The 30th Dáil was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007 and met on 14 June 2007. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs. It sat with the 23rd Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas. The 30th Dáil lasted days, and saw a change of Taoiseach from Bertie Ahern to Brian Cowen. The 30th Dáil was dissolved by President Mary McAleese on 1 February 2011, at the request of the Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Composition of the 30th Dáil

On 14 June 2007, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats, denoted with bullets, formed the 27th government of Ireland, led by Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. On 7 May 2008, after the resignation of Ahern, the parties formed the 28th government of Ireland, led by Brian Cowen as Taoiseach.

Graphical representation

This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 30th Dáil in January 2011, shortly before its dissolution. This was not the official seating plan.

Ceann Comhairle

On 14 June 2007, John O'Donoghue (FF) was proposed by Bertie Ahern for the position of Ceann Comhairle. Ruairi Quinn (Lab) was proposed by Pat Rabbitte and seconded by Enda Kenny. O'Donoghue was approved by a vote of 90 to 75. On 13 October 2009, O'Donoghue resigned as Ceann Comhairle. Séamus Kirk was proposed by Brian Cowen and seconded by Mary Coughlan. Dinny McGinley (FG) was proposed by Enda Kenny and seconded by Pádraic McCormack. Kirk was approved by a vote of 87 to 51.

Political leadership

Government

Opposition

List of TDs

This is a list of TDs elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2007 general election, sorted by party. The Changes table below records all changes in party affiliation.

Changes

On 12 July 2010, Pearse Doherty was granted leave to bring judicial review against the government seeking a declaration that due to the length of the vacancy in Donegal South-West, the government was under a duty not to oppose a motion for a writ. On 3 November 2010, Nicholas Kearns, president of the High Court, made a declaration that there has been an unreasonable delay in moving the writ for the by-election in Donegal South-West. The writ was moved the following day. However, the moving of the writ was opposed for three remaining vacancies.