Government of the 28th Dáil

The Government of the 29th Dáil or the 25th Government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the 1997 general election which had been held on 6 June 1997. It was a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach.

Government of the 28th Dáil
25th Government of Ireland
Date formed26 June 1997
Date dissolved6 June 2002
People and organisations
PresidentMary Robinson (1997)
Mary McAleese (1997–2002)
TaoiseachBertie Ahern
TánaisteMary Harney
Total no. of ministers15
Member partiesFianna Fáil
Progressive Democrats
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderJohn Bruton (1997–2001)
Michael Noonan (2001–02)
History
Election(s)1997 general election
Legislature term(s)28th Dáil
Predecessor24th Government
Successor26th Government

The 25th Government lasted 1,806 days.

25th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 28th Dáil first met on 26 June 1997. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern were proposed.[1] The vote on Bruton was defeated with 75 votes in favour to 87 against, while the vote on Ahern was approved by 85 to 78. Ahern was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.[2]

26 June 1997
Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by David Andrews and seconded by Mary O'Rourke
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
Y YesFianna Fáil (77), Progressive Democrats (4), Independent (3), Sinn Féin (1)
85 / 166
NoFine Gael (54), Labour Party (16), Democratic Left (4), Green Party (2),
Independent (1), Socialist Party (1)
78 / 166
Not votingIndependent (2), Ceann Comhairle (1)
3 / 166

Members of the Government

After his appointment by the president, Bertie Ahern 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 Party
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Tánaiste Mary Harney 1997–2002 Progressive Democrats
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment[lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Marine and Natural Resources[lower-alpha 2] Michael Woods 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Ray Burke 1997 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Public Enterprise[lower-alpha 3] Mary O'Rourke 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence David Andrews 1997 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food[lower-alpha 4] [lower-alpha 5] Joe Walsh 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children[lower-alpha 6] Brian Cowen 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil
Minister for the Environment and Local Government[lower-alpha 7] Noel Dempsey 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs[lower-alpha 8] Dermot Ahern 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands[lower-alpha 9] Síle de Valera 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform[lower-alpha 10] John O'Donoghue[lower-alpha 11] 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation[lower-alpha 12] Jim McDaid 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science[lower-alpha 13] Micheál Martin 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil

Changes 8 October 1997

Following the resignation of Ray Burke after allegations of corrupt payments under investigation by the Flood Tribunal.[18][19][20]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence Michael Smith 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil

Changes 27 January 2000

Following the retirement from government of David Andrews.[21][22]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Education and Science Michael Woods 2000–02 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen 2000–02 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children Micheál Martin 2000–02 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Marine and Natural Resources Frank Fahey 2000–02 Fianna Fáil
Changes to Departments
  1. On 8 July 1997 the Department of Enterprise and Employment was renamed as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.[5]
  2. On 12 July 1997 the Department of the Marine was renamed as the Department of Marine and Natural Resources.[6]
  3. On 12 July 1997 the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications was renamed as the Department of Public Enterprise.[7]
  4. On 12 July 1997 the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry was renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Food.[8]
  5. On 27 September 1999 the Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.[9]
  6. On 12 July 1997 the Department of Health was renamed as the Department of Health and Children.[10]
  7. On 22 July 1997 the Department of the Environment was renamed as the Department of the Environment and Local Government.[11]
  8. On 12 July 1997 the Department of Social Welfare was renamed as the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.[12]
  9. On 12 July 1997 the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht was renamed as Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.[13]
  10. On 8 July 1997 the functions of the Department of Equality and Law Reform were transferred to the Department of Justice.[14] On 9 July, the Department of Justice was renamed the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.[15]
  11. John O'Donoghue was appointed as Minister for Justice and Minister for Equality and Law Reform and served as head of both departments until the transfer of functions on 8 July.
  12. On 12 July 1997 the Department of Tourism and Trade was renamed as the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.[16]
  13. On 1 October 1997 the Department of Education was renamed as the Department of Education and Science.[17]

Attorney General

David Byrne SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] In 1999, he resigned on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 17 July 1999, Michael McDowell SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of State attending cabinet
See also: Ministers of State of the 28th Dáil

The following attended cabinet meetings, but did not have a vote. They were appointed by the government on 26 July 1997.[2][4]

Office Name Party
Government Chief Whip Séamus Brennan Fianna Fáil
Minister of State at the Department of Defence
Minister of State to the Government Bobby Molloy Progressive Democrats
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government

Changes 11 April 2002

On resignation of Bobby Molloy.[23]

Minister of State to the Government Liz O'Donnell Progressive Democrats
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

Dissolution

On 25 April 2002, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 17 May.[24] The members of the 29th Dáil met on 6 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.

See also

References
  1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – 26 June 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Thursday, 26 June 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. "Nomination of Taoiseach. – Votes – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – 26 June 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 9 July 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. "Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  6. "Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  7. "Transport, Energy and Communications (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  8. "Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  9. "Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 21 September 1999. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  10. "Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  11. "Environment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 22 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  12. "Social Welfare (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. "Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  14. "Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997". 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  15. "Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  16. "Tourism and Trade (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  17. "Education (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 30 September 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  18. "Resignation of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 8 October 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 8 October 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  20. "Appointment of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Thursday, 9 October 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  21. "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Thursday, 27 January 2000". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  22. "Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 February 2000". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  23. "Resignation of Minister of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 17 April 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  24. "Advice to Dissolve Dáil: Announcement – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 24 April 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.