Leader of the Labour Party (Ireland)

The Leader of the Labour Party is the most senior politician within the Labour Party in Ireland. Since 24 March 2022, the office has been held by Ivana Bacik,[1] following the resignation of Alan Kelly as leader of the party.

Leader of the Labour Party
Incumbent
Ivana Bacik
since 24 March 2022
Inaugural holderJames Connolly (de facto)
Thomas Johnson (de jure)
Formation1912 (de facto)
1917 (de jure)
WebsiteIvana Bacik, TD

In a review of procedures at the party's 2017 conference, the position of Deputy Leader was abolished after a year of lying vacant, and the nomination and seconding of new leadership candidates was extended to Senators and MEPs as well as TDs.[2]

Leaders edit

Name Portrait Constituency Term of Office Office(s)
Thomas Johnson   Dublin County 1917 1927
Thomas J. O'Connell   Mayo South 1927 1932
William Norton   Kildare 1932 2 March 1960 Tánaiste
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Industry and Commerce
Brendan Corish   Wexford 2 March 1960 26 June 1977 Tánaiste
Minister for Health
Minister for Social Welfare
Frank Cluskey Dublin South-Central 1 July 1977 12 June 1981
Michael O'Leary Dublin North-Central 17 June 1981 1 November 1982 Tánaiste
Minister for Energy
Dick Spring   Kerry North 1 November 1982 13 November 1997 Tánaiste
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Energy
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ruairi Quinn   Dublin South-East 13 November 1997 25 October 2002
Pat Rabbitte   Dublin South-West 25 October 2002 6 September 2007
Eamon Gilmore   Dún Laoghaire 6 September 2007 4 July 2014 Tánaiste
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Joan Burton   Dublin West 4 July 2014 20 May 2016 Tánaiste
Minister for Social Protection
Brendan Howlin   Wexford 20 May 2016 3 April 2020
Alan Kelly   Tipperary 3 April 2020 24 March 2022
Ivana Bacik   Dublin Bay South 24 March 2022 Incumbent

Deputy leaders edit

Name
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Constituency Term of Office Office(s) held
Barry Desmond   Dún Laoghaire 22 February 1982 July 1989 Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Health
Ruairi Quinn   Dublin South-East July 1989 13 November 1997 Minister for Enterprise and Employment
Minister for Finance
Brendan Howlin   Wexford 13 November 1997 25 October 2002
Liz McManus   Wicklow 25 October 2002 4 October 2007
Joan Burton   Dublin West 4 October 2007 4 July 2014 Minister for Social Protection
Alan Kelly   Tipperary North 4 July 2014 20 May 2016 Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
Position vacant 20 May 2016
Position abolished April 2017

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Bray, Jennifer (24 March 2022). "Ivana Bacik confirmed as Labour Party leader: 'Ireland needs a pay rise'". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  2. ^ Kelly, Fiach (2 March 2017). "Labour Party to reform way it chooses its leader". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 2017-08-09. Retrieved 2018-01-17.