Who is the PM of Ireland right now?
As of 30 September 2026, Micheál Martin is Taoiseach; the President, Catherine Connolly, is head of State and holds a separate office.
Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil and a TD for Cork South-Central, is the Taoiseach. He was elected by the Dáil and appointed by the President on 23 January 2025, leading the 35th Government of Ireland. It is his second time in the job: he was also Taoiseach from June 2020 to December 2022.
The Government is a three-way coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and a group of independent TDs. No single party won a majority at the November 2024 general election, so a coalition was needed to command a majority in the Dáil.How a Government is formed.
Why is Ireland's prime minister called the Taoiseach?
Taoiseach is an Irish word meaning chief or leader. The 1937 Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, made it the official title. Article 28.5 says the head of the Government, or Prime Minister, “shall be called, and is in this Constitution referred to as, the Taoiseach.”Read Article 28 of the Constitution.
From 1922 to 1937 the same job was called the President of the Executive Council. Éamon de Valera became the first Taoiseach when the new Constitution came into force in December 1937. The plural is Taoisigh, and the word is used in English speech and news reports without translation.What is a Taoiseach? Meaning and pronunciation.
How does someone become Taoiseach?
- Voters do not pick the Taoiseach directly. They elect 174 TDs by PR-STV in 43 constituencies.
- When a new Dáil meets, TDs vote on a nominee for Taoiseach. In practice this is the leader of the party or coalition that can count on a majority.
- The President formally appoints the person the Dáil nominated.
- The Taoiseach then nominates the other Ministers, the Dáil approves the whole Government, and the President appoints them.
The Taoiseach must be a TD. There is no fixed term or term limit. A Taoiseach stays in office while they keep the confidence of the Dáil, and resigns if they lose it. A general election must be held within five years of the Dáil first meeting.Confidence motions in the Dáil.
What does the Taoiseach do?
| Job | What it means |
|---|---|
| Leads the Government | Chairs Cabinet meetings and sets the overall programme of the Government. |
| Picks the Ministers | Nominates the other members of the Government and can ask a Minister to resign. |
| Answers to the Dáil | Takes questions from the other party leaders in the chamber during sitting weeks. |
| Advises the President | Advises the President to dissolve the Dáil before a general election. |
| Represents Ireland in the EU | Attends European Council summits alongside the other EU leaders. |
The Taoiseach does not make laws alone. Bills must pass the Dáil and the Seanad and be signed by the President. The Taoiseach also does not run every department: each Minister does that.How a Bill becomes law.
PM, President and Tánaiste: the three people people mix up
| Office | Role | Holder on 30 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Taoiseach | Head of government. Ireland's prime minister. | Micheál Martin |
| Tánaiste | Deputy prime minister. Stands in when the Taoiseach is absent. | Simon Harris |
| President | Head of State. Mostly ceremonial, with a few constitutional powers. | Catherine Connolly |
If you searched “who is the leader of Ireland”, the answer depends on what you mean. The Taoiseach runs the Government. The President is the head of State. They are different people and neither can hold both offices.Taoiseach vs President in detail.
Northern Ireland is not part of this system. It has a First Minister and a deputy First Minister, and the United Kingdom has its own Prime Minister in London. The Taoiseach is the prime minister only of the Republic of Ireland.Irish Government vs Northern Ireland Executive.
How to follow what the Taoiseach does
The Taoiseach's parliamentary record is public: contributions in the Dáil, answers to Leaders' Questions, and votes on Government Bills all appear on oireachtas.ie. DáilDex turns that record into a plain-language feed and can email you when the TDs you follow speak or vote.Department of the Taoiseach publishes the Taoiseach's official schedule and speeches.
Five things people get wrong about Ireland’s prime minister
Common assumption: Ireland’s prime minister is called the President.
In fact: The prime minister is the Taoiseach. The President is the head of State.
Common assumption: The Taoiseach is elected by the public.
In fact: The Dáil nominates the Taoiseach and the President appoints them. Voters elect the TDs who make that choice.
Common assumption: Irish prime ministers serve fixed terms.
In fact: There are no fixed terms. A Taoiseach stays in office while they hold the Dáil’s confidence.
Common assumption: The Tánaiste is a ceremonial role.
In fact: The Tánaiste is a senior Minister who deputises for the Taoiseach and usually leads the second coalition party.
Common assumption: Northern Ireland has the same prime minister.
In fact: Northern Ireland is part of the UK. It has its own First Minister and deputy First Minister and comes under the UK Prime Minister.