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MICHEÁL MARTIN HAS resigned as Taoiseach after two-and-a-half years in office, paving the way for Leo Varadkar to take over the role later today.
The Fianna Fáil leader tendered his resignation as Taoiseach to President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this morning.
Varadkar will be nominated to succeed Martin in a Dáil vote this afternoon under terms agreed in the programme for Government in 2020.
It is the first time in the history of Irish politics that the role of Taoiseach has rotated between two party leaders without a general election.
Speaking in a video posted on social media this morning, Martin said it had been “the honour of a lifetime to serve you in my capacity as Taoiseach”.
I’m just on my way to the Áras to meet the President.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) December 17, 2022
It’s been the honour of a lifetime to serve you as Taoiseach.
Looking forward to the second phase of this Government. We’ve done a lot, and we’ve still lots to do. pic.twitter.com/dRkbF2lLbx
“I want to thank the many, many people across the length and breadth of the country for your courtesy and kindness as I met you on many, many engagements,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the second phase of this government. We’ve done a lot in the first phase, but we still have a lot to do. Thank you.”
Martin is set to travel to the Dáil, where he will announce that he has submitted his resignation at around 10.30am.
Varadkar will then be nominated to take over the role of Taoiseach for the final two years of the coalition Government.
President Higgins this morning accepted the resignation of Mícheál Martin as Taoiseach pic.twitter.com/RDqSq1KNWp
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) December 17, 2022
A vote roll call will then be held to determine the next Taoiseach before the Dáil is suspended for four hours.
The appointment of Varadkar as Taoiseach will take place at 1.30pm in the State Reception Room at Áras an Uachtaráin where the President will sign the Warrant of Appointment and hand the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to Varadkar.
This evening, the Fine Gael leader will call in members of his new Cabinet to tell them what ministerial brief they will be in charge of.
The Dáil will sign off on the ministers before proceedings end in Leinster House after 7pm.
The appointment of the new Cabinet will then take place in State Reception Room at Áras an Uachtaráin.
The President will sign the Warrant of Appointment for the Members of the Government and the Warrant of Appointment of the new Attorney General, each of which will be countersigned by the Taoiseach.
The President will then present each minister in turn with their Seal of Office.
Varadkar previously served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 at the head of a minority government that relied on a confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fáil to maintain power.
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What have they done? They live in a make believe world where they pay “advisors” to tell them they are wonderful.
He sold his sole to become Taoiseach because he didn’t want to be the first leader of FF not to hold the office.
@Jason Ebbs: soul *
@Jason Ebbs: that and the pension and security for life.
Great deal.
@Jason Ebbs: poor lad got cold feet
@Jason Ebbs: got it in one…I hope he is proud of himself. Selfish bugger!
@Jason Ebbs: didn’t know he worked his way up from fishmonger to Taoiseach
Watch out watch out, Leaky Leo is about! Are our confidential documents securely locked away out of his grasp?
@Al Fresco: I’m sure you could use water boarding to find out ..
@Al Fresco: ah all is well sure the hutch might do another bit of a fundraiser for the chosen one!
@Ciaran: I want to be Taoiseach said Meehawl.
No I want to be Taoiseach said Leo.
Afterwards they decided they could each have a go.
And we all lived happily ever after.
Do you not see how ridiculous this is?
@Terry Brophy: the chosen one never met Hutch, even though they were at various fundraisers together.
@Patrick O Connell: ah yeah she said she wasn’t tall enough to know if he was there or not!. Asked if she would attend knowing he was there said she didn’t know, one very simple answer to that one and she said she didn’t know…
@Terry Brophy: O think ye should look up fundraising for the other 2 parties as well if ya think SF is the only one this falls back on
@G Row.: Do you not even have the decency to spell his name correctly?
@Ciaran: over a hundred people “disappeared”from 1920 -1923 ,any word on that Ollie…ask Micheal or Leo, any word hookey..
He had no mandate. He told voters he wouldn’t go into government with FG and as soon as the results were in he reneged on his promise.
@Podge: all political parties put forward the preferences before the election, but it was the electorate who decided the make up of the Dail, and it is the Dail who elects the Taoiseach, which it did giving him 93 out of 160, a clear majority.
@Stephen Kearon: Sorry but thats complete nonsense Stephen. I and many people gave a vote to FF candidates since Martin declared that FF would not go in with FG. Maybe I’m old school but my word is my bond.
@Richie56: your word is your bond lol. Voting for them in the first place was your first mistake.
@Stephen Kearon: he didn’t say it was his preference. If he said he’d like to avoid it and he ended up doing it because there was no other way that’s fine. But he stated unequivocally that he wouldn’t do something and then immediately u-turned as soon as the election was over. There’s no way to spin that.
I cant remember one positive with his stint as top dog..
Can I honestly ask… What has he achieved for Ireland as Taoiseach!?!….
@Marc Quinn: his own lifetime wish to be Taoiseach.
@Marc Quinn: what have any off them achieved Marc?? Apart from huge pensions and bonuses and pay rises? Need I go on??
Hopefully the last FF Taoiseach
@Niall Moonan: the next ff taoiseach hasn’t been born yet hopefully
@Niall Moonan: There’s a few generations left yet that will put them in power again
The reality that a ‘pension of a lifetime’ accompanies the position is a really sad part of this.
An honour of a lifetime seriously. What did he do for the ppl of ireland in the 2.5yrs as Taoiseach. Increased homelessness, high rents, high priced homes that are unaffordable now and for generations to come, an ever deteriorating health service, he cosied up with the banks again made sure they were all right jack AGAIN, cosied up with big corps and vulture funds made sure they were alright jack also. Basically he has done nothing but bring misery to those who continue to struggle in Ireland. Absolutely nothing to be proud of. Shame on you…exit stage left and just leave for good. You have always been surplus to requirements. Goodbye and good riddance Sir.
@Joanne Stokes: But, but, but he brought in the smoking ban nearly 20 years ago. He always goes back to that when it comes to listing his “accomplishments”.
@Joanne Stokes: don’t forget the increased dole payments, increased pension payment, thousands of free social housing, We need Mary Sue and her comrades to fix this country
@Patrick O Connell: Wow look at all those solutions to the country’s problems ,you can really solve them all by throwing money at it,Yet we still have constant issues in the HSE and a complete lack of social housing that has gotten so back it has destroyed the private housing market due to government involvement.
Don’t you have some type of snarky remark you should be making about FF/FG using the magic money tree? Or do you only reserve that for when SF want to increase funding to Public and social services .
@David Corrigan: hahaha good one ;-)
God help us , Ireland’s answer to Boris Johnson is at the helm now
@Brian Molloy: the other option would be an election a our own Putin will get in.
@Patrick O Connell: please enlighten me who our own Putin might be
@Patrick O Connell: I want to be Taoiseach said Meehawl.
No I want to be Taoiseach said Leo.
Afterwards they decided they could each have a go.
And we all lived happily ever after.
Do you not see how ridiculous this is?
@G Row.: Do you not have the decency to use his proper name?
@sean o’dhubhghaill: Tut Tut. These guys are making a mockery of this country with their Lannigans Ball caper. But of course the main thing is we don’t resort to calling people names.
Cop on to yourself.
Should be reporting that people that had cancer appointments were canceled due to covid -19 and the government did nothing about it. Listen, to Ewan Mckenna’s podcast yesterday he interviewed a woman that was let down by the Irish government is just heartbreaking some proper journalist
@Aido: If a hospital cancels an appointment because of a health pandemic, just what are the government meant to do?
@sean o’dhubhghaill: go and listen to the interview what a cheap comment from you
Now it’s FG turn to mess up the place. Wonder how bad they will make the place.
@mark daly: Don’t need to look too far back sure they were the leading party of the 32nd Dail with Leo as Taoiseach being propped up by FF
Glad he didn’t get to go to the White House for St Patrick’s day.
@ChadChaderson: it’s as if the universe was biding it’s time to strike….. poetic justice at its finest.
Watch out watch Leaky Leo is about! Are our confidential documents securely locked away?
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out
RTE to play Cliff Richards Saviour’s Day on rotation for all the delusional FFG lads.
Not an honour for us. Government is a sham of a mockery.
Had he got an Ansbacher account.
Every time this man says the word “many”… all I can hear is Conor Moore’s impression of him.
So funny!
Listening to Micheal Martin reminded me what a thoughtful, intelligent & compassionate leader he is – someone who genuinely cares about the people of Ireland. We need more statesmen & stateswomen with his integrity and ability.
@Stephen Kearon: FF are not going to hire you again as a special advisor Stephen, Not after what you said, but you could at least try and retain a bit of dignity by not posting deluded sycophantic compliments to one of the worst leaders FF have ever had.
@Stephen Kearon: Pitiful. FF dropped you like a hot snot and here you defending them to the bitter end. Embarrassing to say the least.
@David Corrigan: His boot licking is beyond demeaning.
What doth it profit a man should he gain the whole world, but lose his soul?
Give the people a false sense of choice. It’s one of the oldest marketing tricks.
In reality both party’s are the very same.
Good you won’t be missed and bring your sidekick with you
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