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#Government Formation

All the news about the negotiations to form a government

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

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

CC
Government will contest Kerry TD's 'simplistic but false' claims about 'super-juniors', High Court told
Sinn Féin TD Patrick “Pa” Daly’s case centres around super-junior ministers attending Cabinet meetings

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed
Regional Group TDs cannot form technical group in Cabinet, Ceann Comhairle rules
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has ruled that members of the regional technical group of TDs cannot be considered as members of the opposition

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed
S Fergus Finlay: With one stupid decision, coalition undermined itself and united the opposition
The Ceann Comhairle says the regional Independents cannot be considered part of the opposition. But many questions remain about the shoddy little deal Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael struck with them

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

President Higgins to Present Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad
Taoiseach and Tánaiste expected to meet opposition leaders to avert further Dáil chaos
Lengthy discussions have failed to reach agreement about Michael Lowry’s regional technical group and its bid to get speaking slots in opposition time despite supporting the Government

Mon, 03 Feb, 2025

Seanad elections
Counting resumes in Seanad elections with two vocational panels filled
The eleven seats available on the agricultural panel and the five on the cultural and education panel have all been filled

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael 'should cut all ties with Michael Lowry' 
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael 'should cut all ties with Michael Lowry' 
Opposition call on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to convene a meeting of party leaders to put an end to the row before the Dáil resumes on Wednesday

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Regional Independents meet requirements for Dáil speaking rights, says Fianna Fáil advice
Regional Independents meet requirements for Dáil speaking rights, says Fianna Fáil advice
Fianna Fáil sought advice from senior counsel as the row over whether the technical group, led by Michael Lowry, should have speaking rights similar to those afforded to the Opposition.

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Jennifer Horgan: It takes a village — so why is the work of our country divided by gender?
S Jennifer Horgan: It takes a village — so why is the work of our country divided by gender?
Our new Government is more comfortable with women looking after the children, the elderly, the unwell, and the people with disabilities

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Irish cabinet
Cork's three new junior ministers lay out their portfolio priorities
Fianna Fáil's Michael Moynihan and Christopher O'Sullivan, and Fine Gael's Jerry Buttimer taking up new roles as Ministers of State

Thu, 30 Jan, 2025

Regional Independents named 'unaligned members' in bid to break speaking rights deadlock
Regional Independents named 'unaligned members' in bid to break speaking rights deadlock
It has been immediately criticised by the opposition, with one TD saying it would be allowing the Regional Independents to remain as a 'faux opposition grouping'

Thu, 30 Jan, 2025

Rory Hearne takes housing as Social Democrats announce spokespeople
Rory Hearne takes housing as Social Democrats announce spokespeople
Following Mr Hearne's election in November, it was announced on Thursday that the Maynooth University lecturer — who has written a book on housing policy — will take over the brief

Thu, 30 Jan, 2025

Taoiseach tipped to counter Sinn Féin's Seanad selection with unionist pick 
Taoiseach tipped to counter Sinn Féin's Seanad selection with unionist pick 
It has been suggested Micheál Martin will appoint Ian Marshall to counteract Sinn Féin’s candidate Conor Murphy, who the party has put forward to represent Northern nationalists

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Sharp criticism of gender disparity as Government announces junior ministers
Sharp criticism of gender disparity as Government announces junior ministers
There had been widespread criticism of the full Cabinet announcement last week, which saw the number of female senior ministers drop from four to three

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Irish cabinet
Three Cork TDs named as junior ministers but Colm Burke demoted
Just six of the 23 junior ministers are women, despite Micheál Martin previously insisting  he would address gender imbalance at Cabinet in his junior ministerial appointments

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Kerry TD secures permission to continue challenge to 'super-junior' minister appointments
Kerry TD secures permission to continue challenge to 'super-junior' minister appointments
Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted “leave”, allowing Sinn Féin's Patrick “Pa” Daly to continue with his legal challenge after she was satisfied he surmounted the “relatively low” threshold of demonstrating he has an “arguable” case

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Pressure on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to address gender balance with junior ministries 
Pressure on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to address gender balance with junior ministries 
New Cabinet has just three female senior ministers

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Sarah Harte: Cabinet appointments compound the gender imbalance in Leinster House
Sarah Harte: Cabinet appointments compound the gender imbalance in Leinster House
Leinster House is a workplace with asymmetrical gender power arrangements, and it’s a terrible example

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Sinn Fein front bench
Elaine Loughlin: Lack of front bench change suggests SF is not serious about governing
Mary Lou McDonald's reshuffle leaves three key policy areas in the same hands as before — posing a significant challenge if Sinn Féin ever seeks to form a coalition with other parties 

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Taoiseach on Storm Eowyn
Junior ministerial posts will address Cabinet gender imbalance – Taoiseach
Micheál Martin was responding to criticism of the new Government for only appointing three women as senior ministers

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

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