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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.
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.
List of Tánaistí
| Name |
Picture |
Entered office |
Left office |
Political party |
Other ministerial offices held while in post |
|
Seán T. O'Kelly
|
Image:Sean T O Kelly.jpg |
29 December 1937 |
14 June 1945 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Local Government & Public Health (29 December 1937 – 8 September 1939),
Minister for Education (8 September 1939 – 16 September 1939),
Minister for Finance (16 September 1939 – 14 June 1945) |
|
Seán Lemass
(1st term of 3) |
|
14 June 1945 |
18 February 1948 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Supplies (14 June 1945 – 31 July 1945),
Minister for Industry and Commerce (31 July 1945 – 18 February 1948) |
|
William Norton
(1st term of 2) |
|
18 February 1948 |
13 June 1951 |
Labour Party |
Minister for Social Welfare (18 February 1948 – 13 June 1951) |
|
Seán Lemass
(2nd term of 3) |
|
13 June 1951 |
2 June 1954 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Industry and Commerce (13 June 1951 – 2 June 1954) |
|
William Norton
(2nd term of 2) |
|
2 June 1954 |
20 March 1957 |
Labour Party |
Minister for Industry and Commerce (2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957) |
|
Seán Lemass
(3rd term of 3) |
|
20 March 1957 |
23 June 1959 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Industry and Commerce (20 March 1957 – 23 June 1959) |
|
Seán MacEntee |
Image:Seán MacEntee.jpg |
23 June 1959 |
21 April 1965 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Health (23 June 1959 – 21 April 1965) |
|
Frank Aiken |
|
21 April 1965 |
2 July 1959 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for External Affairs (21 April 1965 – 2 July 1969) |
|
Erskine H. Childers |
 |
2 July 1969 |
14 March 1973 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Health (2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973) |
|
Brendan Corish |
|
14 March 1973 |
5 July 1977 |
Labour Party |
Minister for Health (14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977) |
|
George Colley |
Image:George Colley.jpg |
5 July 1977 |
30 June 1981 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Finance (5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979),
Minister for Tourism & Transport (12 December 1979 – 25 January 1980),
Minister for Energy (22 January 1980 – 30 June 1981) |
|
Michael O'Leary |
Image:Michael O'Leary.jpg |
30 June 1981 |
9 March 1982 |
Labour Party |
Minister for Energy (30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982) |
|
Ray MacSharry |
Image:Ray MacSharry.jpg |
9 March 1982 |
14 December 1982 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Finance (9 March 1982 – 14 December 1982) |
|
Dick Spring
(1st term of 3) |
|
14 December 1982 |
20 January 1987 |
Labour Party |
Minister for the Environment (14 December 1982 – 13 December 1983),
Minister for Energy (13 December 1983 – 20 January 1987) |
|
Peter Barry |
Image:Peter Barry (Tánaiste).jpg |
20 January 1987 |
10 March 1987 |
Fine Gael |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (20 January 1987 – 10 March 1987) |
|
Brian Lenihan |
Image:Brian Lenihan.jpg |
10 March 1987 |
31 October 1990 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Finance (10 March 1987 – 12 July 1989),
Minister for Defence (12 July 1989 – 31 October 1990) |
|
John Wilson |
Image:John P. Wilson.jpg |
13 November 1990 |
12 January 1993 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for the Marine (13 November 1990 – 11 February 1992),
Minister for Defence (11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993) |
|
Dick Spring
(2nd term of 3) |
|
12 January 1993 |
17 November 1994 |
Labour Party |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (12 January 1993 – 17 November 1994) |
|
Bertie Ahern |
Image:BertieAhernBerlin2007.jpg |
19 November 1994 |
15 December 1994 |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Finance (19 November 1994 – 15 December 1994) |
|
Dick Spring
(3rd term of 3) |
|
15 December 1994 |
26 June 1997 |
Labour Party |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997) |
|
Mary Harney |
Image:Mary Harney.jpg |
26 June 1997 |
13 September 2006 |
Progressive Democrats |
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (26 June 1997 – 29 September 2004),
Minister for Health & Children (26 September, 2004 – 13 September 2006) |
|
Michael McDowell |
Image:Michael McDowell.jpg |
13 September 2006 |
14 June 2007 |
Progressive Democrats |
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (13 September 2006 – 14 June 2007) |
|
Brian Cowen |
 |
14 June 2007 |
Incumbent |
Fianna Fáil |
Minister for Finance (14 June 2007 —) |
Footnotes
See also
cy:Tánaiste
de:Tánaiste es:Tánaiste fr:Tánaiste ga:Tánaiste he:טנשטה nl:Tánaiste pl:Tánaiste simple:Tánaiste fi:Tánaiste sv:Tánaiste
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