30th Dáil

30th Dáil
29th Dáil 31st Dáil
Overview
Legislative bodyDáil Éireann
JurisdictionIreland
Meeting placeLeinster House
Term14 June 2007 – 1 February 2011
Election2007 general election
Government
Members166
Ceann ComhairleSéamus Kirk
John O'Donoghue
until 13 October 2009
TaoiseachBrian Cowen
Bertie Ahern
until 7 May 2008
TánaisteMary Coughlan
Brian Cowen
until 7 May 2008
Chief WhipJohn Curran
Pat Carey
until 23 March 2010
Tom Kitt
until 7 May 2008
Leader of the OppositionEnda Kenny
Sessions
1st14 June 2007 – 5 July 2007
2nd26 September 2007 – 10 July 2008
3rd24 September 2008 – 10 July 2009
4th16 September 2009 – 8 July 2010
5th29 September 2010 – 1 February 2011

The 30th Dáil was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007 and met on 14 June 2007. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs. It sat with the 23rd Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas.

The 30th Dáil lasted 1,329 days, and saw a change of Taoiseach from Bertie Ahern to Brian Cowen. The 30th Dáil was dissolved by President Mary McAleese on 1 February 2011, at the request of the Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Composition of the 30th Dáil

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Party May 2007 Jan. 2011[1]
Fianna Fáil 78 71
Fine Gael 51 51
Labour 20 20
Green 6 6
Sinn Féin 4 5
Progressive Democrats 2
Independent 5 8
Vacant 4
Ceann Comhairle 1

On 14 June 2007, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats, denoted with bullets (), formed the 27th government of Ireland, led by Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. On 7 May 2008, after the resignation of Ahern, the parties formed the 28th government of Ireland, led by Brian Cowen as Taoiseach.[2][3]

Graphical representation

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This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 30th Dáil in January 2011, shortly before its dissolution. This was not the official seating plan.

Ceann Comhairle

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On 14 June 2007, John O'Donoghue (FF) was proposed by Bertie Ahern for the position of Ceann Comhairle. Ruairi Quinn (Lab) was proposed by Pat Rabbitte and seconded by Enda Kenny. O'Donoghue was approved by a vote of 90 to 75.[4]

On 13 October 2009, O'Donoghue resigned as Ceann Comhairle.[5] Séamus Kirk was proposed by Brian Cowen and seconded by Mary Coughlan. Dinny McGinley (FG) was proposed by Enda Kenny and seconded by Pádraic McCormack. Kirk was approved by a vote of 87 to 51.[6][7]

Political leadership

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Government

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Opposition

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List of TDs

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This is a list of TDs elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2007 general election, sorted by party.[8] The Changes table below records all changes in party affiliation.

Party Name Constituency
Fianna Fáil (78) Bertie Ahern Dublin Central
Dermot Ahern Louth
Michael Ahern Cork East
Noel Ahern Dublin North-West
Barry Andrews Dún Laoghaire
Chris Andrews Dublin South-East
Seán Ardagh Dublin South-Central
Bobby Aylward Carlow–Kilkenny
Joe Behan Wicklow
Niall Blaney Donegal North-East
Áine Brady Kildare North
Cyprian Brady Dublin Central
Johnny Brady Meath West
Séamus Brennan Dublin South
John Browne Wexford
Thomas Byrne Meath East
Dara Calleary Mayo
Pat Carey Dublin North-West
Niall Collins Limerick West
Margaret Conlon Cavan–Monaghan
Seán Connick Wexford
Mary Coughlan Donegal South-West
Brian Cowen Laois–Offaly
John Cregan Limerick West
Martin Cullen Waterford
John Curran Dublin Mid-West
Noel Dempsey Meath West
Jimmy Devins Sligo–North Leitrim
Timmy Dooley Clare
Frank Fahey Galway West
Michael Finneran Roscommon–South Leitrim
Michael Fitzpatrick Kildare North
Seán Fleming Laois–Offaly
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Donegal South-West
Mary Hanafin Dún Laoghaire
Seán Haughey Dublin North-Central
Máire Hoctor Tipperary North
Billy Kelleher Cork North-Central
Peter Kelly Longford–Westmeath
Brendan Kenneally Waterford
Michael Kennedy Dublin North
Tony Killeen Clare
Séamus Kirk Louth
Michael Kitt Galway East
Tom Kitt Dublin South
Brian Lenihan Dublin West
Conor Lenihan Dublin South-West
Micheál Martin Cork South-Central
Jim McDaid Donegal North-East
Tom McEllistrim Kerry North
Mattie McGrath Tipperary South
Michael McGrath Cork South-Central
John McGuinness Carlow–Kilkenny
Martin Mansergh Tipperary South
John Moloney Laois–Offaly
Michael Moynihan Cork North-West
Michael Mulcahy Dublin South-Central
M. J. Nolan Carlow–Kilkenny
Darragh O'Brien Dublin North
Éamon Ó Cuív Galway West
Charlie O'Connor Dublin South-West
Willie O'Dea Limerick East
John O'Donoghue Kerry South
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Kildare South
Noel O'Flynn Cork North-Central
Rory O'Hanlon Cavan–Monaghan
Batt O'Keeffe Cork North-West
Ned O'Keeffe Cork East
Mary O'Rourke Longford–Westmeath
Christy O'Sullivan Cork South-West
Peter Power Limerick East
Seán Power Kildare South
Dick Roche Wicklow
Eamon Scanlon Sligo–North Leitrim
Brendan Smith Cavan–Monaghan
Noel Treacy Galway East
Mary Wallace Meath East
Michael Woods Dublin North-East
Fine Gael (51) Bernard Allen Cork North-Central
James Bannon Longford–Westmeath
Seán Barrett Dún Laoghaire
Pat Breen Clare
Richard Bruton Dublin North-Central
Ulick Burke Galway East
Catherine Byrne Dublin South-Central
Joe Carey Clare
Deirdre Clune Cork South-Central
Paul Connaughton Snr Galway East
Noel Coonan Tipperary North
Simon Coveney Cork South-Central
Seymour Crawford Cavan–Monaghan
Michael Creed Cork North-West
Lucinda Creighton Dublin South-East
Michael W. D'Arcy Wexford
John Deasy Waterford
Jimmy Deenihan Kerry North
Andrew Doyle Wicklow
Bernard Durkan Kildare North
Damien English Meath West
Olwyn Enright Laois–Offaly
Frank Feighan Roscommon–South Leitrim
Charles Flanagan Laois–Offaly
Terence Flanagan Dublin North-East
Brian Hayes Dublin South-West
Tom Hayes Tipperary South
Phil Hogan Carlow–Kilkenny
Paul Kehoe Wexford
Enda Kenny Mayo
Pádraic McCormack Galway West
Shane McEntee Meath East
Dinny McGinley Donegal South-West
Joe McHugh Donegal North-East
Olivia Mitchell Dublin South
Denis Naughten Roscommon–South Leitrim
Dan Neville Limerick West
Michael Noonan Limerick East
Kieran O'Donnell Limerick East
Fergus O'Dowd Louth
Jim O'Keeffe Cork South-West
John O'Mahony Mayo
John Perry Sligo–North Leitrim
James Reilly Dublin North
Michael Ring Mayo
Alan Shatter Dublin South
Tom Sheahan Kerry South
P. J. Sheehan Cork South-West
David Stanton Cork East
Billy Timmins Wicklow
Leo Varadkar Dublin West
Labour Party (20) Tommy Broughan Dublin North-East
Joan Burton Dublin West
Joe Costello Dublin Central
Eamon Gilmore Dún Laoghaire
Michael D. Higgins Galway West
Brendan Howlin Wexford
Ciarán Lynch Cork South-Central
Kathleen Lynch Cork North-Central
Liz McManus Wicklow
Brian O'Shea Waterford
Jan O'Sullivan Limerick East
Willie Penrose Longford–Westmeath
Ruairi Quinn Dublin South-East
Pat Rabbitte Dublin South-West
Seán Sherlock Cork East
Róisín Shortall Dublin North-West
Emmet Stagg Kildare North
Joanna Tuffy Dublin Mid-West
Mary Upton Dublin South-Central
Jack Wall Kildare South
Green Party (6) Ciarán Cuffe Dún Laoghaire
Paul Gogarty Dublin Mid-West
John Gormley Dublin South-East
Eamon Ryan Dublin South
Trevor Sargent Dublin North
Mary White Carlow–Kilkenny
Sinn Féin (4) Martin Ferris Kerry North
Arthur Morgan Louth
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin Cavan–Monaghan
Aengus Ó Snodaigh Dublin South-Central
Progressive Democrats (2) Noel Grealish Galway West
Mary Harney Dublin Mid-West
Independent (5) Beverley Flynn Mayo
Tony Gregory Dublin Central
Jackie Healy-Rae Kerry South
Michael Lowry Tipperary North
Finian McGrath Dublin North-Central

Changes

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Date Constituency Loss Gain Note
14 June 2007 Kerry South Fianna Fáil Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue (FF) is elected Ceann Comhairle[4]
28 November 2007 Cork East Fianna Fáil Independent Ned O'Keeffe (FF) resigns from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party
27 February 2008 Cork East Independent Fianna Fáil Ned O'Keeffe rejoins the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party
8 April 2008 Mayo Independent Fianna Fáil Beverley Flynn (Ind) re-joins Fianna Fáil[9]
9 July 2008 Dublin South Fianna Fáil   Death of Séamus Brennan (FF)[10]
17 October 2008 Wicklow Fianna Fáil Independent Joe Behan (FF) resigns from Fianna Fáil[11]
13 November 2008 Donegal North-East Fianna Fáil Independent Jim McDaid (FF) loses the Fianna Fáil party whip after abstaining in a vote on a health issue
2 January 2009 Dublin Central Independent   Death of Tony Gregory (Ind)[12]
5 June 2009 Dublin South   Fine Gael George Lee (FG) gains the seat vacated by the death of Brennan[13]
5 June 2009 Dublin Central   Independent Maureen O'Sullivan (Ind) holds the seat vacated by the death of Gregory[13]
5 June 2009 Donegal South-West Fianna Fáil   Pat "the Cope" Gallagher (FF) elected as a Member of the European Parliament[13]
5 August 2009 Sligo–North Leitrim Fianna Fáil Independent Jimmy Devins (FF) resigns the Fianna Fáil party whip in protest at cuts in cancer services at Sligo General Hospital
5 August 2009 Sligo–North Leitrim Fianna Fáil Independent Eamon Scanlon (FF) resigns the Fianna Fáil party whip in protest at cuts in cancer services at Sligo General Hospital
13 October 2009 Kerry South Ceann Comhairle Fianna Fáil John O'Donoghue (FF) resigns as Ceann Comhairle[5]
13 October 2009 Louth Fianna Fáil Ceann Comhairle Séamus Kirk (FF) is elected Ceann Comhairle[6]
20 November 2009 Dublin Mid-West Progressive Democrats Independent Mary Harney (PD) becomes an Independent TD following the dissolution of the Progressive Democrats
20 November 2009 Galway West Progressive Democrats Independent Noel Grealish (PD) becomes an Independent TD following the dissolution of the Progressive Democrats
8 February 2010 Dublin South Fine Gael   George Lee (FG) resigns from Dáil Éireann[14]
24 March 2010 Waterford Fianna Fáil   Martin Cullen (FF) resigns from Dáil Éireann[15]
29 June 2010 Tipperary South Fianna Fáil Independent Mattie McGrath (FF) loses the Fianna Fáil party whip after voting against Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010. Resigned from Fianna Fáil on 25 January 2011.
2 November 2010 Donegal North-East Independent   Jim McDaid (Ind) resigns from Dáil Éireann[16]
26 November 2010 Donegal South-West   Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty (SF) takes the seat vacated by Gallagher's election to the European Parliament[17]
13 January 2011 Sligo–North Leitrim Independent Fianna Fáil Eamon Scanlon rejoins the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party[18]
25 January 2011 Sligo–North Leitrim Independent Fianna Fáil Jimmy Devins rejoins the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party[19]
28 January 2011 Dublin South-Central Fianna Fáil   Seán Ardagh (FF) resigns from Dáil Éireann[20]

On 12 July 2010, Pearse Doherty was granted leave to bring judicial review against the government seeking a declaration that due to the length of the vacancy in Donegal South-West, the government was under a duty not to oppose a motion for a writ. On 3 November 2010, Nicholas Kearns, president of the High Court, made a declaration that there has been an unreasonable delay in moving the writ for the by-election in Donegal South-West.[21] The writ was moved the following day.[22] However, the moving of the writ was opposed for three remaining vacancies.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Home Page". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Cowen confirmed as Taoiseach". BreakingNews.ie. 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Former Taoisigh". Department of the Taoiseach. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Election of Ceann Comhairle". Dáil Debates – Vol. 637 No. 1. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Statement by An Ceann Comhairle". Dáil Debates – Vol. 691 No. 3. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Election of Ceann Comhairle". Dáil Debates – Vol. 691 No. 3. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Kirk elected Ceann Comhairle". The Irish Times. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  8. ^ "TDs & Senators (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas.
  9. ^ "Beverly Flynn readmitted to FF". RTÉ News. 3 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  10. ^ "Tributes paid to Séamus Brennan". RTÉ News. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  11. ^ "Full text of Joe Behan TD's resignation letter". The Irish Times. 17 October 2008.
  12. ^ "Dublin TD Tony Gregory dies". RTÉ News. 2 January 2009. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  13. ^ a b c "Introduction of New Members". Dáil Debates – Vol. 684 No. 1. 9 June 2009.
  14. ^ "Resignation of Member". Dáil Debates – Vol. 701 No. 3. 9 February 2010.
  15. ^ "Resignation of Member". Dáil Debates – Vol. 705 No. 2. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Resignation of Member". Dáil Debates – Vol. 720 No. 3. 2 November 2010.
  17. ^ "Introduction of New Member". Dáil Debates – Vol. 723 No. 3. 30 November 2010.
  18. ^ "Sligo's Scanlon Returned To Fianna Fáil Whip". Sligo Today. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  19. ^ "FF leadership candidates address party". RTÉ News. 25 January 2011.
  20. ^ "Announcement of Business". Dáil Debates – Vol. 727 No. 6. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  21. ^ Doherty v. Government of Ireland [2010] IEHC 369, [2011] 2 IR 222 (3 November 2010), High Court
  22. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal South-West By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 721 No. 1. 4 November 2010.
  23. ^ "Issue of Writ: Dublin South By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 721 No. 1. 4 November 2010.; "Issue of Writ: Waterford By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 721 No. 1. 4 November 2010.; "Issue of Writ: Donegal North-East By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 721 No. 1. 4 November 2010.

Further reading

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