2004 in Ireland - Politics

Politics

• 1 January – Ireland takes over from Italy as President of the European Council.
• European Parliament Election 2004 – Fine Gael emerge as the largest party eclipsing Fianna Fáil by one seat. Two Independent MEPs are elected. The Labour Party wins one seat and Sinn Féin takes a seat for the first time ever.
• Local Elections, 2004 – Fianna Fáil's share of the vote falls sharply while all the other opposition parties make gains. Sinn Féin make a huge breakthrough with a record number of councillors being elected.
• Cabinet Reshuffle – Michael Smith, Joe Walsh and Charlie McCreevy retire from the government. The big winners are Brian Cowen who becomes Minister for Finance and Dermot Ahern who becomes Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mary Hanafin, Dick Roche and Willie O'Dea join the Cabinet table for the first time. Séamus Brennan is assigned to the position of Minister for Social and Family Affairs. Mary Coughlan becomes Ireland's first female Minister for Agriculture and Food.