Micheal Martin, Ireland's shortest-serving taoiseach, was seen as a cautious, steady pair of hands at a turbulent time for Ireland.
The Cork South-Central TD led the country through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, and supported Ukraine following Russia's brutal invasion.
But the housing crisis continues to plague the three-party coalition government, with the severe shortage of affordable housing now causing problems for recruitment in healthcare and education.
