Following unprecedented disruption to parliamentary proceedings in Dáil Éireann yesterday (23 January), Mícheál Martin was nominated as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) by the 34th Dáil and subsequently appointed by the President of Ireland. He will lead a majority coalition comprised of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and members of the Regional Independent Group. Martin was formerly Taoiseach between July 2020 and December 2022 – and he will remain in office from today until November 2027.
Simon Harris has been appointed Tánaiste and Minuster for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. He will replace Martin as Taoiseach in November 2027 as part of the rotation agreement between the two main parties within the Programme for Government. Harris has already outlined a proposed diplomatic offensive (including enhanced IDA funding) in response to the touted policies of President Trump.
All government Departments will be led by either a Fianna Fáil or a Fine Gael Minister. This is a change from the last government when the minority coalition partner (the Green Party) oversaw three Departments. This has resulted in the elevation of several new faces to the Cabinet table for both of the main government parties this afternoon.
New Appointees
On the Fianna Fáil side:
Dara Calleary has been elevated to serve as Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development and the Gaeltacht. A former Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil, Calleary was sacked from Cabinet by Martin after less than two weeks in office following his controversial attendance at Golfgate in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. His return to Cabinet will be seen as long overdue.
While the elevation of James Browne was not a surprise, the allocation of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to him will certainly be seen as unexpected given the general perception that Darragh O’Brien was starting to deliver some progress. The new Minister comes in under a cloud, however, with the CSO showing that the government missed their 2024 target of 39,000 homes by almost 10,000 units.
Jim O’Callaghan has been elevated to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. A long-standing critic of Mícheál Martin, his promotion straight to Cabinet (having rejected the offer of a junior ministry in the last government) is likely to frustrate several outgoing Fianna Fáil junior ministers.
James Lawless, a relatively recent junior ministry appointment, has been elevated to lead the Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The final ‘new’ Fianna Fáil face at Cabinet is Mary Butler, who will serve as Government Chief Whip with the added responsibility of Mental Health.
Meanwhile, on the Fine Gael side, two new Cabinet appointees have been made.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has been elevated to lead the Department of Health, while her party colleague, Martin Heydon has been elevated to lead the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine.
Returning/Reshuffled Ministers
As expected, Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers have swapped their current portfolios to become the new Finance Minister and Public Expenditure brief. Chambers’ role in particular will be central to the delivery of the new government’s ambitious agenda of delivering on critical infrastructure projects. Digitalisation and infrastructure will be included in his portfolio. Donohoe, meanwhile, will continue the government’s efforts of future-proofing the state’s finances against fluctuations in corporate tax receipts.
Peter Burke has pulled off a masterstroke in retaining his position as Minister for Enterprise and Employment, which takes on the additional portfolio of Tourism. Given the large focus on competitiveness and innovation within the Programme for Government, industry will be hugely keen for him to pursue issues of strategic priority, such as improving Ireland’s grid infrastructure. Despite placing significant emphasis on SMEs, and particularly the hospitality sector, since assuming the enterprise ministry in April 2024, he has recently become more vocal on issues affecting Ireland’s general competitiveness. Whether Burke is able and willing to intervene politically and drive the policy agenda from the Department of Enterprise will likely determine the extent of the government’s success in achieving its ambitious commitments set out in the Programme for Government, such as developing a new competitiveness strategy within the next 12 months.
In one of the most unexpected developments in the Cabinet appointments, Darragh O’Brien has been moved from the housing portfolio to become the Minister with responsibility for the Environment, Energy and Transport. O’Brien will be able to bring his considerable experience to the role – particularly on foot of his extensive involvement in planning and infrastructure from his previous portfolio.
Deputy Leader of Fine Gael, Helen McEntee has been appointed Minister for Education & Youth, replacing Norma Foley who has been appointed Minister for Children & Disability. Patrick O’Donovan has been appointed Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport.
Rossa Fanning has been reappointed as the Attorney General of Ireland – a clear indication of the level of trust that Martin has in the outgoing government’s legal adviser.
