Tánaiste

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The Tánaiste (IPA: /ˈtɑːnəʃtʲə/; plural Tánaistí /ˈtɑːnəʃtʲiː/), or, more formally, An Tánaiste^[1], is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland. The Taoiseach nominates a member of Government to the position of Tánaiste. Michael McDowell TD is currently Tánaiste and is the leader of the Progressive Democrats (PDs), the second party in the coalition government. Tánaiste was originally the Irish word for the heir of the chief (taoiseach) or king (ri), under the Gaelic system of tanistry.

Contents 1 Overview 2 List of Tánaistí 3 Footnotes 4 See also

[edit] 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.

[edit] List of Tánaistí

#		Name	Entered Office	Left Office	Party
	1.	Seán T. O'Kelly	December 29, 1937	June 14, 1945	Fianna Fáil
	2.	Seán Lemass (1st term of 3)	June 14, 1945	February 18, 1948	Fianna Fáil
	3.	William Norton (1st term of 2)	February 18, 1948	June 13, 1951	Labour Party
		Seán Lemass (2nd term of 3)	June 13, 1951	June 2, 1954	Fianna Fáil
		William Norton (2nd term of 2)	June 2, 1954	March 20, 1957	Labour Party
		Seán Lemass (3rd term of 3)	March 20, 1957	June 23, 1959	Fianna Fáil
	4.	Seán MacEntee	June 23, 1959	April 21, 1965	Fianna Fáil
	5.	Frank Aiken	April 21, 1965	July 2, 1969	Fianna Fáil
	6.	Erskine H. Childers	July 2, 1969	March 14, 1973	Fianna Fáil
	7.	Brendan Corish	March 14, 1973	July 5, 1977	Labour Party
	8.	George Colley	July 5, 1977	June 30, 1981	Fianna Fáil
	9.	Michael O'Leary	June 30, 1981	March 9, 1982	Labour Party
	10.	Ray MacSharry	March 9, 1982	December 14, 1982	Fianna Fáil
	11.	Dick Spring (1st term of 3)	December 14, 1982	January 20, 1987	Labour Party
	12.	Peter Barry	January 20, 1987	March 10, 1987	Fine Gael
	13.	Brian Lenihan	March 10, 1987	October 31, 1990	Fianna Fáil
	14.	John P. Wilson	November 13, 1990	January 12, 1993	Fianna Fáil
		Dick Spring (2nd term of 3)	January 12, 1993	November 17, 1994	Labour Party
	15.	Bertie Ahern	November 19, 1994	December 15, 1994	Fianna Fáil
		Dick Spring (3rd term of 3)	December 15, 1994	June 26, 1997	Labour Party
	16.	Mary Harney	June 26, 1997	September 13, 2006	Progressive Democrats
	17.	Michael McDowell	September 13, 2006	Incumbent	Progressive Democrats

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] See also

• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• Tanistry

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