Taoiseach

The head of government and leader of the cabinet in Ireland is titled An Taoiseach, an Irish language term translating as "the leader". The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, and must, while he or she remains in office, enjoy the confidence of the Dáil. The position was created under the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, replacing the President of the Executive Council. The current Taoiseach is Bertie Ahern.

The Taoiseach is one of three government positions that must come from the membership of Dáil Éireann. The Taoiseach has an almost identical job description as the British Prime Minister.

Powers

The Taoiseach nominates up to fourteen other ministers, and has the power to ask for the resignation of ministers. He also appoints eleven members to Seanad Éireann.

List of Taoisigh

No.	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1.	Éamon de Valera	December 29, 1937	18 February, 1948	Fianna Fáil
2.	John A. Costello	February 18, 1948	June 13, 1951	Fine Gael
	Éamon de Valera (2nd time)	June 13, 1951	June 2, 1954	Fianna Fáil
	John A. Costello (2nd time)	June 2, 1954	March 20, 1957	Fine Gael
	Éamon de Valera (3rd time)	March 20, 1957	June 23, 1959	Fianna Fáil
3.	Sean Lemass	June 23, 1959	November 10, 1966	Fianna Fáil
4.	Jack Lynch	November 10, 1966	March 14, 1973	Fianna Fáil
5.	Liam Cosgrave	March 14, 1973	July 5, 1977	Fine Gael
	Jack Lynch (2nd time)	July 5, 1977	December 11, 1979	Fianna Fáil
6.	Charles J. Haughey	December 11, 1979	June 30, 1981	Fianna Fáil
7.	Garret FitzGerald	June 30, 1981	March 9, 1982	Fine Gael
	Charles J. Haughey (2nd time)	March 9, 1982	December 14, 1982	Fianna Fáil
	Garret FitzGerald (2nd time)	December 14, 1982	March 10, 1987	Fine Gael
	Charles J. Haughey (3rd time)	March 10, 1987	February 11, 1992	Fianna Fáil
8.	Albert Reynolds	February 11, 1992	December 15, 1994	Fianna Fáil
9.	John Bruton	December 15, 1994	June 26, 1997	Fine Gael
10.	Bertie Ahern	June 26, 1997	present	Fianna Fáil