Micheál Martin has - as expected - become Ireland's new Taoiseach following a vote today, Thursday, January 23, in the Dáil Éireann.
The vote, which was postponed from yesterday, the first sitting of the 34th Dáil, after a series of rows broke out, saw Martin win by a margin of 95 to 76.
As the leader of Fianna Fáil, the party that won the most seats in Ireland's General Election in November, Martin was considered the shoo-in to become the next Taoiseach.
Having previously served as Taoiseach from June 2020 to December 2022, Martin most recently served as Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense.
It is a profound honour to be nominated to serve as Taoiseach. https://t.co/X4JcUYhf3b
— Micheál Martin (@MicheálMartinTD) January 23, 2025
Speaking in the Dáil after winning the vote on Thursda, Ireland's new Taoiseach said: "It is a sad development, in my view, in many parliaments in the world that they have become more angry and divisive. They have become forums dominated by the inflated rhetoric of demonstrations rather than a place where different groups can argue in good faith and respectfully disagree.
"On the day where we carry out our most important constitutional duty as representatives of the people, we should take a moment to remember and respect those things which we share.
"It is a profound honor to be nominated to serve as head of the government in a free, democratic, and diverse Republic."
Martin said "We should never take for granted the freedoms and opportunities secured for us by the generations who sat here before us and by the men and women who fought and campaigned for the establishment of Dáil Éireann.
"Our democracy has remained strong through some of the gravest challenges of a turbulent century. We have continued to have free debate and free elections. We have never wavered in our commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes."
After thanking his colleagues and family, Martin continued: "As I look at Ireland today, it is clear that there can be a degree of cynicism towards politics and 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 emphasize positive discussion. For my part, I intend to remain open to constructive ideas from deputies from all parts of the House."
The Taoiseach then outlined the "core principles" on which he intends to lead the Government - protecting Ireland's strength and addressing critical social needs.
The Taoiseach said Ireland must "strengthen our three essential relationships" with Europe, the US, and the UK.
Regarding the US, Martin said: "Our relationship of kinship with the United States is older than our State. It has endured because we have continued to renew bonds of respect and cooperation. We are not naive about the realities of change, but equally, the Ireland-America relationship is one which benefits us both and it will emerge strongly no matter what."
He said internationally, Ireland will be "an active voice for the values of peace, cooperation, and development."
He further said that the new Government will "implement the largest-ever program of North-South research and investment opening critical links and building both engagement and understanding through a further strengthened Shared Island initiative."
He vowed for his Government to help people afford to buy or rent a home, increase resources for people with disabilities, deliver both resources and reform to help all children to get the best start in life, and move forward in tackling the existential problem of climate change.
"In all of this, the Government I will lead will reject the sterile politics of the extremes, the empty gestures of those who want to impose inflexible ideologies when addressing issues which are as complex and diverse as our people," the Taoiseach said.
"Mine will be a government which seeks to work in a spirit of practical republicanism, a spirit which has helped our country achieve so much in the past and which is essential if we are to meet the challenges of today, a spirit which will create equality of opportunities for all which will work to underpin and promote the status, the dignity, and independence of people with disabilities, a spirit
that will build more houses at an accelerated pace and work every day to build reconciliation between the different traditions on the island of Ireland."
January 23, 2025: Micheál Martin after winning the Taoiseach vote in the Dáil Éireann. (Houses of the Oireachtas / Flickr)
After winning the vote and delivering remarks in the Dáil, Martin traveled to Áras an Uachtaráin where President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins signed the Warrant of Appointment and presented the seal of the Taoiseach and seal of the Government to Taoiseach Micheál Martin in accordance with Article 13 of the Constitution.
Deeply honoured to accept the Seal of the Taoiseach from President Michael D. Higgins pic.twitter.com/vmkLRZrQ3w
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 23, 2025
The day now proceeds back in the Dail as the Taoiseach names the new Government ministers.
Comments