Step 1 — Reading the election result
Ireland elects 174 TDs using PR-STV. Because transfers spread votes across parties, no single party has won an outright majority in a general election since 1977. The result is that forming a Government almost always requires at least two parties to agree to work together.
The magic number is 88 seats — a majority of the 174-seat Dáil. After counting finishes, party leaders quickly tot up potential combinations and begin exploratory talks.
Step 2 — Coalition negotiations
Parties typically appoint negotiating teams to agree policy compromises across housing, health, the economy, and other priorities. These talks can last several weeks. Smaller parties will usually seek specific ministerial portfolios and binding policy commitments as conditions for entering Government.
If negotiations collapse, other combinations are tried. In November 2024, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party took 63 days after polling to form the 34th Dáil Government.
Step 3 — Programme for Government
The coalition parties publish a Programme for Government (PfG) — a detailed document setting out agreed policies, spending commitments, and reform priorities. Members of each coalition party typically ratify the PfG by a delegate vote before the formation process can proceed.
The PfG is a political contract between coalition partners. If a party later acts outside it, they may trigger a coalition crisis. The document is published in full on the Government website.
Step 4 — Dáil confidence vote
Under Article 13.1.1° of the Constitution, the Dáil nominates the Taoiseach, who is then appointed by the President. The Dáil then votes confidence in the Government as a whole (Article 28.10). Independent TDs or small parties who agree to support the Government from outside cabinet are known as confidence-and-supply partners.
| Step | Constitutional basis | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Nomination of Taoiseach | Art. 13.1.1° | Dáil votes to nominate the Taoiseach by name. |
| Taoiseach appointed | Art. 13.1.1° | President formally appoints the nominated Taoiseach. |
| Cabinet appointed | Art. 28.1 | Taoiseach nominates ministers; President appoints on Taoiseach's advice. |
| Confidence vote | Art. 28.10 | New Government is deemed to have Dáil confidence on election. |
What happens if the Government loses confidence?
If a motion of no confidence passes — or if the Government loses a vote on the Estimates or another confidence matter — the Taoiseach must advise the President to dissolve the Dáil and call a general election, unless another Government can be formed quickly from within the existing Dáil.
A Government can also resign voluntarily if a coalition partner withdraws support, which again triggers either a new formation or a dissolution.