Government of the 21st Dáil

There were two Governments of the 21st Dáil, which was elected at the 1977 general election on 16 June 1977. The 15th Government of Ireland (5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979) was led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach, while the 16th Government of Ireland (11 December 1979 – 30 June 1981) was led by Charles Haughey. Both were single-party majority Fianna Fáil governments.

The 15th Government lasted for 889 days and the 16th Government lasted for 567 days.

15th Government of Ireland
Government of the 21st Dáil
15th Government of Ireland
Date formed5 July 1977
Date dissolved11 December 1979
People and organisations
PresidentPatrick Hillery
TaoiseachJack Lynch
TánaisteGeorge Colley
Total no. of ministers15
Member partyFianna Fáil
Status in legislatureMajority Government
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderGarret FitzGerald
History
Election(s)1977 general election
Legislature term(s)21st Dáil
Predecessor14th Government
Successor16th Government

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 21st Dáil first met on 5 July 1977. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Jack Lynch was proposed, and this proposal was carried with 82 votes in favour and 61 votes against.[1] Lynch was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.[2]

5 July 1977
Nomination of Jack Lynch (FF) for Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by Vivion de Valera and seconded by Kit Ahern
Absolute majority: 75/148
Vote Parties Votes
Y YesFianna Fáil (82)
82 / 148
NoFine Gael (43), Labour Party (16), Independent (2)
61 / 148
Not votingCeann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Labour Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1)
5 / 148

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[4]

Office Name Term
Taoiseach Jack Lynch 1977–79
Tánaiste George Colley 1977–79
Minister for Finance
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Agriculture Jim Gibbons 1977–79
Minister for Defence Bobby Molloy 1977–79
Minister for Economic Planning and Development[lower-alpha 1][7] Martin O'Donoghue 1977–79
Minister for Education John Wilson 1977–79
Minister for the Environment[lower-alpha 2] Sylvester Barrett 1977–79
Minister for Fisheries[lower-alpha 3] Brian Lenihan 1977–79
Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael O'Kennedy 1977–79
Minister for the Gaeltacht Denis Gallagher 1977–79
Minister for Health Charles Haughey 1977–79
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy[lower-alpha 4] Desmond O'Malley 1977–79
Minister for Justice Gerry Collins 1977–79
Minister for Labour Gene Fitzgerald 1977–79
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Pádraig Faulkner 1977–79
Minister for Tourism and Transport[lower-alpha 5]
Notes
  1. The Department of Economic Planning and Development was established by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977 which was commenced on 13 December 1977.[5][6]
  2. The Department of Local Government was renamed as the Department of the Environment on 17 August 1977.[8]
  3. The Department of Fisheries was renamed as the Department of Fisheries and Forestry on 15 July 1978.[9]
  4. The Department of Industry and Commerce was renamed as the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy on 23 January 1980.[10]
  5. The Department of Tourism and Transport was renamed as the Department of Transport on 25 January 1980.[11]

Attorney General

On 5 July 1977, Anthony J. Hederman SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4]

Decisions of the government

This government approved the Nuclear Energy Board plans for a plant at Carnsore Point to go ahead. Desmond O'Malley, as the minister with responsibility for the board was central to this policy. Later the 16th Government, under the same Dáil, dropped these plans.

Resignation

Following the resignation of Jack Lynch as leader of Fianna Fáil, Charles Haughey won the leadership election held on 7 December 1979. Lynch resigned as Taoiseach on 11 December 1979.[12]

16th Government of Ireland
Government of the 21st Dáil
16th Government of Ireland
Date formed11 December 1979
Date dissolved30 June 1981
People and organisations
PresidentPatrick Hillery
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
TánaisteGeorge Colley
Total no. of ministers15
Member partyFianna Fáil
Status in legislatureMajority Government
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderGarret FitzGerald
History
Legislature term(s)21st Dáil
Predecessor15th Government
Successor17th Government

The 16th Government was formed by Charles Haughey following the resignation of Jack Lynch.

Nomination of Taoiseach

On 11 December 1979, Haughey was proposed for the nomination of the Dáil for the position of Taoiseach, and this proposal was carried with 82 votes in favour and 62 votes against.[13] Haughey was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.[14]

11 December 1979
Nomination of Charles Haughey (FF) for Taoiseach
Motion proposed by Jack Lynch
Absolute majority: 75/148
Vote Parties Votes
Y YesFianna Fáil (82)
82 / 148
NoFine Gael (44), Labour Party (17), Independent (1)
62 / 148
Not votingCeann Comhairle (1), Fine Gael (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1)
4 / 148

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Charles Haughey proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil on 12 December.[15] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[16]

Office Name Term
Taoiseach Charles Haughey 1979–81
Tánaiste George Colley 1979–81
Minister for Tourism and Transport[lower-alpha 1] 1979–80
Minister for Agriculture Ray MacSharry 1979–81
Minister for Defence Pádraig Faulkner 1979–80
Minister for Economic Planning and Development[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] Michael O'Kennedy 1979–80
Minister for Finance
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Education John Wilson 1979–81
Minister for the Environment Sylvester Barrett 1979–80
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Paddy Power 1979–81
Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Lenihan 1979–81
Minister for the Gaeltacht Máire Geoghegan-Quinn 1979–81
Minister for Health Michael Woods 1979–81
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy[lower-alpha 4] Desmond O'Malley 1979–81
Minister for Justice Gerry Collins 1979–81
Minister for Labour Gene Fitzgerald 1979–80
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Albert Reynolds 1979–81

Changes 22 January 1980

Office Name Term
Minister for Energy[lower-alpha 3] George Colley 1980–81

Changes 25 January 1980

Changes made to ministerial roles.[21]

Office Name Term
Minister for Transport[lower-alpha 1] Albert Reynolds[lower-alpha 5] 1980–81

Changes 24 March 1980

Changes made to ministerial roles.[22]

Office Name Term
Minister for the Public Service Gene Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 6] 1980–81

Changes 15 October 1980

On the election of Pádraig Faulkner as Ceann Comhairle.[23][24]

Office Name Term
Minister for Defence Sylvester Barrett 1980–81
Minister for the Environment Ray Burke 1980–81

Changes 16 December 1980

On the appointment of Michael O'Kennedy as European Commissioner.[25][26][27]

Office Name Term
Minister for Finance Gene Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 7] 1980–81
Minister for Labour Tom Nolan 1980–81
Notes
  1. The Department of Tourism and Transport was renamed as the Department of Transport on 21 January 1980.[17]
  2. The functions of the Department of Economic Planning were transferred to the Department of Finance on 1 January 1980.[18]
  3. The Department of Economic Planning and Development was renamed as the Department of Energy on 21 January 1980.[19]
  4. The Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy was renamed as the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism on 23 January 1980.[20]
  5. Held in addition to the Posts and Telegraphs portfolio.
  6. Held in addition to the Labour portfolio.
  7. Held in addition to the Public Service portfolio.

Attorney General

On 11 December 1979, Anthony J. Hederman SC was re-appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[15][16]

See also

Footnotes
  1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 5 July 1977". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 5 July 1977". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 5 July 1977". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. "Ceapachain mar Airí agus Rúnaí Parlaiminte – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 6 July 1977". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  5. "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977". Irish Statute Book. 6 December 1977. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  6. "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977 (Appointed Day) Order 1977". Irish Statute Book. 9 December 1977. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  7. "Assignment of Department: Statement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 13 December 1977". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  8. "Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977". Irish Statute Book. 16 August 1977. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  9. "Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1978". Irish Statute Book. 18 February 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  10. "Industry and Commerce (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1977". Irish Statute Book. 23 September 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  11. "Tourism and Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980". Irish Statute Book. 15 January 1980. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  12. "Resignation of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  13. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  14. "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  15. "Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.; "Nomination of Members of Government (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 12 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.; "Nomination of Members of Government (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 12 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  16. "Appointment of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 13 December 1979". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  17. "Tourism and Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980". Irish Statute Book. 15 January 1980. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  18. "Economic Planning and Development (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1980". Irish Statute Book. 2 January 1980. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  19. "Economic Planning and Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980". Irish Statute Book. 15 January 1980. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  20. "Industry, Commerce and Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980". Irish Statute Book. 15 January 1980. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  21. "Wednesday, 20 Feb 1980: Ministerial Titles and Functions – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 20 February 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  22. "Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 24 March 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  23. "Appointment of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 15 October 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  24. "Appointment of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Thursday, 16 October 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  25. "Resignation of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 16 December 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  26. "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Tuesday, 16 December 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  27. "Appointment of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 17 December 1980". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
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