Government of the 29th Dáil

The Government of the 29th Dáil or the 26th Government of Ireland (6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007) was formed after the 2002 general election which had been held on 17 May 2002. It was led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach with Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney as Tánaiste. It was the first coalition government to be returned to government after an election, and on this occasion the two parties had a majority in Dáil Éireann.

Government of the 29th Dáil
26th Government of Ireland
Date formed6 June 2002 (2002-06-06)
Date dissolved14 June 2007 (2007-06-14)
People and organisations
PresidentMary McAleese
TaoiseachBertie Ahern
Tánaiste
Total no. of ministers15
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderEnda Kenny
History
Election(s)2002 general election
Legislature term(s)29th Dáil
Predecessor25th Government
Successor27th Government

The 26th Government lasted for 1834 days.

26th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 29th Dáil first met on 6 June. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, outgoing Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn, and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent were each proposed. Ahern received the nomination of the Dáil.[1] Ahern was then re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.[2]

6 June 2002
Nomination of Taoiseach vote for Bertie Ahern (FF)[1]
Motion proposed by Charlie McCreevy and seconded by Mary Harney
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
Y YesFianna Fáil (80), Progressive Democrats (8), Independent (5)
93 / 166
NoFine Gael (31), Labour Party (21), Green Party (6), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (4), Socialist Party (1)
68 / 166
Not votingIndependent (4), Ceann Comhairle (1)
5 / 166

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach 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.[3]

Office Name Term Party
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern 2002–07 Fianna Fáil
Tánaiste Mary Harney 2002–06 Progressive Democrats
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 2002–04
Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence Michael Smith 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food[lower-alpha 1] Joe Walsh 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science Noel Dempsey 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources[lower-alpha 2] Dermot Ahern 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism[lower-alpha 3] John O'Donoghue 2002–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children Micheál Martin 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Transport[lower-alpha 4] Séamus Brennan 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell 2002–07 Progressive Democrats
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government[lower-alpha 5] Martin Cullen 2002–04 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[lower-alpha 6] Éamon Ó Cuív 2002–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social and Family Affairs[lower-alpha 7] Mary Coughlan 2002–04 Fianna Fáil

Changes 29 September 2004

Following the nomination of Charlie McCreevy as European Commissioner and the retirement of Michael Smith and Joe Walsh.[11]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney 2004–07 Progressive Democrats
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea 2004–07 Fianna Fáil
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche 2004–07 Fianna Fáil

Changes 13 September 2006

Following the resignation of Mary Harney as leader of the Progressive Democrats and the election of Michael McDowell.[12]

Office Name Term Party
Tánaiste Michael McDowell 2006–07 Progressive Democrats
Changes to departments
  1. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food with effect from 19 June 2002.[4]
  2. The Department of Marine and Natural Resources was renamed the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with effect from 19 June 2002.[5]
  3. The Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation was renamed the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism with effect from 19 June 2002.[6]
  4. The Department of Public Enterprise was renamed the Department of Transport with effect from 19 June 2002.[7]
  5. The Department of Environment and Local Government was renamed the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government with effect from 10 June 2003.[8]
  6. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands was renamed the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with effect from 19 June 2002.[9]
  7. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs was renamed the Department of Social and Family Affairs with effect from 19 June 2002.[10]

Attorney General

Rory Brady SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][3]

Dissolution

On 29 April 2007, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 24 May.[13] The members of the 30th Dáil met on 14 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.

See also

References
  1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 6 June 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 6 June 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 18 June 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  4. "Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  5. "Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  6. "Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  7. "Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  8. "Environment and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2003". Irish Statute Book. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  9. "Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  10. "Social, Community and Family Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  11. "Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 29 September 2004". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. "Nomination of Tánaiste: Statement – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Wednesday, 27 September 2006". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  13. "President dissolves Dáil, clears way for election". The Irish Times. 30 April 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
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