Government of the 23rd Dáil

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Government of the 23rd Dáil
18th Government of Ireland
Date formed9 March 1982
Date dissolved14 December 1982
People and organisations
PresidentPatrick Hillery
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
TánaisteRay MacSharry
Total no. of members15
Member partyFianna Fáil
Status in legislatureMinority Government
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderGarret FitzGerald
History
Election(s)Feb. 1982 general election
Legislature term(s)23rd Dáil
16th Seanad
Predecessor17th Government
Successor19th Government

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.

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
checkY 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[]

See also: GUBU

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
Defence 		Government Chief Whip Fianna Fáil
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
Posts and Telegraphs 		Telecommunications Fianna Fáil
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 of that year was held on 24 November 1982 for the members of the 24th Dáil.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 March 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 March 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 March 1982. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Appointment of Ministers and Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 March 1982. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Fógra ón Taoiseach – Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 October 1982. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 October 1982. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 4 November 1982. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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