Government of the 24th Dáil
The Government of the 24th Dáil or the 19th Government of Ireland (14 December 1982 – 10 March 1987) was the government of Ireland formed after the November 1982 general election. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach.
| Government of the 24th Dáil | |
|---|---|
| 19th Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 14 December 1982 |
| Date dissolved | 10 March 1987 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Patrick Hillery |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Tánaiste | Dick Spring (1982–87) Peter Barry (1987) |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | Fine Gael Labour Party (Dec. 1982 – Jan. 1987) |
| Status in legislature | Majority Coalition |
| Opposition party | Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leader | Charles Haughey |
| History | |
| Election(s) | November 1982 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 24th Dáil 17th Seanad |
| Predecessor | 18th Government |
| Successor | 20th Government |
The 19th Government lasted for 1,547 days.
19th Government of Ireland
Nomination of Taoiseach
The members of the 24th Dáil first met on 14 December 1982. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, the Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald were both proposed.[1] The nomination of Haughey was defeated with 77 votes in favour to 88 against, while the nomination of FitzGerald was carried with 85 in favour and 79 against. FitzGerald was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.[2]
| 14 December 1982 Nomination of Garret FitzGerald (FG) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Kieran Crotty and seconded by Nora Owen Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes | Fine Gael (69), Labour Party (16) | 85 / 166 |
| No | Fianna Fáil (75), Workers' Party (2), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1) | 79 / 166 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1) | 2 / 166 |
Members of the Government
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Garret FitzGerald 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]
- Notes
- Garret FitzGerald was acting Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 8 to 13 December 1983 following the resignation of Frank Cluskey.[5]
- On 17 December 1983 the Department of Industry and Energy was renamed as the Department of Energy.[8][9]
- On 17 December 1983 the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism.[10][9]
- On 2 January 1984 the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the Department of Transport were abolished and replaced by the Department of Communications.[12]
- On 19 February 1986 the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Industry and Commerce.[14]
- On 19 February 1986 the Department of Fisheries and Forestry was renamed as the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry.[15]
Attorney General
On 14 December 1982, Peter Sutherland SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] He resigned as Attorney General on 12 December 1984 on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 13 December 1984, John Rogers SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[16]
Ministers of State
On 14 December 1982, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Seán Barrett to the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip.[2] On 16 December 1982, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[17]
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seán Barrett | Taoiseach | Government Chief Whip | Fine Gael | |
| Defence | Defence | |||
| Nuala Fennell | Taoiseach | Women's Affairs and Family Law Refom | Fine Gael | |
| Ted Nealon | Taoiseach | Arts and Culture | Fine Gael | |
| Ruairi Quinn | Environment | Urban Affairs and Housing | Labour | |
| Jim O'Keeffe | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development | Fine Gael | |
| Patrick Hegarty | Agriculture | Production | Fine Gael | |
| Paul Connaughton Snr | Agriculture | Land Structure and Development | Fine Gael | |
| Joseph Bermingham | Finance | Office of Public Works | Labour | |
| Edward Collins | Industry and Energy | Energy Affairs | Fine Gael | |
| John Donnellan | Posts and Telegraphs Transport |
Posts and Telegraphs Service | Fine Gael | |
| Michael Moynihan | Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Tourism | Labour | |
| George Birmingham | Labour | Youth Affairs | Fine Gael | |
| Fergus O'Brien | Health Social Welfare |
Public Health and Social Welfare Information | Fine Gael | |
| Donal Creed | Education | School Buildings and Sport | Fine Gael | |
| Michael D'Arcy | Fisheries and Forestry Gaeltacht |
Fisheries and Forestry | Fine Gael | |
Changes 7 January 1983Nuala Fennell was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for Family Law Reform in addition to her existing post.[18] | ||||
Changes 18 February 1983Ted Nealon was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs with responsibility for broadcasting in addition to his existing post.[19] | ||||
Changes 15 December 1983Changes in ministerial roles.[9] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Edward Collins | Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Commercial Affairs | Fine Gael | |
| John Donnellan | Health Social Welfare |
Public Health and Social Welfare Information | Fine Gael | |
| George Birmingham | Education | Co-ordination of Education and Training | Fine Gael | |
| Fergus O'Brien | Environment | Urban Affairs, Housing and Local Government Reform | Fine Gael | |
| Séamus Pattison | Social Welfare | Social Welfare Administration | Labour | |
Changes 2 January 1984Ted Nealon was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Communications with responsibility for radio and television.[11] | ||||
Changes 13 February 1986Ministerial reshuffle.[13] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Fergus O'Brien | Taoiseach | Government Chief Whip | Fine Gael | |
| Defence | ||||
| Environment | Urban Development | |||
| Seán Barrett | Taoiseach Education |
Dáil Reform Sport |
Fine Gael | |
| Jim O'Keeffe | Public Service | Fine Gael | ||
| Patrick Hegarty | Agriculture Industry and Commerce |
Food Sector | Fine Gael | |
| George Birmingham | Foreign Affairs | European Affairs and Development Co-operation | Fine Gael | |
| Enda Kenny | Labour Education |
Youth Affairs | Fine Gael | |
| Toddy O'Sullivan | Environment | Grants Administration | Labour | |
| Avril Doyle | Finance Environment |
Office of Public Works and Environmental Protection |
Fine Gael | |
| Edward Collins | Industry and Commerce Energy |
Commerce and Services | Fine Gael | |
| John Donnellan | Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry | Fisheries | Fine Gael | |
| Michael Moynihan | Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry | Tourism | Labour | |
Changes 18 February 1986Donal Creed and Michael D'Arcy are removed from office following their refusal to resign in order to facilitate a reshuffle.[20] | ||||
Changes 23 September 1986Changes following the dismissal of Edward Collins.[21] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Richard Bruton | Energy Industry and Commerce |
Energy Affairs | Fine Gael | |
Changes 20 January 1987On 20 January 1987 the Labour Party Ministers of State resigned their positions. | ||||
Events during the government
The government resorted to high marginal tax rates to curb the national debt, which had increased when spending commitments accrued under the 1977–81 government's expansion of the public sector became unsustainable after the 1979 energy crisis. High taxes and high unemployment brought a return to high net emigration, a long-established Irish flow which had temporarily reversed in the 1970s. An economic policy document, "Building on reality", was published in 1984.[22]
The "republican crusade" flagged by Garret Fitzgerald in 1981 saw some changes in policy on Northern Ireland and social issues. The government's New Ireland Forum was a prelude to the Anglo-Irish Agreement signed in 1985. A referendum to ease the ban on divorce was defeated in 1986, while a bill to ease restrictions on contraception, was passed in 1985. The failure of Desmond O'Malley to vote against this legislation led to his expulsion from Fianna Fáil.[23] O'Malley later established the Progressive Democrats in December 1985.
References
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 14 December 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 14 December 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 14 December 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Ministers and Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Wednesday, 15 December 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Resignation of Member of Government: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 13 December 1983". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 13 December 1983". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Appointment and Reassignment of Ministers: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 13 December 1983". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Industry and Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1983". Irish Statute Book. 15 December 1983. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Ministerial Appointments and Titles – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Friday, 16 December 1983". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "Trade, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1983". Irish Statute Book. 15 December 1983. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Assignment of Department: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Wednesday, 8 January 1984". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1983". Irish Statute Book. 27 December 1983. Retrieved 17 August 2019.; "Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 (An Post) (Vesting Day) Order 1983". Irish Statute Book. 21 December 1983. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- "Ministerial Assignments and Titles: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Thursday, 13 February 1986". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986". Irish Statute Book. 18 February 1986. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986". Irish Statute Book. 18 February 1986. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Attorney General – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Thursday, 13 December 1984". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Thursday, 16 December 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "Appointment of Minister of State and Allocation of Responsibilities: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Wednesday, 26 January 1983". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "Appointment of Minister of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 22 February 1983". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Tuesday, 18 February 1986". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "Removal and Appointment of Ministers of State: Announcement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Wednesday, 22 October 1986". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- Department of the Taoiseach (2 October 1984). Building on Reality 1984-87 (National Economic Plan) (PDF). Government publications. Pl.2648 (8679). Ireland: Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- "Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill, 1985: Second Stage (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Wednesday, 20 February 1985". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 24 January 2020.