Government of the 24th Dáil

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Government of the 24th Dáil
19th Government of Ireland
Garret Fitzgerald.jpg
Date formed14 December 1982
Date dissolved10 March 1987
People and organisations
PresidentPatrick Hillery
TaoiseachGarret FitzGerald
TánaisteDick Spring (1982–87)
Peter Barry (1987)
Total no. of members15
Member partiesFine Gael
Labour Party (Dec. 1982 – Jan. 1987)
Status in legislatureMajority Coalition
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderCharles Haughey
History
Election(s)November 1982 general election
Legislature term(s)24th Dáil
17th Seanad
Predecessor18th Government
Successor20th Government

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.

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
checkY 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]

Office Name Term Party
Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald[a] 1982–1987 Fine Gael
Tánaiste Dick Spring 1982–1987 Labour
Minister for the Environment 1982–1983
Minister for Agriculture Austin Deasy 1982–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Defence Patrick Cooney 1982–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for Education Gemma Hussey 1982–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for Finance Alan Dukes 1982–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Paddy O'Toole 1982–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for the Gaeltacht 1982–1987
Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Barry 1982–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Health Barry Desmond 1982–1987 Labour
Minister for Social Welfare 1982–1986
Minister for Industry and Energy John Bruton 1982–1983 Fine Gael
Minister for Justice Michael Noonan 1982–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for Labour Liam Kavanagh 1982–1983 Labour
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Jim Mitchell 1982–1984 Fine Gael
Minister for Transport
Minister for the Public Service John Boland 1982–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Frank Cluskey 1982–1983 Labour

Changes 13 December 1983[]

Reshuffle on the resignation of Frank Cluskey.[5][6][7]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Energy[b] Dick Spring 1983–1987 Labour
Minister for the Environment Liam Kavanagh 1983–1986 Labour
Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism[c] John Bruton 1983–1986 Fine Gael
Minister for Labour Ruairi Quinn 1983–1987 Labour

Changes 2 January 1984[]

On the abolition of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the Department of Transport and the establishment of the Department of Communications.[11]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Communications[d] Jim Mitchell 1984–1987 Fine Gael

Changes 14 February 1986[]

Reshuffle.[13]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Education Patrick Cooney 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for the Environment John Boland 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Defence Paddy O'Toole 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Finance John Bruton 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Industry and Commerce[e] Michael Noonan 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Justice Alan Dukes 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for the Public Service Ruairi Quinn 1986–1987 Labour
Minister for Social Welfare Gemma Hussey 1986–1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry[f] Liam Kavanagh 1986–1987 Labour

Changes 20 January 1987[]

On 20 January 1987 the Labour Party ministers Dick Spring, Barry Desmond, Liam Kavanagh and Ruairi Quinn resigned from the government. No new members joined the Cabinet and their portfolios were redistributed as follows.

Office Name Term Party
Tánaiste Peter Barry 1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Energy Michael Noonan 1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Health John Boland 1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Labour Gemma Hussey 1987 Fine Gael
Minister for the Public Service John Bruton 1987 Fine Gael
Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry Paddy O'Toole 1987 Fine Gael
Notes
  1. ^ Garret FitzGerald was acting Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 8 to 13 December 1983 following the resignation of Frank Cluskey.[5]
  2. ^ The Department of Industry and Energy was renamed as the Department of Energy on 17 December 1983.[8][9]
  3. ^ The Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism on 17 December 1983.[10][9]
  4. ^ The Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the Department of Transport were abolished and replaced by the Department of Communications on 2 January 1984.[12]
  5. ^ The Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Industry and Commerce on 19 February 1986.[14]
  6. ^ The Department of Fisheries and Forestry was renamed as the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry on 19 February 1986.[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
Defence
Government Chief Whip Fine Gael
Nuala Fennell Taoiseach Women's Affairs and Family Law Reform 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 1983[]

Nuala 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 1983[]

Ted 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 1983[]

Changes 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 1984[]

Ted Nealon was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Communications with responsibility for radio and television on the creation of the new department.[11]

Changes 13 February 1986[]

Reshuffle, including the resignation of Joseph Bermingham.[13]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Fergus O'Brien Taoiseach
Defence
Environment
Government Chief Whip
Urban Development
Fine Gael
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
Toddy O'Sullivan Environment Grants Administration Labour
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 1986[]

Following the dismissal from office of Donal Creed and Michael D'Arcy, who had refused to resign in order to facilitate the reshuffle.[20]

Enda Kenny Labour
Education
Youth Affairs Fine Gael
Avril Doyle Finance
Environment
Office of Public Works
and Environmental Protection
Fine Gael

Changes 23 September 1986[]

Changes 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 1987[]

On 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.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 December 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 December 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 December 1982. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers and Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1982. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Resignation of Member of Government: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 December 1983. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 December 1983. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Appointment and Reassignment of Ministers: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 December 1983. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  8. ^ Industry and Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 385 of 1983). 15 December 1983. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 25 January 2020, Irish Statute Book.
  9. ^ a b c "Ministerial Appointments and Titles – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 December 1983. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  10. ^ Trade, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 385 of 1983). 15 December 1983. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 25 January 2020, Irish Statute Book.
  11. ^ a b "Assignment of Department: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 January 1984. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  12. ^ Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1983 (No. 40 of 1983). 27 December 1983. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2019, Irish Statute Book.; Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 (An Post) (Vesting Day) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 407 of 1983). 21 December 1983. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 17 August 2019, Irish Statute Book.
  13. ^ a b "Ministerial Assignments and Titles: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 February 1986. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  14. ^ Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986 (S.I. No. 41 of 1986). 18 February 1986. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 25 January 2020, Irish Statute Book.
  15. ^ Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1986 (S.I. No. 40 of 1986). 18 February 1986. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 25 January 2020, Irish Statute Book.
  16. ^ "Appointment of Attorney General – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 December 1984. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 December 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Appointment of Minister of State and Allocation of Responsibilities: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 January 1983. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Appointment of Minister of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 February 1983. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 18 February 1986. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Removal and Appointment of Ministers of State: Announcement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 October 1986. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  22. ^ Department of the Taoiseach (2 October 1984). Building on Reality 1984-87 (National Economic Plan) (PDF). Government publications. Vol. Pl.2648 (8679). Ireland: Oireachtas. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  23. ^ "Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill, 1985: Second Stage (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 February 1985. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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