On 23 January, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin TD was elected as the new Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland.
The Dáil Éireann (the lower house of Ireland’s Parliament) voted for Martin as the new head of a coalition government with 95 votes in favour and 76 against.
After his election by the house, he met with the President of the Irish Republic Michael D. Higgins and received his Warrant of Appointment and Seal of Office.
In his acceptance speech to the Dáil, Taoiseach Martin said "Ireland is an open democracy with an open economy" and "cannot expect to stand unaffected on the sidelines" by global issues.
"We will not flinch in our support for protecting Europe's freedom and democracy. For us today, for this generation of political leaders, the task is to protect Ireland's strength at a moment of real threat, while also addressing critical social needs," he said.
Martin previously served as Ireland’s Taoiseach between 2020-22 during the previous coalition government, becoming Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence since December 2022 at the half-way rotation point.
"It was wonderful to see Fianna Fáil finish top of the poll and elect the most members in this new Dáil, a reward for your engaging campaign and in recognition of all your party’s achievements and efforts to build an Ireland for all during the last coalition government that clearly resonated with the voters," said ALDE Party President Svenja Hahn in her letter of congratulations to Taoiseach Martin.
Fianna Fáil will retain eight ministerial posts in the new government during the first half of the mandate:
- Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
- James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure
- Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality
- James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Transport, Environment and Energy
- Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and Migration
In the Irish general election in November 2024, Fianna Fáil became the largest party in the Dáil Éireann with 48 Teachtaí Dála (TD), a gain of ten seats from the last mandate, and registered the highest number of first-preference votes with 21.9%.
They then participated in negotiations on the formation of a new coalition government with Fine Gael, and have formed a majority with the support of some Independent TDs.
Fianna Fáil members met on Sunday at a special Ard Fheis (party Congress) in Dublin to ratify the new Programme for Government.