minutes before the ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin.
Mr Higgins signed the Warrant of Appointment, formally making Mr Martin Taoiseach, at the Oval table in the State Reception Room.
He was then handed the seal of the Taoiseach and seal of the Government before holding a private meeting with Mr Higgins in the president’s study.
Mr Martin and his family also had refreshments with the president and Mrs Higgins before their departure.
Micheál Martin has accepted the nomination as Taoiseach, saying it is a "profound honour" to lead the country.
He thanked his friends and family, saying that his children had become a "pillar" for him and paying tribute to his late father Paddy, whose anniversary was yesterday.
"As they have grown, my children Micheál Aodh, Aoibhe and Cillian have moved from being observers, to being pillars for me. They are unflinching in their advice and constant in their support," he said.
"I have been blessed to have a partner in Mary who has done so much more than just keep me rooted. No position I have held, and nothing I have achieved would have been possible without her.
"A strong and athletic sporting man he was also quiet and determined in the small and large steps he took every day to help others."
Mr Martin said that it is clear that there can be "a degree of cynicism towards politics".
"Too often we dismiss the motivation of others, especially those we disagree with. I reject this. I believe in the good faith of those who seek to serve their communities in elective office – and I believe that politics remains a force for good, a force for positive change.
"I hope that we can have a cooperative Oireachtas in the coming years, where we try to emphasise positive discussion.
"For my part I intend to remain open to constructive ideas from Deputies from all parts of the House."
On policy, Mr Martin said that Ireland's place in the world must be protected, as well as the renewal of key relationships with the UK and US.
He said Ireland's relationship with the US had survived because of the constant work on both sides and said the UK "remains a close social, cultural and economic neighbour for us, and we will begin operating a new systematic approach to consultation and cooperation".
In Gaza, he said Ireland would deliver a "sustained programme of humanitarian and reconstruction aid" through cooperation with the World Food Programme and UNRWA.
He said "too many people are struggling to afford a home to buy or rent" and that "helping them will be a priority for the new government and for the Dáil".
"Too many people with disabilities and their families have to fight too hard to access the services they deserve. We must begin a new era in support for them – not just increasing resources but step-changing the scale, nature and delivery of services."
He said his government would be one which seeks to work "in a spirit of practical republicanism".
Micheál Martin has been nominated as Taoiseach by the Dáil, with the Fianna Fáil leader due to travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to be appointed by the President.
The result was 95 votes in favour, to 76 against.
As he ended his speech, Independent TD Paul Gogarty referred to singer-songwriter Chappell Roan - the first time anyone has done so on the Dáil record.
"You're face to face with I told you so. You know, I hate to say: I told you so," Mr Gogarty said, quoting the song
Cian O’Callaghan, deputy leader of the Social Democrats, wishes Micheál Martin well as he prepares to become Taoiseach.
He particularly criticises the incoming government over it’s negotiated programme, saying that it is “devoid of new ideas or radical measures”.
“The transformation that we need is nowhere to be seen on housing,” Mr O’Callaghan adds, lashing out at the lack of delivery.
He highlights that the outgoing government had touted that it would hit 40,000 houses built by the end of 2024, but says that Central Statistics Office figures shows there were just over 30,000 built last year.
Mr O’Callaghan challenges the government on climate, saying that there is no clear picture as to how the new coalition will respond to the climate crisis and avoid up to €20bn in fines.
He adds that the previous coalition had used one-off payments, rather than investing in public services to try tackle the cost of living crisis.
The Dublin Bay South TD also says that the new coalition will progress “weaker” legislation to ban imports from the occupied West Bank, describing the measure as “totally unjust”.
Backing Micheál Martin's nomination, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris praised him for his work throughout his career.
He said they had more recently worked together as Taoiseach and Tánaiste during a “quite intense political period”.
“It’s fair to say that I could sense you were somewhat nurturing a mild desire to be Taoiseach again,” Mr Harris said, to laughs from the government benches.
The Fine Gael leader said that there “is so much work to do, and we are eager to hit the ground running”.
Mr Harris highlighted issues like housing, infrastructure, disability and health as key priorities for the incoming coalition.
He noted that the last time Mr Martin was elected taoiseach, it happened without his family due to the covid restrictions in place at the time and acknowledged that it is "a really special day" for him.
Speaking after her nomination as Taoiseach, Mary Lou McDonald criticised the incoming government.
She said that while the country has never been richer, many working people are being left behind.
“The housing and homelessness crisis crystalises the unfair society that all of you have created,” Ms McDonald said.
“Today will not be our day, but our day will come,” Ms McDonald says.
Mairead Farrell, the Galway West TD, nominated Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald to be the next Taoiseach.
While Sinn Féin do not have the required votes to get over the line, Ms Farrell says that Ms McDonald has a “vision for Ireland”.
She hits out at the government’s plan to take a two-week recess, as well as the increase in the number of junior ministers from 20 to 23.
“Day one of a government tells us what the government is going to be like and today, we hear it loud and clear. Your focus is on you,” Ms Farrell said.
“Not only did you want to control government, you wanted to control opposition by putting your own people over here on the opposition benches. What a remarkable feat that would have been, acquiring the ability to be in two places at once.”
Ms Farrell criticised plans to introduce a new piece of legislation to ban imports from the occupied West Bank, while also calling for the Carers Means Test to be abolished.
Seconding the nomination, Pearse Doherty said Ms McDonald would deliver a better, fairer and united Ireland for families, workers and ordinary people.
He said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have left Ireland in a vulnerable position calling it "a country rich on paper that feels poor in far too many ways".
The chamber was riled up as Mr Doherty claimed the government formation talks were "only about who got what jobs and what salaries" with ordinary people taking a backseat.
Mr Doherty said one of the first pieces of legislation the government has committed to bring forward is to increase allowances for the junior ministers.
"This government will have the most junior ministers in the history of the state, the most super juniors in the history of the state and they are going to be the best paid in the history of the state," he said.
Catherine Ardagh seconded Mr Martin's nomination opening with a couple of sentences as Gaeilge.
She said Mr Martin's decades-long career has shown a command of diverse public issues as well as the ability to respond to new concerns.
"He has, above all, demonstrated that he will lead the new government with determination and will strengthen our country's position in Europe and the world," said Ms Ardagh.
"Having secured the most votes and the most seats in our free democratic election, he did not sit back and expect to be handed the role of taoiseach. No, he showed respect for the mandate."
She went on to highlight the difficulties Mr Martin faced during his first term as taoiseach having entered office "at the height of the worst pandemic in modern times, with our hospitals full of patients with a virus we did not know how to prevent or treat".
Ms Ardagh said the greatest demonstration of his leadership was when he worked to secure vaccines and pushed to develop an unprecedented vaccine programme.
"He then took his place in the queue along with his fellow citizens."
Fianna Fáil’s youngest TD, Albert Dolan, has nominated Micheál Martin to be the next Taoiseach.
He jokes about the previous day, which saw his speech nominating Mr Martin interrupted by the chaos of the day.
“As I was saying,” he begins, to laughs in the chamber.
The Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East referred to Mr Martin’s previous ministerial roles, particularly highlighting his time as health minister and his two stints as foreign affairs minister.
He also brings up Mr Martin’s first term as Taoiseach, mentioning that it was during the covid-19 pandemic.
“In those dark days, filled with great uncertainty and fear, he never faltered,” Mr Dolan said.
Mr Dolan said Fianna Fáil received the biggest mandate from the public during the general election.
“We never know what challenges arise, but what I do know is that with Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, we have a leader who is ready to face them head on.
“His dedication, his experience and his unwavering commitment to progress will be invaluable as we navigate the road ahead.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is the first to speak and began by criticising the decision for the Dáil to take two-week break following today's proceedings.
Ms McDonald said there is an expectation from the public that its representatives get down to work.
"People will regard this as quite scandalous given the time wasted so far that we would rise further for two weeks," she said.
The time wasted, of course, refers to yesterday when the Dáil failed to elect a taoiseach or government due to the row over speaking time.
Speaking to this, Ms McDonald welcomed this morning's decision from Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy but said time could have been saved on Wednesday if the government had recognised that "no TD can be in government and opposition at the same time".
Ms McDonald said it should never have come to the situation that unfolded yesterday and claimed Sinn Féin were to the fore in "seeking a constructive way" to resolve the matter.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik echoed Ms McDonald's sentiments that the situation in the chamber yesterday need not have deteriorated in such a way.
Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan called for both sides of the house to work constructively going forward to ensure similar situations do not arise.
People Before Profit-Solidarity leader Richard Boyd-Barrett said if the government "is as good as its word" and honours its commitment then a mutually acceptable resolution will be reached.
"We want to say, for the record, we were not in any way trying to obstruct the nomination of the taoiseach or the establishment of the government," Mr Boyd Barrett said.
"Our concern, and we are glad that the government have now finally acknowledged, is that there has to be a clear distinction between those who are in government and those who are in opposition."
Finally, Michael Collins said that the very democracy of the Irish Republic had been called into question.
The Dáil is back in action now, with Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy formally making a statement.
Ms Murphy said that TDs have a “duty” to the public to conduct themselves in a way that is befitting to the office they hold.
“The issue of the recognition of the Regional Independent Group as a technical group is at the core of yesterday’s dispute,” Ms Murphy said.
Ms Murphy admits that the wording of Standing Order 170, which deals with technical groups, is ambiguous and open to interpretation.
She confirmed that the Regional Independent Group would not be recognised for today, ahead of a final ruling on the matter. She confirmed that she would seek advice from a senior counsel on the matter.
Chief whip Hildegarde Naughton said that the incoming government would establish a new committee on Dáil Reform, while saying there is ambiguity within the standing orders.
Ms Naughton said that this would be done as soon as possible.
“Government is fully committed to working with all parties and none in the committee to make the required changes that are fair, not only to members of the current Dáil but future Dáil’s in the years ahead.
“We will aim to have this resolved by February 5.”
The Dáil is now set to resume to nominate Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, with an agreement being reached between the government and opposition.
Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton will now read a statement into the Dáil record before proceedings begin, which is set to address the issue surrounding the Regional Independents.
One opposition source says that it is “all sorted”.
The Regional Independent Group have said that they will cooperate with the Dáil’s order of business, after Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy ruled that they would not be recognised as a technical group.
Ms Murphy’s decision means that they will not receive speaking time during the nomination of a Taoiseach.
However, the group have said that it is only a “temporary measure” that would facilitate the election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach.
“The future positioning of the group will be referred to the Dáil Reform Committee by way of Dáil motion tonight,” a spokesperson for the group said.
“The committee’s composition will reflect the proportional representation in this Dáil. The aim is to have a decision before the Dáil reconvenes on the 5th of February.”
In the statement, the group also condemned the “shameful display” in the Dáil yesterday, which it says “denied the people a democratic right to have a Government”.
Opposition parties are now awaiting a wording of a statement from the Government, which they hope will resolve the speaking rights issue.
This text would be around the ongoing issue of TDs backing the government, but who had sought to sit on the opposition benches.
There will be a further delay before Dáil proceedings kick-off, with an expectation now that it will be 11.30am before the process of electing Micheál Martin as Taoiseach begins.
The events are likely to be sped up slightly, due to incoming Storm Éowyn and a need to ensure TDs are able to get back to their constituencies before tomorrow.
Opposition party leaders have left their meeting with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
They said they are looking for clarification that a meeting of the Dáil Reform Committee will take place and a "cast-iron guarantee" that the ruling that the technical group of Regional Independents will sit on government benches will be upheld going forward.
It is expected that the leaders will meet again in 30 minutes.
Sources say that Ceann Comhairle's intervention not recognise the Regional Independents as a technical group today was "significant" and "removes the cliff edge" ahead of the Dáil sitting at 10.30am. A source said that the ruling "removes the logjam".
However, there is still believed to be "some work to do" to ensure the election of Micheál Martin goes ahead.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy will not recognise the Regional Independents as a Dáil technical group today.
It comes ahead of a final decision on whether or not the group will receive government or opposition speaking time.
A message to TDs on the Dáil's business committee set out that Ms Murphy would be seeking advice from a senior council on whether to recognise the Regional Independents as a technical group.
Ms Murphy said that, during today’s proceedings, she would recognise two other technical groups but not the collection of TDs that contain independents who supported the formation of the incoming government.
The message reads: "The Ceann Comhairle was explicit that she had made no decision on the issue of recognition of the Regional Independent Group as a technical group in that correspondence. She invited submissions by close of business yesterday. Members who did not agree with the advice had the opportunity to make a submission and provide alternate advice for her to consider."
A joint opposition submission was provided to Ms Murphy earlier this week.
Ms Murphy considered the submission overnight and has concluded that there is "significant ambiguity" within Dáil standing orders around technical groups and that it would be instead adjudicated after advice is received from a senior council.
In the meantime, Ms Murphy confirmed that the Regional Independents would not be recognised as a technical group and would not be afforded speaking time during Thursday's Dáil proceedings.
Labour Party whip Duncan Smith welcomed the decision.
“It's positive to see the Ceann Comhairle recognising only two technical groups, both in opposition, for the purposes of today’s meeting. This the solution that I and others proposed both in our submission and at numerous meetings yesterday.”
Simon Harris and Micheál Martin are meeting with party leaders this morning in a last-minute bid to ensure that a Taoiseach can be elected today.
Mr Martin's election as Taoiseach was delayed on Wednesday after the Dáil was adjourned by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy amid angry exchanges over whether TDs who had been involved in drafting the programme for government could sit on the opposition benches.
Party whips met on and off all day on Wednesday in a bid to break the impasse, but following a fourth attempt at a vote, Ms Murphy adjourned the day's sitting entirely until this morning.
Opposition parties met on Wednesday night, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald meeting with Ms Murphy in a bid to come to an agreement on where the four TDs — Michael Lowry, Barry Heneghan, Gillian Toole and Danny Healy Rae — will take their speaking time from.
It is understood that a deal is close and it will see the Regional Independents classed as government TDs going forward.
Following Mr Martin's election, he will begin the process of appointing a Cabinet with a desire to have the day's business finished by 8pm tonight in order to allow TDs and staff to travel home and avoid the Storm Éowyn.
The Dáil will reconvene at 9am in a bid to elect a Taoiseach and see a government appointed.
A joint statement by the Taoiseach and Tanaiste said:
“The formation of groups in Dáil Éireann is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle. Issues regarding Dáil reform and groupings can and should be discussed by a Dáil reform committee. This can meet as early as today but proportionality must also prevail.
“The most important duty the Dail has is to elect a Taoiseach and government and both party leaders agree this must happen today."
One source said that Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy would make an announcement on the new arrangement this morning, ahead of the election of a new Taoiseach.
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