What is the Government?

The government—or the cabinet, as it's often called—is the core decision-making body of Ireland, made up of key individuals who oversee the country’s various departments. Here's a breakdown of how it works, who’s involved, and a few interesting quirks of the system.

Composition of the Government

The government consists of Ministers of the Government, who are responsible for heading a Department of State (think education, health, finance, etc.). However, there’s a strict rulebook on how many people can sit around the cabinet table.

• 7 to 15 Members:
  According to Article 28 of the Constitution of Ireland and the Ministers and Secretaries Acts (1924–2017), the government must have no fewer than 7 and no more than 15 members.

• So 15 It Is:
  Since 1966, every Irish government has consistently used the maximum number of 15 members.

Who Can Be in the Cabinet?

There’s an important requirement:

• All cabinet members must be members of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament, which includes both the Dáil and the Seanad).

• Up to 2 cabinet members can come from the Seanad (the Senate), but this is rarely done in modern times.

The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste: Leaders of the Government

At the top of the government structure are two key roles:

• The Taoiseach:
  The Taoiseach is the head of government, appointed by the Dáil (lower house of the Oireachtas) and formally approved by the President. The Taoiseach heads the Department of the Taoiseach, chairs cabinet meetings, sets the political agenda, and represents Ireland both domestically and internationally.

• The Tánaiste (Deputy Taoiseach):
  The Tánaiste is essentially the second-in-command. Appointed by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste steps in when the Taoiseach is unavailable and typically leads a significant Department of State.

Together, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste occupy 2 of the 15 cabinet positions, leaving 13 other slots to be filled.

The Role of the Attorney General

The government doesn’t operate alone. It relies heavily on the Attorney General for legal advice.

• While the Attorney General participates in cabinet meetings, they are not a formal member of the cabinet.

• Their role is to ensure that government decisions are consistent with the law and the Constitution.

Junior Ministers and the 'Super Juniors'

Below the cabinet level are Ministers of State, often referred to as Junior Ministers. They play a supporting role, assisting senior ministers in their departmental duties.

Here’s where it gets interesting:

• While Ministers of State are not members of the government, up to 3 of them can regularly attend cabinet meetings.

• These privileged few are known as Super Junior Ministers and receive an additional allowance for their elevated involvement.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it—the Irish government’s structure in a nutshell. Of the 15 cabinet positions, 2 are always reserved for the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, leaving 13 other ministers to take charge of the country’s major departments.

What do they do with those 13 slots? That’s where the real work of governance begins. From health and education to finance and foreign affairs, each minister is tasked with running a department that keeps the country ticking.