Plé:Brian Cowen

11th or 12th Taoiseach

On RTE news it said he was the twelfth Taoiseach.—Scríobh an t-úsáideoir 86.41.95.148 (plé • dréachtaí) an trácht roimhe seo, ach bhí síniú in easnamh.

That's because they are probably counting W. T. Cosgrave and/or Collins (who weren't Taoisigh under the current constitution - rather, were "President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State" and "Chairman of the Provisional Government" respectively). The Taoisigh of Ireland (under the Constitution of Ireland as we know it today) were - in order:

1. Éamon de Valera (3 times)
2. John A. Costello (2 times)
3. Seán Lemass (3 times)
4. Jack Lynch (2 times)
5. Liam Cosgrave
6. Charles Haughey (3 times - in and out with Garret FitzGerald)
7. Garret FitzGerald (2 times - in and out with Haughey)
8. Albert Reynolds
9. John Bruton
10. Bertie Ahern
11. Brian Cowen

Previous prime ministerial offices under earlier constitutions included:

• The "President of Dáil Éireann" (Príomh Aire 1919–1921): Cathal Brugha and Éamon de Valera
• President of the Irish Republic (1921–1922): Éamon de Valera and Arthur Griffith
• Chairman of the Provisional Government (1922): Michael Collins and W. T. Cosgrave
• President of the Executive Council (1922–1937): W. T. Cosgrave and Éamon de Valera

RTÉ were probably counting one or other of these earlier positions. (Or they simply counted wrong). Guliolopez 19:58, 7 Bealtaine 2008 (UTC)