 The 30th Dáil was dissolved by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach Brian Cowen on 1 February 2011.The 30th Dáil lasted 1328 days, and saw a change of Taoiseach from Bertie Ahern to Brian Cowen.The position of Ceann Comhairle was contested by John O'Donoghue (FF) and Ruairi Quinn (Lab).