Role of Taoiseach and Government

The Taoiseach nominates the Tánaiste and the other members of the Government for the approval of the Dáil and assigns the particular Departments to the Ministers on their appointment by the President. The Taoiseach also nominates the Attorney General for appointment by the President. The Taoiseach has the power to advise the President to accept the resignation of Ministers.

The Taoiseach, as head of the Government, is the central co-ordinator of the work of the Ministers and their Departments of State. The Taoiseach advises and guides the other members of the Government when faced particularly with issues requiring the successful working of the Government as a collective authority responsible to Dáil Éireann. The Taoiseach will set broad Government policy. The Taoiseach keeps the President informed on domestic and international policy.

The Taoiseach has certain statutory responsibilities for the reform of the law, for official statistics and for the administration of public services which are not the responsibility of any other member of the Government.

The Taoiseach may decide that particular matters are of such importance or breadth that it is appropriate that they should come under the aegis of her or his authority and be brought under the responsibility of the Department of the Taoiseach. At present they would include the Strategic Management Initiative for the modernisation of the public service; co-ordinating the contribution to government policy on Northern Ireland and on Ireland's relations to the European Union; The National Economic and Social Council; the National Economic and Social Forum; the Information Society Commission; the Government Press Service; the National Centre for Partnership and Performance and the coordination of relations with the social partners under the partnership agreements.