Tánaiste

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The Tánaiste (pronounced [ˈtɑːnəʃtʲə]; plural: Tánaistí [ˈtɑːnəʃtʲiː]), or, more formally, An Tánaiste[1], is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach nominates a member of Government to the position of Tánaiste. Brian Cowen currently holds the position of Tánaiste. Tánaiste was originally the Irish word for the heir of the chief (taoiseach) or king (rí), under the Gaelic system of tanistry.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The office was created in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, replacing the previous office of Vice-President of the Executive Council that had existed under the Free State constitution. The Tánaiste acts in the place of the Taoiseach during his or her temporary absence, and, until a successor has been appointed, in the event of the Taoiseach's death or permanent incapacitation. The Tánaiste must be a member of Dáil Éireann, and is ex-officio a member of the Council of State. The Tánaiste would usually chair meetings of the Government if the Taoiseach is absent or take questions on his behalf in the Dáil or Seanad.

Aside from these duties, the title is largely honorific in practice. The constitution does not give the Tánaiste specific powers other than deputising for the Taoiseach. Under a coalition government the position is commonly held by the leader of the second-largest party who in this situation is free to head any department he or she wants. Recent Tánaistí, such as Michael McDowell, Mary Harney and Dick Spring, have been leaders of smaller parties. In a single-party government the Tánaiste is often an 'elder statesman' holding one of the less important ministerial portfolios.

[edit] List of Tánaistí

# Name Entered Office Left Office Party
1. Seán T. O'Kelly December 29, 1937 June 14, 1945 Fianna Fáil
2. Seán Lemass (1st term of 3) June 14, 1945 February 18, 1948 Fianna Fáil
3. William Norton (1st term of 2) February 18, 1948 June 13, 1951 Labour Party
Seán Lemass (2nd term of 3) June 13, 1951 June 2, 1954 Fianna Fáil
William Norton (2nd term of 2) June 2, 1954 March 20, 1957 Labour Party
Seán Lemass (3rd term of 3) March 20, 1957 June 23, 1959 Fianna Fáil
4. Seán MacEntee June 23, 1959 April 21, 1965 Fianna Fáil
5. Frank Aiken April 21, 1965 July 2, 1969 Fianna Fáil
6. Erskine H. Childers July 2, 1969 March 14, 1973 Fianna Fáil
7. Brendan Corish March 14, 1973 July 5, 1977 Labour Party
8. George Colley July 5, 1977 June 30, 1981 Fianna Fáil
9. Michael O'Leary June 30, 1981 March 9, 1982 Labour Party
10. Ray MacSharry March 9, 1982 December 14, 1982 Fianna Fáil
11. Dick Spring (1st term of 3) December 14, 1982 January 20, 1987 Labour Party
12. Peter Barry January 20, 1987 March 10, 1987 Fine Gael
13. Brian Lenihan March 10, 1987 October 31, 1990 Fianna Fáil
14. John Wilson November 13, 1990 January 12, 1993 Fianna Fáil
Dick Spring (2nd term of 3) January 12, 1993 November 17, 1994 Labour Party
15. Bertie Ahern November 19, 1994 December 15, 1994 Fianna Fáil
Dick Spring (3rd term of 3) December 15, 1994 June 26, 1997 Labour Party
16. Mary Harney June 26, 1997 September 13, 2006 Progressive Democrats
17. Michael McDowell September 13, 2006 June 14, 2007 Progressive Democrats
18. Brian Cowen June 14, 2007 Incumbent Fianna Fáil

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Retaining the Irish definite article an [ən] instead of English the.

[edit] See also


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