Term of Office
Normally, the Government serves in office until the nomination of a new Taoiseach by Dáil Éireann.
The Government must enjoy the confidence of Dáil Éireann if it is to remain in office. If the Taoiseach should cease "to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann", either Dáil Éireann must be dissolved or the Taoiseach must resign. The President may refuse to grant a dissolution to a Taoiseach who does not enjoy the support of the Dáil, thus forcing the resignation of the Taoiseach.
When the Taoiseach resigns, the entire Government is deemed to have resigned as a collective. However, according to the Constitution, "the Taoiseach and the other members of the Government shall continue to carry on their duties until their successors shall have been appointed". The Taoiseach can also direct the President to dismiss or accept the resignation of individual ministers.
Upon the dissolution of Dáil Éireann, ministers are no longer members of the Oireachtas, and therefore ineligible for office. However, under another clause in the Constitution, they "shall continue to hold office until their successors shall have been appointed".
Read more about this topic: Irish Government
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