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The Tánaiste (plural: Tánaistithe), or more formally An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. The Tánaiste is appointed by the President of Ireland upon the nomination of the Taoiseach (prime minister). The word was historically an Irish word for the heir of a Celtic chieftain (see tanistry).
The Tánaiste acts in the place of the Taoiseach during his or her temporary absence, and, until a successor has been appointed, in the event of the Taoiseach's death or permanent incapacitation. The Tánaiste must be a minister, and is ex-officio a member of the Council of State.
The title is in practice largely honorific. Under a coalition Government the position is commonly held by the leader of the second-largest party and in this situation is free to head any department he or she wants. In a single-party government, the Tánaiste is often an 'elder statesman' holding one of the less important ministerial portfolios.
The office was created in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, replacing the previous office of Vice-President of the Executive Council that had existed under the Constitution of the Irish Free State.
List of Tánaistithe
Footnotes
1. Tánaiste is Irish. It may be pronounced "taw-nish-ta".
See also
| Government of Ireland | 
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| An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) | An Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) | edit (https://academickids.com:443/encyclopedia/index.php?title=Template:GovernmentofIreland&action=edit) | |
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