The leader of the Labour Party is the most senior politician within the Labour Party in Ireland. Since 24 March 2022, the office has been held by Ivana Bacik, following the resignation of Alan Kelly as leader of the party.
In a review of procedures at the party's 2017 conference, the position of Deputy leader was abolished after a year of lying vacant, and the nomination and seconding of new leadership candidates was extended to Senators and MEPs as well as TDs.
Leaders NamePortraitConstituencyTerm of OfficeOffice(s)Thomas Johnson Dublin County 1914 1927 Leader of the OppositionThomas J. O'Connell Mayo South 1927 1932 William Norton Kildare 1932 2 March 1960 TánaisteMinister for Social WelfareMinister for Industry and CommerceBrendan Corish Wexford 2 March 1960 26 June 1977 TánaisteMinister for HealthMinister for Social WelfareFrank Cluskey Dublin South-Central 1 July 1977 12 June 1981 Michael O'Leary Dublin North-Central 17 June 1981 1 November 1982 TánaisteMinister for EnergyDick Spring Kerry North 1 November 1982 13 November 1997 TánaisteMinister for the EnvironmentMinister for EnergyMinister for Foreign AffairsRuairi Quinn Dublin South-East 13 November 1997 25 October 2002 Pat Rabbitte Dublin South-West 25 October 2002 6 September 2007 Eamon Gilmore Dún Laoghaire 6 September 2007 4 July 2014 TánaisteMinister for Foreign Affairs and TradeJoan Burton Dublin West 4 July 2014 20 May 2016 TánaisteMinister for Social ProtectionBrendan Howlin Wexford 20 May 2016 3 April 2020 Alan Kelly Tipperary 3 April 2020 24 March 2022Ivana Bacik Dublin Bay South 24 March 2022 Incumbent
Deputy leaders Name(Birth–Death)PortraitConstituencyTerm of OfficeOffice(s) heldJames Tully Meath 1972 1 July 1977 Minister for Local GovernmentMichael O'Leary Dublin North-Central 1 July 1977 17 June 1981James Tully Meath 17 June 1981 22 February 1982 Minister for DefenceBarry Desmond Dún Laoghaire 22 February 1982 July 1989 Minister for Social WelfareMinister for HealthRuairi Quinn Dublin South-East July 1989 13 November 1997 Minister for Enterprise and EmploymentMinister for FinanceBrendan Howlin Wexford 13 November 1997 25 October 2002Liz McManus Wicklow 25 October 2002 4 October 2007 Joan Burton Dublin West 4 October 2007 4 July 2014 Minister for Social ProtectionAlan Kelly Tipperary North 4 July 2014 20 May 2016 Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport Minister for the Environment, Community and Local GovernmentPosition vacant 20 May 2016Position abolished April 2017
See also History of the Labour Party Leader of Fine Gael Leader of Fianna Fáil Leader of Sinn Féin
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