Government of the 23rd Dáil

The Government of the 23rd Dáil or the 18th Government of Ireland (9 March – 14 December 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the February 1982 general election. It was a minority Fianna Fáil government, reliant on the support of the Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party and Independent TD Tony Gregory, led by Charles Haughey as Taoiseach.

Government of the 23rd Dáil
18th Government of Ireland
Date formed	9 March 1982
Date dissolved	14 December 1982
People and organisations
President	Patrick Hillery
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Tánaiste	Ray MacSharry
Total no. of members	15
Member party	Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature	Minority Government
Opposition party	Fine Gael
Opposition leader	Garret FitzGerald
History
Election(s)	Feb. 1982 general election
Legislature term(s)	23rd Dáil 16th Seanad
Predecessor	17th Government
Successor	19th Government

The 18th Government lasted for 280 days.

18th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 23rd Dáil first met on 9 March 1982. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald were both proposed.[1] The nomination of Haughey was carried with 86 in favour and 79 against. Haughey was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.[2]

9 March 1982 Nomination of Charles Haughey (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Brian Lenihan and seconded by Ray MacSharry Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Yes	Fianna Fáil (81), Sinn Féin – The Workers' Party (3), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1)	86 / 166
No	Fine Gael (63), Labour Party (15), Independent (1)	79 / 166
Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1)	1 / 166

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.[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[4]

Office	Name		Term
Taoiseach		Charles Haughey	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Tánaiste		Ray MacSharry	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Finance
Minister for Agriculture		Brian Lenihan	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Defence		Paddy Power	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Education		Martin O'Donoghue	Mar.–Oct. 1982
Minister for the Environment		Ray Burke	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry		Brendan Daly	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Foreign Affairs		Gerry Collins	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for the Gaeltacht		Pádraig Flynn	Mar.–Oct. 1982
Minister for Health		Michael Woods	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Industry and Energy		Albert Reynolds	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Justice		Seán Doherty	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Labour		Gene Fitzgerald	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		John Wilson	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Transport
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism		Desmond O'Malley	Mar.–Oct. 1982
Changes 7 October 1982 Desmond O'Malley and Martin O'Donoghue resigned on 6 October 1982 after supporting an unsuccessful leadership challenge against Charles Haughey.[5]
Office	Name		Term
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism		Albert Reynolds	7–27 Oct 1982
Minister for Education		Charles Haughey	7–27 Oct 1982
Changes 27 October 1982 Reshuffle following resignations of O'Malley and O'Donoghue.[6]
Office	Name		Term
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism		Pádraig Flynn	Oct.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Education		Gerard Brady	Oct.–Dec. 1982
Minister for the Gaeltacht		Denis Gallagher	Oct.–Dec. 1982

Attorney General

On 9 March 1982, Patrick Connolly SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] Connolly resigned on 17 August after Malcolm MacArthur, who had been a house-guest of Connolly's, was arrested for murder. On 18 August 1982, John L. Murray SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of State

On 9 March, the Government appointed Bertie Ahern on the nomination of the Taoiseach to the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. On 23 March, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State.[4]

Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Bertie Ahern	Taoiseach	Government Chief Whip		Fianna Fáil
	Defence	Defence
Sylvester Barrett	Finance	Office of Public Works		Fianna Fáil
Lorcan Allen	Agriculture	Land Commission, Production and Marketing		Fianna Fáil
Bernard Cowen	Agriculture	Disadvantaged Areas		Fianna Fáil
Terry Leyden	Transport	Telecommunications		Fianna Fáil
	Posts and Telegraphs
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn	Education	Youth and Sport		Fianna Fáil
Denis Gallagher	Social Welfare	Social Welfare Claims		Fianna Fáil
Ger Connolly	Environment	Housing		Fianna Fáil
Gerard Brady	Environment	Urban Renewal		Fianna Fáil
Tom McEllistrim	Fisheries and Forestry	Forestry		Fianna Fáil
Changes 28 October 1982 Reshuffle following resignations of O'Malley and O'Donoghue from cabinet.[6]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Rory O'Hanlon	Social Welfare	Social Welfare Claims		Fianna Fáil
Niall Andrews	Environment	Urban Renewal		Fianna Fáil
Seán Calleary	Trade, Commerce and Tourism	Tourism		Fianna Fáil
Jim Fitzsimons	Industry and Energy	Economic Affairs		Fianna Fáil

Confidence in the Government

On 4 November 1982, the Dáil voted on a motion of confidence the Taoiseach placed in the government. The resolution was defeated, with 80 votes in favour to 82 against.[7] After the vote, Haughey sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president. A second general election was held on 24 November 1982 for the members of the 24th Dáil.

See also

• Dáil Éireann
• Constitution of Ireland
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland

Footnotes

1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 9 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 9 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
3. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 9 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
4. "Appointment of Ministers and Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 23 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
5. "Fógra ón Taoiseach – Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Wednesday, 27 October 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
6. "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Wednesday, 27 October 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
7. "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Thursday, 4 November 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.