30th Dáil
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Overview
Legislative body	Dáil Éireann
Jurisdiction	Ireland
Meeting place	Leinster House
Term	14 June 2007 – 1 February 2011
Election	2007 general election
Government	27th government of Ireland (2007–2008) 28th government of Ireland (2008–2011)
Members	166
Ceann Comhairle	Séamus Kirk — John O'Donoghue until 13 October 2009
Taoiseach	Brian Cowen — Bertie Ahern until 7 May 2008
Tánaiste	Mary Coughlan — Brian Cowen until 7 May 2008
Chief Whip	John Curran — Pat Carey until 23 March 2010 — Tom Kitt until 7 May 2008
Leader of the Opposition	Enda Kenny
Sessions
1st 14 June 2007 – 5 July 2007 2nd 26 September 2007 – 10 July 2008 3rd 24 September 2008 – 10 July 2009 4th 16 September 2009 – 8 July 2010 5th 29 September 2010 – 1 February 2011

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 3 years, 232 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.

Party		May 2007	Jan. 2011[1]	Change
●	Fianna Fáil	78	71	7
	Fine Gael	51	51
	Labour	20	20
●	Green	6	6
	Sinn Féin	4	5	1
●	Progressive Democrats	2	—	2
	Independent	5	8	3
	Ceann Comhairle	—	1	1
	Vacant	—	4	4
Total		166

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.^[2][3]

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:
  • John O'Donoghue (Fianna Fáil), until 13 October 2009
  • Séamus Kirk (Fianna Fáil), from 13 October 2009
• Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Brendan Howlin (Labour Party), from 26 June 2007

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.^[4]

On 13 October 2009, O'Donoghue resigned as Ceann Comhairle.^[5] 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.^[6][7]

• Taoiseach:
  • Bertie Ahern, until 7 May 2008
  • Brian Cowen, from 7 May 2008
• Tánaiste:
  • Brian Cowen, until 7 May 2008
  • Mary Coughlan, from 7 May 2008
• Leader of Fianna Fáil:
  • Bertie Ahern, until 7 May 2008
  • Brian Cowen, until 22 January 2011
  • Micheál Martin, from 26 January 2011
• Leader of the Green Party:
  • Trevor Sargent, until 17 July 2007
  • John Gormley, from 17 July 2007(Left government on 23 January 2011)
• Leader of the Progressive Democrats:
  • Mary Harney, until 17 April 2008
  • Ciarán Cannon, until 24 March 2009
  • Noel Grealish, from 24 March 2009 to 20 November 2009

• Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael: Enda Kenny
• Leader of the Labour Party:
  • Pat Rabbitte, until 6 September 2007
  • Eamon Gilmore, from 6 September 2007
• Leader of the Technical Group: Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Féin), from 10 December 2010

This is a list of TDs elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2007 general election, sorted by party.^[8] The Changes table below records all changes in party affiliation.

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.^[21] The writ was moved the following day.^[22] However, the moving of the writ was opposed for three remaining vacancies.^[23]

• Collins, Stephen, ed. (2007). Nealon's Guide to the 30th Dáil and 23rd Seanad. Dublin: The Irish Times/Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-7171-4272-9.

• Houses of the Oireachtas: Debates: 30th Dáil