Records of members of the Oireachtas explained

This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland, which consists of the President of Ireland, and two Houses, Dáil Éireann, a house of representatives whose members are known as Teachtaí Dála or TDs, and Seanad Éireann, a senate whose members are known as senators.

The First Dáil consisted of the Sinn Féin MPs who were elected in the United Kingdom general election of 14 December 1918. They refused to attend the British House of Commons and instead assembled for the first time on 21 January 1919 in the Mansion House in Dublin as the revolutionary unicameral Dáil Éireann.

1,292 TDs have served in the Dáil between 1919 and 2018. The title Father of the Dáil is usually and unofficially conferred on the longest-serving member.

Longest-serving former TDs

This is a list of former TDs who have served at least 30 years in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election. Unless stated, the TD listed did not stand in the end-date election.

NamePartyElected
Vacated seatDáil ServiceNotes
Paddy SmithAnti-Treaty Sinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1923197753y 11mCabinet minister
Frank AikenAnti-Treaty Sinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1923197349y 6mLongest-serving cabinet minister (1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1969)
Neil BlaneyFianna Fáil/ Independent Fianna Fáil1948 bDied on 8 November 199546y 11mCabinet minister
Thomas McEllistrimAnti-Treaty Sinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1923196945y 10m
Séamus PattisonLabour Party1961200745y 8mCeann Comhairle (1997–2002)
Seán MacEnteeSinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1918196945y 6mDid not serve between the general elections of 1922 and June 1927
James RyanSinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1918196545y 2mLong-serving cabinet minister. Did not serve between the general elections of 1922 and 1923 (1y 2m)
Seán LemassAnti-Treaty Sinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1924 b196944y 7mTaoiseach (1959–1966)
James EverettLabour Party/ National Labour Party1923Died on 18 December 196744y 4mCabinet minister; leader of the breakaway National Labour Party (1944–1950)
Enda KennyFine Gael1975 b202044y 2mTaoiseach (2011–2017)
Oliver J. FlanaganFine Gael1943198743y 8mCabinet minister
Martin CorryFianna FáilJune 1927196941y 10m
Patrick McGilliganCumann na nGaedheal/ Fine Gael1923 b196541y 5mAttorney General (1954–1957)
Richard MulcahySinn Féin/ Cumann na nGaedheal/ Fine Gael1918196141yDid not serve between general elections of 1937 and 1938, nor between those of 1943 and 1944
Éamon de ValeraSinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1918Elected President in 195940y 6mTaoiseach and President of Ireland; first elected to Westminster at the June 1917 by-election
Cormac BreslinFianna Fáil1937197740yCeann Comhairle (1967–1973)
Patrick HoganLabour Party1923Died on 24 January 196939y 8mDid not serve between the general elections of 1938 and 1943, nor between those of 1944 and 1948
Michael NoonanFine Gael1981202038y 7mCabinet minister. Leader of Fine Gael (2001–2002)
Gerald BolandAnti-Treaty Sinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1923196138y 2mLong-serving cabinet minister
Liam CosgraveFine Gael1943198138yTaoiseach (1973–1977)
Dan SpringLabour Party/ National Labour Party1943198138yMember of the breakaway National Labour Party (1944–1950)
Ruairi Quinn1977201638ySenator from 1981 to February 1982
Michael KennedyFianna FáilJune 1927196537y 10m
Seán BradyFianna Fáil196537y 7m
Bob BriscoeFianna FáilSeptember 1927196537y 7m
James DillonCentre Party/ Fine Gael/ Independent1932196937y 4mLeader of Fine Gael (1959–1965)
David AndrewsFianna Fáil1965200237y 1m
Ben BriscoeFianna Fáil1965200237y 1m
Bobby MolloyFianna Fáil/ Progressive Democrats1965200237y 1mJoined Progressive Democrats in 1986; previously Fianna Fáil
Brendan CorishLabour Party1945 bFebruary 198236y 2mTánaiste (1973–1977)
Dan BreenAnti-Treaty Sinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1923196535y 11mDid not serve between the general elections of June 1927 and 1932
Paddy HarteFine Gael1961199735y 8mFather of the Dáil (1997–2007)
Charles HaugheyFianna Fáil1957199235y 8mTaoiseach (1979–1981, 1982, 1987–1992)
Seán TreacyLabour Party/ Independent1961199735y 8mCeann Comhairle (1987–1997)
John A. CostelloFine Gael1933196935y 7mDid not serve between the general elections of 1943 and 1944. Taoiseach (1948–1951, 1954–1957)
Vivion de ValeraFianna Fáil1945 b198135y 7mSon of Éamon de Valera
John BrutonFine Gael196935y 4mTaoiseach (1994–1997). Resigned as TD to become EU Ambassador to the United States
Erskine H. ChildersFianna Fáil1938Elected President in 197335yTánaiste (1969–1973) and President of Ireland (1973–1974)
Frank FahySinn Féin/ Fianna Fáil1918Died on 14 July 195334y 10mCeann Comhairle (1932–1951)
Mícheál Ó MóráinFianna Fáil1938197334y 8mCabinet minister
Maurice E. DockrellFine Gael1943197734y 1m
Desmond O'MalleyFianna Fáil/ Progressive Democrats1968 b200234yFounder of the Progressive Democrats and cabinet minister
Dinny McGinleyFine GaelFebruary 1982201634y
Bertie AhernFianna Fáil1977201133y 8mTaoiseach (1997–2008)
Rory O'HanlonFianna Fáil1977201133y 8mCeann Comhairle (2002–2007)
Jim O'KeeffeFine Gael1977201133y 8mCabinet minister
Michael WoodsFianna Fáil1977201133y 8mCabinet minister
Daniel MorrisseyCumann na nGaedheal/ Fine Gael1923195733y 7mCabinet minister
Jack LynchFianna Fáil1948198133y 4mTaoiseach (1966–1973, 1977–1979)
Seán BarrettFine Gael1981202033y 4mDid not hold office between 2002 and 2007. Ceann Comhairle (2011–2016) and cabinet minister.
John BrowneFianna FáilNovember 1982201633y 3m
Séamus KirkFianna FáilNovember 1982201633y 3mCeann Comhairle (2009–2011)
Gerald BartleyFianna Fáil1932196533y 2mCabinet minister
Seán Mac EoinCumann na nGaedheal/ Fine Gael1932196533y 2mCabinet minister
Michael P. KittFianna Fáil1975 b201632y 11mSenator from 1977 to 1981, and from 2002 to 2007
Noel DavernFianna Fáil1969200732y 4mDid not serve from 11 June 1981 to 17 February 1987 (5y 8m)

Shortest-serving former TDs

This is a list of former TDs who served for less than 1 year in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election.

NamePartyElected
b = by-election
Vacated seatMonthsNotes
Kieran Doherty1981Died on 2 August 19812mDied after 73 days on hunger strike; was a TD for 52 days
Malcolm ByrneNovember 2019 bLost seat in February 20202m71 days between election and defeat
Pierce McCan1918Died in prison of influenza, 6 March 19193mThe Westminster election was on 14 December 1918, but the First Dáil did not sit until 21 January 1919
Michael CarterJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Arthur CleryJune 1927Did not contest September 19273m
Denis CullenJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
William DuffyJune 19273m
Thomas FalveyJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Hugh GarahanJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
John GillJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Gilbert HewsonJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
John HorganJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
John JinksJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Gilbert LynchJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Eugene MullenJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
David O'GormanJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Timothy QuillJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
James ShannonJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Thomas TynanJune 1927Lost seat in September 19273m
Frank Drohan1921Resigned on 5 January 19227mReturned unopposed on 24 May 1921; the Second Dáil convened on 16 August 1921.
George LeeJune 2009 bResigned on 8 February 20108m
Carrie Acheson1981Lost seat in February 19829m
Paddy Agnew1981Did not contest February 19829m
Carey Joyce1981Lost seat in February 19829m
1981Lost seat in February 19829m
Hugh KennedyOctober 1923 bResigned on 25 June 19249mResigned to become Chief Justice of the Irish Free State
Thomas BellewFebruary 1982Lost seat in November 198210m
Gerry BradyFebruary 1982Lost seat in November 198210m
Ned BrennanFebruary 1982Lost seat in November 198210m
Jim CorrFebruary 1982Did not contest November 198210m
Henry Coyle1923Disqualified on 9 May 192410mSentenced to three years' imprisonment for bouncing cheques
Alexis FitzGerald JnrFebruary 1982Lost seat in November 198210m
Patrick GallagherFebruary 1982Lost seat in November 198210m
Thomas O'Mahony1923Died on 20 July 192411m
Richard Stapleton1943Lost seat in 194411m

The following were eligible for membership of the Dáil, but as Unionists, they did not recognise it. Those elected to Westminster in 1918 were eligible for the First Dáil.[1]

NamePartyElectedVacated Westminster seatMonthsNotes
Hugh Anderson1918Resignation in 1919< 3mBy-election was held on 4 March 1919
1918Appointment as Commander of the Irish Guards in 1919< 6mBy-election was held on 27 May 1919
Arthur Samuels1918Appointment to the King's Bench in 1919< 8mBy-election was held on 28 July 1919

Current office-holders, longest service in the Oireachtas

This is a list of current members of the Oireachtas who have served for at least 20 years, with continuous or broken service. Unless otherwise specified, start dates given are those of the relevant election.

NamePartyOfficeFirst elected/appointed
b = by-election
Years/Months
(as of
Notes
197345 years, 9 month(s)
(as of Apr 2024)
Current President of Ireland
Did not hold office between 1977 and 1981, and February and November 2011
Bernard Durkan1981Senator from February 1982 to November 1982
Richard Bruton1981Senator from October 1981 to February 1982. Father of the Dáil.
Willie O'DeaTDFebruary 1982Father of the Dáil
Brendan Howlin1983Senator from 1983 to 1987
Michael LowryTD1987
Micheál MartinTD1989Leader of Fianna Fáil
Éamon Ó Cuív1989Senator from 1989 to 1992
Charles FlanaganTD198731 years, 11 month(s)
(as of Apr 2024)
Did not hold office between 2002 and 2007
Seán Haughey198731 years, 9 month(s)
(as of Apr 2024)
Senator from 1987 to 1992. Did not hold office between February 2011 and February 2016.
Róisín ShortallTD1992Overtook Mary Harney in August 2022 as longest-serving female TD.
Brendan SmithTD1992
Paddy BurkeSenator1993Cathaoirleach (2011–2016)
Michael RingTD1994 b
Michael CreedTD198929 years, 8 month(s)
(as of Apr 2024)
Did not hold office between May 2002 and May 2007
Denis O'Donovan198929 years, 6 month(s)
(as of Apr 2024)
Did not hold office between December 1992 and September 1997
Denis Naughten1997Senator from January to June 1997
John McGuinnessTD1997
David StantonTD1997
Michael MoynihanTD1997
Seán FlemingTD1997
Fergus O'Dowd1997Senator from 1997 to 2002
Simon CoveneyTD1998 b
Seán Ó Fearghaíl2000 bSenator from 2000 to 2002
Damien EnglishTD2002
Noel GrealishTD2002
Paul KehoeTD2002
TD2002
John Paul Phelan2002Senator from 2002 to 2011
Marc MacSharry2002Senator from 2002 to 2016
Timmy Dooley200221 years, 2 months (as of Apr 2024)Senator from 2002 to 2007, and since 2020. TD from 2007 to 2020

Longest-serving Senators

This is a list of current and former senators who have served for at least 20 years in the Seanad, including both the Free State Seanad and the Seanad established under the 1937 Constitution. There was a 22-month gap between the abolition of the Free State Seanad in 1936 and the inauguration in 1938 of the 2nd Seanad, the first incarnation of the new body.

NamePartyFirst electedVacated seatYears/MonthsNotes
David Norris25 April 198722 January 202436 years, 8 monthsResigned seat
Henry Barniville6 December 192235 years, 11 monthsService interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
Paddy Burke17 February 1993Incumbent
Margaret Mary Pearse27 April 19387 November 196830 years, 6 months
Eoin Ryan Snr22 May 19573 April 198729 years, 10 months
Liam Ó Buachalla7 October 193924 July 196929 years, 9 months
Denis O'Donovan1 November 1989Incumbent29 years, 6 months
(as of Apr 2024)
Did not serve in 20th or 22nd Seanad
Shane Ross8 October 198126 February 201129 years, 4 months
James G. Douglas6 December 192216 September 195428 years, 9 monthsService interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad;
Did not serve in 4th Seanad
Rory Kiely27 October 197722 July 200728 years, 9 monthsDid not serve in 16th Seanad
Patrick McGowan23 June 19653 October 199928 years, 5 monthsDid not serve in 15th, 16th and 17th Seanad
Des Hanafin5 November 196926 June 200227 years, 10 monthsDid not serve in 20th Seanad
William Ryan5 July 198927 years, 6 months
Michael Hayes27 April 193828 April 196527 years
Charles McDonald14 December 196117 December 199226 years, 4 monthsDid not serve in 13th Seanad
Paschal Mooney25 April 1987April 201626 years, 4 monthsDid not serve 2y, 6m from July 2007 to January 2010
John Counihan6 December 192225 July 195126 years, 3 monthsDid not serve in 2nd Seanad
Thomas Ruane6 December 193428 April 196525 years, 9 monthsService interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad;
Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad
Patrick O'Reilly18 August 194424 July 196924 years, 11 months
Seán O'Donovan27 April 193824 July 196924 years, 10 monthsDid not serve in 6th and 8th Seanad
Mick Lanigan27 October 197726 June 200224 years, 7 months
Joe O'Toole25 April 198729 April 201124 years
Donie Cassidy13 May 198229 April 201124 yearsDid not serve in 22nd Seanad from 2002 to 2007
Feargal Quinn17 February 1993April 201623 years, 2 months
James Parkinson6 December 192231 July 194722 years, 9 monthsService interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
Paul Coghlan20 September 199727 March 202022 years, 6 months
Patrick Baxter6 December 19343 April 195922 years, 5 monthsService interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
John Butler27 April 193828 April 196522 years, 3 monthsDid not serve in 9th Seanad
Seán Hayes27 April 193828 April 196522 years, 2 monthsDid not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad
William O'Callaghan27 April 19381 September 196122 years, 2 monthsDid not serve in 4th Seanad
James Tunney27 April 19381 September 196122 years, 2 monthsDid not serve in 4th Seanad
Thomas Foran28 November 192312 March 194822 yearsDid not serve in 2nd Seanad
Patrick Fitzsimons21 April 194830 March 197322 yearsDid not serve in 8th Seanad
Peter Lynch7 September 19381 September 196122 years
Sir John Keane6 December 192212 March 194821 years, 10 monthsDid not serve in 1934–1936 Seanad
Francis O'Brien1 October 198929 April 201121 years, 7 months
Diarmuid Wilson12 September 2002Incumbent
William Quirke6 December 19315 March 195521 years, 4 monthsService interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad
21 April 194824 July 196921 years, 3 months
Michael Yeats14 August 195112 March 198021 yearsDid not serve in 8th and 9th Seanad
James Dooge14 December 19613 April 198720 years, 10 monthsDid not serve in 14th Seanad
Micheál Prendergast22 July 195426 May 197720 years, 9 monthsDid not serve from March 1973 to April 1975
Brian Mullooly8 October 198126 June 200220 years, 8 months
Brendan Ryan13 May 198222 July 200720 years, 5 monthsDid not serve in 20th Seanad
Eddie Bohan25 April 198722 July 200720 years, 2 months
Don Lydon25 April 198722 July 200720 years, 2 months
Bernard McGlinchey14 December 196121 December 198220 years, 2 monthsDid not serve in 15th Seanad
Patrick Quinlan22 May 195726 May 197720 years

Oldest living former office-holders

Aged 85 or older:

NameOffice(s) heldDate of birthAgeYear retired
Tom FitzpatrickTD29 July 19261982
Patrick NortonTD / Senator1928+1973
Patrick CooneyTD / Senator / MEP2 March 19311994
Gerard LynchTD / Senator15 June 19311981
Eileen LemassTD / MEP7 July 19321989
Roger GarlandTDFebruary 1933+1992
Liam HylandTD / Senator / MEP23 April 19332004
Tom RafterySenator / MEP15 August 19331993
Richard ConroySenator12 September 1933
Jim CorrTD25 January 19341982
Rory O'HanlonTD7 February 19342011
Robert FaussetSenator8 August 19341982
Catherine McGuinnessSenator14 November 19341987
Ann OrmondeSenator20 January 19352011
Bríd RodgersSenator20 February 19352002
Brian MulloolySenator21 February 19352002
David AndrewsTD15 March 19352002
Barry DesmondTD15 May 19351994
Charles McDonaldTD / Senator / MEP11 June 19351993
Brendan GriffinTD28 August 19351989
Michael WoodsTD8 December 19352011
Camilla HannonSenator21 July 19361982
Máirín QuillTD / Senator15 September 19362002
Barry CoganTD / Senator27 September 19361982
Matt BrennanTD16 October 19362002
Jim FitzsimonsTD / MEP16 December 19362004
John DonnellanTD27 March 19371989
Mary O'RourkeTD / Senator31 May 19372011
Donal CareyTD15 October 19372002
Paddy O'TooleTD / Senator15 January 19381987
Mick LaniganSenator30 January 19382002
Ray MacSharryTD29 April 19381988
Gerry CollinsTD / MEP16 October 19382004
Gemma HusseyTD / Senator11 November 19381989

Oldest ever office-holders

Office holders aged 75 or older:

NameOfficeAgeYear retired
Éamon de ValeraPresidentRetired aged 901973
Gerald BolandSenatorRetired aged 841969
Michael D. HigginsPresidentIn office aged -
Seán MacEnteeTDRetired aged 801969
Maurice HayesSenatorRetired aged 802007
Charles FaganTDRetired aged 801961
David NorrisSenatorRetired aged 792024
Jackie Healy-RaeTDRetired aged 792011
Feargal QuinnSenatorRetired aged 792016
Bernard DurkanTDIn office aged -
James RyanSenatorRetired aged 771969
Seán T. O'KellyPresidentRetired aged 771959
P. J. SheehanTDRetired aged 772011
Rory O'HanlonTDRetired aged 772011
Paddy SmithTDRetired aged 761977
Ann OrmondeSenatorLost seat aged 762011
Labhrás Ó MurchúSenatorRetired aged 762016
Michael NoonanTDRetired aged 762020
Paul CoghlanSenatorRetired aged 752020
Fergus O'DowdTDIn office aged -
Seán BarrettTDRetired aged 752020

Youngest ever office-holders

NameOfficeAge on electionYear elected
William J. MurphyTD21y 1m1949
Joseph SweeneyTD21y 6m1918
Lorcan AllenTD21y 6m1961
Kathleen O'ConnorTD21y 7m1956
Ivan YatesTD21y 8m1981
Mary CoughlanTD21y 9m1987
John BrutonTD22y 1m1969
Paddy SmithTD22y 2m1923
Miriam KearneySenator22y 3m1981
Myra BarryTD22y 4m1979
Síle de ValeraTD22y 6m1977
Kathryn ReillySenator22y 7m2011
James O'ConnorTD22y 7m2020
Oliver J. FlanaganTD23y 1m1943
Liam CosgraveTD23y 2m1943

Longest surviving cabinet members

GovernmentMembers
Richard Mulcahy (died 1971)
Éamon de Valera (died 1975)
De Valera (1921–1922)
Michael Hayes (died 1976)
Collins (1922)
Cosgrave (1922)Ernest Blythe (died 1975)
Cosgrave (1922–1923)
Patrick McGilligan (died 1979)
Cosgrave (1927)
Cosgrave (1927–1930)
Cosgrave (1930–1932)
Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
De Valera (1933–1937)
De Valera (1937)
De Valera (1937–1938)
De Valera (1938–1943)
De Valera (1943–1944)
De Valera (1944–1948)
Costello (1948–1951)Noël Browne (died 1997)
Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
Liam Cosgrave (died 2017)
Kevin Boland (died 2001)
Lemass (1959–1961)Patrick Hillery (died 2008)
Lemass (1961–1965)
Lemass (1965–1966)
Lynch (1966–1969)Pádraig Faulkner (died 2012)
Lynch (1969–1973)Gerry Collins
Cosgrave (1973–1977)Patrick Cooney
Lynch (1977–1979)Gerry Collins
Haughey (1979–1981)Ray Burke, Gerry Collins, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Ray MacSharry, Michael Woods
Patrick Cooney, Alan Dukes, Paddy O'Toole
Haughey (1982)Ray Burke, Gerry Collins, Pádraig Flynn, Ray MacSharry, Michael Woods

Longest surviving Dáil members

DáilElectionMembers
1st Dáil1918Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
2nd Dáil1921Tom Maguire (died 1993)
3rd Dáil1922
4th Dáil1923
5th Dáil1927 (June)Seán MacEntee (died 1984)
6th Dáil1927 (Sept)
7th Dáil1932James Dillon (died 1986)
8th Dáil1933James McGuire (died 1989)
9th Dáil1937James Dillon (died 1986)
10th Dáil1938
11th Dáil1943Liam Cosgrave (died 2017)
12th Dáil1944
13th Dáil1948William J. Murphy (died 2018)
14th Dáil1951Liam Cosgrave (died 2017)
15th Dáil1954Patrick Byrne (died 2021)
16th Dáil1957Brigid Hogan (died 2022)
17th Dáil1961Lorcan Allen, John Donnellan
18th Dáil1965Lorcan Allen, David Andrews, John Donnellan,
Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Patrick Norton

Longest lived former office-holders

Aged 90 or more at time of death:

NameDate of birthDate of deathAge
Philip Brady10 June 18936 January 1995
Eddie Filgate16 September 191519 January 2017
Tom Maguire28 March 18925 July 1993
T. K. Whitaker8 December 19169 January 2017
Edward MacLysaght6 November 18874 March 1986
Seán Ó Ceallaigh17 April 189615 June 1994
Tom Fitzpatrick29 July 1926
Domhnall Ua Buachalla5 February 186630 October 1963
Liam Cosgrave13 April 19204 October 2017
Matthew Stafford185212 June 195097 years, 5 months+
Patrick Byrne2 April 192519 October 2021
George Noble Plunkett3 December 185112 March 1948
Séamus Dolan10 December 191410 August 2010
Patrick Norton1928
Thomas Finlay17 September 19223 December 2017
John A. Murphy17 January 192728 February 2022
Thomas Westropp Bennett30 January 18671 February 1962
Jimmy Leonard5 June 192713 April 2022
Seán Treacy23 September 192323 March 2018
Kathleen Clarke11 April 187829 September 1972
Robert Barton4 March 188110 August 1975
Joseph Farrell1 July 190524 November 1999
Seán MacEntee22 August 188910 January 1984
William McMullen22 July 188812 December 1982
Pádraig Faulkner12 March 19181 June 2012
Jack Harte10 December 19209 March 2015
Tom O'Donnell30 August 19268 October 2020
Hugh Conaghan6 May 192625 March 2020
Tras Honan4 January 193025 November 2023
Richard Barry4 September 191928 April 2013
Tony Herbert9 August 19206 March 2014
Patrick Finucane5 December 189010 April 1984
Patrick Cooney2 March 1931
Denis Cullen23 September 187826 November 1971
Peadar O'Donnell22 February 189313 May 1986
Donal Creed7 September 192423 November 2017
Gerard Lynch15 June 1931
Sam McAughtry24 March 192128 March 2014
Kit Ahern13 January 191527 December 2007
Éamon de Valera14 October 188229 August 1975
William Sheldon18 January 19071 November 1999
Charles Fagan1 October 18818 May 1974
Ted Russell1 April 191228 November 2004
Joseph Dowling2 February 192231 May 2014
Eileen Lemass7 July 1932
Patrick Shanahan10 March 19081 February 2000
Andy O'Brien21 January 19154 December 2006
Kieran Crotty30 August 193022 July 2022
Eileen Costello27 June 18704 March 1962
John N. Ross17 May 192024 December 2011
Robert Malachy Burke1 March 190720 September 1998
Peter Sands1 May 192417 October 2015
Séamus de Brún1 October 19115 March 2003
Roger GarlandFebruary 1933
Hugh Gibbons6 July 191613 November 2007
Thomas Meaney11 August 193126 December 2022
Liam Hyland23 April 1933
Jackie Fahey23 January 192818 March 2019
Conor Cruise O'Brien3 November 191718 December 2008
Edward McGuire28 August 190127 October 1992
Patrick O'Reilly1911200391 years+
Tom Raftery15 August 1933
Richard Conroy12 September 1933
Bryan Cusack2 August 188224 May 1973
Thomas Johnson17 May 187217 January 1963
Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins10 March 19322 November 2022
Patrick McGilligan12 April 188915 November 1979
Dominick Murphy19181 June 200990 years, 5 months+
Maurice Hayes8 July 192723 December 2017
Jim Corr25 January 1934
Rory O'Hanlon7 February 1934
William J. Murphy17 May 192818 September 2018
Margaret Mary Pearse24 August 18787 November 1968
Michael D'Arcy7 March 19341 May 2024
Richie Ryan27 February 192917 March 2019
John Griffith5 October 184821 October 1938
Patrick Lalor21 July 192629 July 2016

Shortest lived office-holders

Aged 40 or younger at time of death:

NameDate of birthDate of deathAgeCause of death
Kieran Doherty16 October 19552 August 198125yHunger strike
Liam Mellows25 May 18958 December 192227y 6mExecution during the Irish Civil War
Michael Collins16 October 189022 August 192231y 10mShot during the Irish Civil War
Don Davern4 March 19352 November 196833y 7mSudden illness
Michael Derham188920 November 192334y 10m-Sudden illness
Kevin O'Higgins7 June 189210 July 192735y 1mAssassinated by former Civil War opponents
Séamus Dwyer15 November 188620 December 192236y 1mAssassinated during the Irish Civil War
Billy Fox3 January 193912 March 197435y 2mAssassinated during the Troubles
Harry Boland27 April 188731 July 192235y 3mShot during the Irish Civil War
Frank Carney25 April 189619 October 193236y 5mIll-health
Pierce McCan2 August 18826 March 191936y 7mInfluenza epidemic
Séamus Ryan6 December 189530 June 193337y 6mSudden illness
Thomas A. Finlay11 October 189322 November 193239y 1mTyphoid fever
A. P. Byrne12 June 191326 July 195239y 1m
Sir Osmond Esmonde4 April 189622 July 193640y 3mSudden illness
Clement Coughlan14 August 19421 February 198340y 5mTraffic accident

Members who died in office

See main article: List of members of Dáil Éireann who died in office.

See main article: List of members of Seanad Éireann who died in office.

Longest-serving cabinet ministers (in same office)

NameOfficeYears
Seán LemassMinister for Industry and Commerce19 years, 2 months
Éamon de ValeraMinister for External Affairs15 years, 11 months
Frank AikenMinister for External Affairs15 years, 3 months
James RyanMinister for Agriculture14 years, 10 months
Thomas DerrigMinister for Education14 years, 1 month
Gerald BolandMinister for Justice11 years, 4 months
Oscar TraynorMinister for Defence11 years, 4 months
Seán MacEnteeMinister for Finance10 years, 5 months

Shortest-serving cabinet ministers

This table lists the shortest periods that a member of government held a particular ministerial office. In some of these cases, the minister held it as well as another ministerial office, being appointed after the resignation of another member of government. Acting Ministers are not listed. Jim McDaid, who was proposed as Minister for Defence on 13 November 1991, but whose name was withdrawn later that day, is not included.[2] [3]

NameOfficeLengthTerm of OfficeNotes
Bertie AhernMinister for Industry and Commerce8 days4 January 199312 January 1993Following nomination of Pádraig Flynn as European Commissioner
Brian CowenMinister for Energy11 days12 January 199320 January 1993Prior to reconfiguration of government departments
Frank AikenMinister for Agriculture11 days16 November 195727 November 1957Following death of Seán Moylan
Barry CowenMinister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine17 days27 June 202014 July 2020Sacked as minister
Kevin O'HigginsMinister for Foreign Affairs17 days23 June 192710 July 1927Died in office
Arthur GriffithMinister for Foreign Affairs17 days26 July 192212 August 1922Died in office
Thomas DerrigMinister for Posts and Telegraphs19 days8 September 193927 September 1939
Seán T. O'KellyMinister for Education19 days8 September 193927 September 1939
Paddy PowerMinister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism20 days7 October 198227 October 1982Following resignation of Desmond O'Malley
Erskine ChildersDirector of Propaganda20 days12 February 19218 March 1921
John WilsonMinister for Communications27 days10 March 198731 March 1987Prior to reconfiguration of government departments
Bertie AhernMinister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht27 days18 November 199415 December 1994Following resignation of Michael D. Higgins
Charlie McCreevyMinister for Enterprise and Employment27 days18 November 199415 December 1994Following resignation of Ruairi Quinn
Máire Geoghegan-QuinnMinister for Equality and Law Reform27 days18 November 199415 December 1994Following resignation of Mervyn Taylor
Michael SmithMinister for Education27 days18 November 199415 December 1994Following resignation of Niamh Bhreathnach
Michael WoodsMinister for Health27 days18 November 199415 December 1994Following resignation of Brendan Howlin
Dara CallearyMinister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine38 days15 July 202021 August 2020Resignation

People appointed to cabinet at the start of their first term as TD

NameOfficeDate
Noël BrowneMinister for HealthFebruary 1948
Kevin BolandMinister for DefenceMarch 1957
Martin O'DonoghueMinister for Economic Planning and DevelopmentJuly 1977
Alan DukesMinister for AgricultureJune 1981
Niamh BhreathnachMinister for EducationJanuary 1993
Katherine ZapponeMinister for Children and Youth AffairsMay 2016
Norma FoleyMinister for EducationJune 2020
Roderic O'GormanMinister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and YouthJune 2020

People appointed as Minister of State at the start of their first term as TD

NameOfficeDate
John O'DonovanParliamentary Secretary to the GovernmentJune 1954
John M. KellyGovernment Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
March 1973
Mary FlahertyMinister of State for Poverty and the FamilyJune 1981
Dick SpringMinister of State for Law ReformJune 1981
Ted NealonMinister of State for Western DevelopmentJune 1981
Joan BurtonMinister of State for PovertyJanuary 1993
Eithne FitzGeraldMinister of State for the National Development PlanJanuary 1993
Tim O'MalleyMinister of State for Mental Health Services and Food SafetyJune 2002
Ciarán CannonMinister of State for Training and SkillsMarch 2011
Alan KellyMinister of State for Public and Commuter TransportMarch 2011
Seán CanneyMinister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood ReliefMay 2016
Ossian SmythMinister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernmentJuly 2020
Malcolm NoonanMinister of State for Heritage and Electoral ReformJuly 2020

Senators appointed to cabinet

NameOfficeDateGovernment
Joseph ConnollyMinister for Posts and TelegraphsMarch 19326th Exec. Council
Minister for Lands and FisheriesFebruary 19337th Exec. Council
Seán MoylanMinister for AgricultureMay 19578th government
James DoogeMinister for Foreign AffairsOctober 198117th government

Oldest person currently in office

Politicians born before 1954:

NameOfficeDate of birthAge as of
Michael D. HigginsPresident18 April 1941
Bernard DurkanTD26 March 1945
Fergus O'DowdTD1 September 1948
Éamon Ó CuívTD23 June 1950
Ned O'SullivanSenator25 November 1950
Michael McDowellSenator1 May 1951
Willie O'DeaTD1 November 1952

Youngest person currently in office

Politicians born since 1984:

NameOfficeDate of birthAge as of
James O'ConnorTD20 June 1997
Claire KerraneTD24 April 1992
Fintan WarfieldSenator16 March 1992
Jack ChambersTD21 November 1990
John McGahonSenator20 November 1990
Mairéad FarrellTD6 January 1990
Eileen FlynnSenator1990
Holly CairnsTD4 November 1989
Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireTD8 February 1989
Annie HoeySenator3 October 1988
John CumminsSenator29 June 1988
Violet-Anne WynneTD30 March 1987
Gary GannonTD18 February 1987
Simon HarrisTD17 October 1986
Lisa ChambersSenator24 August 1986
Helen McEnteeTD8 June 1986
Niall Ó DonnghaileSenator28 May 1985
Lynn RuaneSenator20 October 1984
Pádraig O'SullivanTD11 May 1984

Members of the current government by age

NameDate of birthAge as of
Micheál Martin1 August 1960
Heather Humphreys14 May 1963
Eamon Ryan28 July 1963
Norma Foley1970
Catherine Martin7 December 1972
Darragh O'Brien8 July 1974
Paschal Donohoe19 September 1974
Stephen Donnelly14 December 1975
Patrick O'Donovan21 March 1977
Charlie McConalogue4 October 1977
Roderic O'Gorman12 December 1981
Peter Burke22 October 1982
Helen McEntee8 June 1986
Simon Harris17 October 1986
Jack Chambers21 November 1990

Longest service (cumulative)

NameOffice(s)Years
Éamon de ValeraTD / President55
Paddy SmithTD54
Frank AikenTD50
James RyanTD / Senator50
Neil BlaneyTD / MEP47
Gerald BolandTD / Senator46

Married couples/Domestic partners in the same Oireachtas

CoupleOireachtasNotes
Michael O'HigginsBrigid Hogan-O'Higgins16th, 17th and 18th DáilMarried in 1958 when both were members of the 16th Dáil
Alexis FitzGerald JnrMary Flaherty23rd Dáil and 15th Seanad; 24th Dáil and 17th SeanadMarried couple
Joe McHughOlwyn Enright29th Dáil and 22nd Seanad; 30th DáilMarried in 2005 when they were a Senator and TD respectively
Paul BradfordLucinda Creighton24th Seanad and 31st DáilMarried in 2013 when they were a Senator and TD respectively
Martin McAleeseMary McAleese24th Seanad and President of IrelandMarried couple
Francis Noel DuffyCatherine Martin33rd DáilMarried couple
Eoin Ó BroinLynn Boylan33rd Dáil and 26th SeanadDomestic partners

Members of both the British Parliament and of the Oireachtas

This lists those with a separate mandate to the Oireachtas and the British parliament, and therefore does not include members of the 1st Dáil.

NameBritish ParliamentOireachtas
Gerry AdamsMP 1983–1992, 1997–2011TD 2011–2020
Dermot Bourke, 7th Earl of MayoPeer 1890–1927RSenator 1922–1927
P. J. BradyMP 1910–1918Senator 1927–1928
Alfie ByrneMP 1915–1918TD 1922–1928, 1932–1956,
Senator 1928–1931
James Campbell, later Lord GlenavyMP 1898–1900, 1903–1917,
Peer 1921–1931H
Senator (Cathaoirleach) 1922–1928
Bryan CooperMP 1910TD 1923–1930
James CosgraveMP 1914–1918TD 1923–1927
William DuffyMP 1900–1918TD 1927
Sir John EsmondeMP 1915–1918TD 1937–1944
Sir Thomas EsmondeMP 1885–1918Senator 1922–1934
Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of GranardPeer 1889–1948HSenator 1922–1934
Laurence GinnellMP 1906–1918TD 1918–1923
Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of IveaghPeer 1967–1992HSenator 1973–1977
Edward Haughey, later Lord BallyedmondPeer 2004–2014LSenator 1994–2002
Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of WicklowPeer 1905–1946RSenator 1922–1928
Hugh LawMP 1902–1918TD 1927–1932
Elisha McCallionMP 2017–2019Senator 2020
Seamus MallonMP 1986–2005Senator 1982
James O'MaraMP 1900–1907TD 1918–1921, 1924–1927
Stephen O'MaraMP 1886Senator 1925–1926
Earl of Kerry, later Marquess of LansdowneMP 1908–1918, Peer 1927–1936HSenator 1922–1929
Horace PlunkettMP 1892–1900Senator 1922–1925
William RedmondMP 1910–1922TD 1923–1932
Geoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of HeadfortPeer 1894–1943HSenator 1922–1928
Windham Wyndham-Quin,
4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
Peer 1871–1926HSenator 1922–1926

Notes:

R Sat as an Irish representative peer under the Act of Union 1800

H Sat as an Hereditary peer

L Sat as a Life peer

Diversity records

Women

Religion

LGBT people

Seanad

Dáil

Government

Ethnic minorities

Party leaders

Party leaders serving 10 years or more:

LeaderTenurePartyPeriodConstituency
Éamon de Valera42y1917–1926
1926–1959
39y1970–1983Longford–Westmeath
1986–2009
Gerry Adams35y1983–2018
William Norton28y1932–1960Kildare
Tomás Mac Giolla26y1962–1970
1970–1977
1977–1982
1982–1988
Joseph Blowick21y1944–1965Mayo South
W. T. Cosgrave20y1923–1933
1934–1944
Seán MacBride19y 1946–1965
John Redmond18y1900–1918Waterford City
Brendan Corish17y1960–1977Wexford
Richard Mulcahy15yTipperary
Dick Spring15y1982–1997Kerry North
Enda Kenny15y2002–2017
Bertie Ahern14y1994–2008
Mary Harney14y
Jack Lynch13y1966–1979Cork City
Charles Haughey13y1979–1992Dublin North-Central
Margaret Buckley13y1937–1950None
Micheál Martin13y2011–presentCork South-Central
Eamon Ryan13y2011–2024Dublin Bay South
Liam Cosgrave12y1965–1977Dún Laoghaire
John Bruton11y1990–2001Meath
Garret FitzGerald10y1977–1987Dublin South-East

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3. AN ROLLA. – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 21 January 1919. Irish. Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 November 1991. 24 August 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas.
  3. Web site: Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 November 1991. I wish to request leave of the House to withdraw the motion concerning nomination of Members of the Government which I moved today.. 24 August 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas.
  4. Web site: 2 June 2017 . Varadkar outlines his priorities after winning election . en.
  5. Web site: Simon Harris rules out early election after taking over as Fine Gael leader . 10 July 2024 . The Irish Times . en.
  6. Web site: Roderic O'Gorman 'deeply humbled' after being elected new leader of the Green Party . 10 July 2024 . The Irish Times . en.
  7. News: Irish Times . 19 June 2024 . "Micheál Martin names Jack Chambers as Fianna Fáil's deputy leader" . 10 July 2024 . Irish Times.
  8. Web site: Minister of State Jack Chambers announces he is gay . 10 July 2024 . The Irish Times . en.
  9. Web site: Linehan . Alice . 15 January 2024 . Irish Cabinet minister Jack Chambers comes out as gay . 10 July 2024 . GCN . en.