RIP FF-FG-Green Coalition, 2020-2024 - Miriam Lord’s look back at the Government
Introduction
The Government led by Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil, Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael, and Eamon Ryan of the Green Party was a historic one. It was the first time that these three parties had formed a coalition government, and it was the first time that the Greens had been in government since 2011. The coalition was formed in June 2020, following the 2020 general election, and it collapsed in December 2022, after just over two years in office.
The Formation of the Government
The 2020 general election resulted in a hung parliament, with no party winning a majority of seats in the Dáil. Fianna Fáil won the most seats, with 38, followed by Sinn Féin with 37, Fine Gael with 35, and the Green Party with 12. After weeks of negotiations, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party agreed to form a coalition government. The government was sworn in on June 27, 2020, with Micheál Martin becoming Taoiseach.
The Government’s Agenda
The government’s agenda was set out in a program for government entitled “Our Shared Future”. The program set out a number of ambitious goals, including:
- Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic
- Rebuilding the economy
- Addressing the housing crisis
- Reforming the health service
- Tackling climate change
The Government’s Record
The government made some progress on its agenda, but it also faced a number of challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the economy and society, and the government was criticized for its handling of the crisis. The housing crisis also continued to worsen, and the government was unable to meet its targets for building new homes. However, the government did make some progress on other issues, such as climate change and healthcare reform.
The Collapse of the Government
The government collapsed in December 2022, after just over two years in office. The collapse was triggered by a vote of no confidence in the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar. The vote was passed by a majority of members of the Dáil, and Varadkar resigned his position. The collapse of the government led to a general election, which was held in February 2023.
Conclusion
The government led by Micheál Martin, Leo Varadkar, and Eamon Ryan was a historic one. It was the first time that these three parties had formed a coalition government, and it was the first time that the Greens had been in government since 2011. The government made some progress on its agenda, but it also faced a number of challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the economy and society, and the government was criticized for its handling of the crisis. The housing crisis also continued to worsen, and the government was unable to meet its targets for building new homes. However, the government did make some progress on other issues, such as climate change and healthcare reform. The government collapsed in December 2022, after just over two years in office. The collapse was triggered by a vote of no confidence in the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar.