Government of the 6th Dáil

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There were two Governments of the 6th Dáil, which was elected at the September 1927 general election held on 15 September 1927. The 4th Executive Council (11 October 1927 – 2 April 1930) and the 5th Executive Council (2 April 1930 – 9 March 1932) were both minority governments of Cumann na nGaedheal led by W. T. Cosgrave as President of the Executive Council.

The 4th Executive Council lasted for 899 days from its appointment until it resigned from office, and continued to carry out its duties until the appointment of its successor for a further 5 days. The 5th Executive Council lasted for 707 days.

4th Executive Council of the Irish Free State[]

Government of the 6th Dáil
4th Executive Council of the Irish Free State
William Thomas Cosgrave.jpg
Date formed11 October 1927
Date dissolved2 April 1930
People and organisations
KingGeorge V
Governor-GeneralTim Healy (Oct. 1927 – Jan. 1928)
James McNeill (Jan. 1928 – Apr. 1930)
President of the Executive CouncilW. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive CouncilErnest Blythe
Total no. of members9
Member partyCumann na nGaedheal
Status in legislatureMinority Government
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderÉamon de Valera
History
Election(s)September 1927 general election
Legislature term(s)6th Dáil
1st Seanad (1925–28)
1st Seanad (1928–31)
Predecessor3rd Executive Council
Successor5th Executive Council

Nomination of President of the Executive Council[]

The members of the 6th Dáil first met on 11 October 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 76 votes in favour and 70 against.[1] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.[2]

11 October 1927
Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[3]
Motion proposed by Gearóid O'Sullivan and seconded by Peadar Doyle
Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote Parties Votes
checkY Yes Cumann na nGaedheal (60), Farmers' Party (6), Independents (10)
76 / 153
No Fianna Fáil (57), Labour Party (13)
70 / 153
Absent or
Not voting		 National League Party (2), Independents (2), Ceann Comhairle (1)
5 / 153
Vacancy 1[4]
1 / 153

Members of the Executive Council[]

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 12 October.[2] They were then appointed by the Governor General.[5]

Office Name
President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council Ernest Blythe
Minister for Finance
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Defence Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Education John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Industry and Commerce Patrick McGilligan
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture and Lands[a] Patrick Hogan
Minister for Fisheries[b] Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Justice James FitzGerald-Kenney
Notes
  1. ^ The Minister for Agriculture and Lands was renamed as Minister for Agriculture on 1 September 1928.[6]
  2. ^ The Minister for Fisheries was renamed as Minister for Lands and Fisheries on 1 September 1928.[6]

Parliamentary Secretaries[]

On 13 March 1927, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the President.[7]

Name Office Party
Eamonn Duggan Government Chief Whip Cumann na nGaedheal
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Séamus Burke Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance Cumann na nGaedheal
Michael Heffernan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Farmers' Party
Martin Roddy Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries Cumann na nGaedheal
James Dolan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce Cumann na nGaedheal

Amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State[]

The following amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State were proposed by the Executive Council and passed by the Oireachtas:

  • Amendment No. 10 (12 July 1928): Removed all direct democracy provisions except the requirement that, after a transitional period, a referendum be held on all constitutional amendments. However this remaining provision would never be allowed to come into effect.
  • Amendment No. 6 (23 July 1928): Replaced the direct election of the Senate with a system of indirect election.
  • Amendment No. 13 (23 July 1928): Extended the Senate's power of delay over legislation from nine months to twenty months.
  • Amendment No. 8 (25 October 1928): Reduced the age of eligibility for senators from 35 to 30.
  • Amendment No. 9 (25 October 1928): Altered provisions relating to the procedure for nominating candidates to stand in senatorial elections.
  • Amendment No. 7 (30 October 1928): Reduced the term of office of senators from twelve to nine years.
  • Amendment No. 14 (14 May 1929): Clarified a technical matter relating to the relationship between the two houses of the Oireachtas.
  • Amendment No. 15 (14 May 1929): Permitted one member of the Executive Council to be a senator, where previously it had been required that all be members of the Dáil. It was still required that the President, Vice-President and Minister for Finance hold seats in the Dáil.
  • Amendment No. 16 (14 May 1929): Extended the period during which amendments of the constitution could be made by ordinary legislation from eight to sixteen years.
  • Amendment No. 11 (17 December 1929): Altered the method for filling casual vacancies in the Seanad by providing for a vote of both houses rather than just the Seanad.
  • Amendment No. 12 (24 March 1930): Altered provisions relating to the Committee of Privileges that had authority to resolves disputes over the definition of a money bill.
Executive Council of the Irish Free State – October 1928.L–R: Diarmuid O'Hegarty, Patrick McGilligan, James FitzGerald-Kenney, John M. O'Sullivan, John A. Costello, W. T. Cosgrave, Ernest Blythe, Desmond FitzGerald, Richard Mulcahy, Patrick Hogan and Fionán Lynch.

Resignation of the Executive Council[]

On 27 March 1930, the Old Age Pensions Bill 1929, a private member's bill proposed by Conn Ward a member of Fianna Fáil, which was the lead party of the parliamentary opposition, passed second stage by 66 votes to 64.[8] The following day, the President tendered his resignation to the Governor-General.[9] The Executive Council continued to carry out its duties under Article 53 of the Constitution until the appointment of its successor.

5th Executive Council of the Irish Free State[]

Government of the 6th Dáil
5th Executive Council of the Irish Free State
William Thomas Cosgrave.jpg
Date formed2 April 1930
Date dissolved9 March 1932
People and organisations
KingGeorge V
Governor-GeneralJames McNeill
President of the Executive CouncilW. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive CouncilErnest Blythe
Total no. of members9
Member partyCumann na nGaedheal
Status in legislatureMinority Government
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderÉamon de Valera
History
Legislature term(s)6th Dáil
1st Seanad (1928–31)
1st Seanad (1931–34)
Predecessor4th Executive Council
Successor6th Executive Council

Nomination of President of the Executive Council[]

In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council on 2 April 1930, Fianna Fáil leader Éamon de Valera, Labour Party Leader Thomas J. O'Connell, and Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave were each proposed. The motions proposing de Valera and O'Connell were defeated, while the motion proposing Cosgrave was carried with 80 votes in favour to 65 votes against.[10] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General James McNeill.[11]

2 April 1930
Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[12]
Motion proposed by Joseph Mongan and seconded by Michael Davis
Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote Parties Votes
checkY Yes Cumann na nGaedheal (62), Farmers' Party (6), National League Party (2), Independents (10)
80 / 153
No Fianna Fáil (54), Labour Party (11)
65 / 153
Absent or
Not voting		 Fianna Fáil (3), Labour Party (2), Independent (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)
7 / 153

Members of the Executive Council[]

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 3 April.[11] They were then appointed by the Governor General.[13]

Office Name
President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council Ernest Blythe
Minister for Finance
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Defence Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Education John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Industry and Commerce Patrick McGilligan
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture Patrick Hogan
Minister for Lands and Fisheries Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Justice James FitzGerald-Kenney

Parliamentary Secretaries[]

On 3 April 1930, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the President.[7]

Name Office Party
Eamonn Duggan Government Chief Whip Cumann na nGaedheal
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Séamus Burke Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance Cumann na nGaedheal
Michael Heffernan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Farmers' Party
Martin Roddy Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries Cumann na nGaedheal
James Dolan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce Cumann na nGaedheal

Amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State[]

The following amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State was proposed by the Executive Council and passed by the Oireachtas:

  • Amendment No. 17 (17 October 1931): Inserted Article 2A, which included provisions for trial by military tribunals.

External relations[]

The Statute of Westminster 1931 removed the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to pass laws affecting British Dominions, including the Irish Free State.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 October 1927. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b "NOMINATION OF MINISTERS, MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 October 1927. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. ^ "NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Votes – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 October 1927. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. ^ "PRIVATE BUSINESS. - ISSUE OF WRIT—NORTH DUBLIN CONSTITUENCY. – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 1 March 1928. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. ^ "ORDERS OF THE DAY. - APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS. – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 19 October 1927. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1928 (Commencement) Order (S.R.O. No. 49 of 1928). 7 August 1928. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019, Irish Statute Book.
  7. ^ a b "History of Government – Sixth Dáil – Parliamentary Secretaries". Government of Ireland. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Old Age Pensions Bill, 1929—Second Stage (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 March. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 28 March. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Nomination of President of the Executive Council – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 April 1930. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Nomination of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 April 1930. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Nomination of President of the Executive Council – Votes – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 April 1930. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Appointment of Executive Council – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 April 1930. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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