Government of the 13th Dáil

Government of Ireland 1948 to 1951

5th government of Ireland
(First inter-party government)

Government of Ireland
Date formed| 18 February 1948
Date dissolved| 13 June 1951
People and organisations
President| Seán T. O'Kelly
Taoiseach| John A. Costello
Tánaiste| William Norton
Total no. of members| 12
Member parties|

*   Fine Gael
*   Labour Party
*   Clann na Poblachta
*   Clann na Talmhan
*   National Labour Party
*   Independent

Status in legislature| Majority big-tent coalition
75 / 147 (51%)

Opposition party|   Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader| Éamon de Valera
History
Election| 1948 general election
Legislature terms|

* 13th Dáil
* 6th Seanad

Predecessor| 4th government
Successor| 6th government

The 5th government of Ireland (18 February 1948 – 13 June 1951), commonly known as the First inter-party government, was formed after the 1948 general election held to the 13th Dáil on 4 February. It was an Irish government of Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Clann na Poblachta, Clann na Talmhan and the National Labour Party—and one TD who was an independent, James Dillon (who had resigned from Fine Gael after opposing Ireland's neutrality in World War II). The parties had many different aims and viewpoints, but opposition to Fianna Fáil overcame difficulties in forming a government; Éamon de Valera had led a series of single-party Fianna Fáil governments since 1932. The cabinet was made up of representatives of all parties, and ministers were given a great degree of independence. Some key events during the lifetime of the government include the declaration of the Republic of Ireland in 1948 and the crisis surrounding the Mother and Child Scheme in 1951. It lasted for 3 years, 115 days.

## Formation

[edit]

Fianna Fáil had been in office continuously since 1932, with Éamon de Valera as head of government (titled as President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State until 1937, and from then as Taoiseach). However, after the 1948 general election, the party was six seats short of a majority.

At first, it seemed that de Valera would attempt to form a minority government. Negotiations for confidence and supply with the National Labour Party failed when National Labour insisted on a formal coalition; at that time, Fianna Fáil would not enter coalitions with other parties.

Nevertheless, it initially appeared that Fianna Fáil was the only party that could realistically form a government. Despite losing its majority, Fianna Fáil was by far the largest party in the Dáil, with 37 more seats than the next-largest party, Fine Gael. However, the other parties realised that if they banded together, they would only have only one seat fewer than Fianna Fáil, and could form a government with the support of at least seven independents.

It was a foregone conclusion that Fine Gael would head such a coalition, as Fine Gael was the second-largest party in the Dáil by some margin (no other party in the prospective coalition had more than 30 TDs). In the normal course of events, Fine Gael leader Richard Mulcahy would have been the prospective coalition's nominee for Taoiseach. However, Clann na Poblachta leader Seán MacBride refused to serve under Mulcahy because of his role in carrying out 77 executions under the government of the Irish Free State in the early 1920s during the Irish Civil War. Accordingly, Mulcahy bowed out in favour of former Attorney General John A. Costello.

Costello found himself as leader of a disparate group of young and old politicians, republicans and Free Staters, conservatives and socialists. The government survived for three years, however, through the skill of Costello as Taoiseach and the independence of various ministers.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

The 13th Dáil first met on 18 February 1948. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and John A. Costello of Fine Gael were both proposed. The nomination of de Valera was defeated by 70 to 75, while the nomination of Costello was approved by 75 to 68.[1] Costello was appointed as Taoiseach by President Seán T. O'Kelly.[2]

18 February 1948
Nomination of John A. Costello (FG) as Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by Richard Mulcahy and seconded by William Norton
Absolute majority: 74/147

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Y Yes | Fine Gael (31), Labour Party (14), Clann na Poblachta (10), Clann na Talmhan (7), National Labour Party (5), Independents (8) |

75 / 147

No | Fianna Fáil (66), Independents (2) |

68 / 147

Absent or
Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (2), Fianna Fáil (1) |

4 / 147

## Members of the Government

[edit]

The Ministers of the Government were proposed by the Taoiseach and approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[5]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party

|
|
|

Taoiseach | John A. Costello | 1948–1951  |  | Fine Gael
Tánaiste | William Norton | 1948–1951  |  | Labour Party
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Education | Richard Mulcahy | 1948–1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for External Affairs | Seán MacBride | 1948–1951  |  | Clann na Poblachta
Minister for Lands | Joseph Blowick | 1948–1951  |  | Clann na Talmhan
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | James Everett | 1948–1951  |  | National Labour Party
| Labour
Minister for Agriculture | James Dillon | 1948–1951  |  | Independent
Minister for Finance | Patrick McGilligan | 1948–1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Justice | Seán Mac Eoin | 1948–1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Defence | Thomas F. O'Higgins | 1948–1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Industry and Commerce | Daniel Morrissey | 1948–1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Local Government | Timothy J. Murphy | 1948–1949  |  | Labour
Minister for Health | Noël Browne | 1948–1951  |  | Clann na Poblachta

### Change 3 May 1949

[edit]

Following the death of Timothy J. Murphy.[6]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Local Government | William Norton | (acting) |  | Labour

### Change 11 May 1949

[edit]

Following the death of Timothy J. Murphy.[7][8]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Local Government | Michael Keyes | 1949–1951  |  | Labour

### Changes 7 March 1951

[edit]

Cabinet reshuffle.[9]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Justice | Daniel Morrissey | 1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Industry and Commerce | Thomas F. O'Higgins | 1951  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Defence | Seán Mac Eoin | 1951  |  | Fine Gael

### Changes 12 April 1951

[edit]

Following the resignation of Noël Browne on 11 April 1951
due to controversy surrounding the Mother and Child Scheme.[10][11]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Health | John A. Costello | (acting) |  | Fine Gael

## Parliamentary Secretaries

[edit]

On 24 February 1948, the Government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[5]

Name  | Office  | Party

|
|

Liam Cosgrave | Government Chief Whip |  | Fine Gael
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce
Michael Donnellan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance |  | Clann na Talmhan
Brendan Corish | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government |  | Labour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence

## Republic of Ireland

[edit]

The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 was enacted on 21 December 1948. It repealed the Executive Authority (External Relations) Act 1936, removing any remaining external function of the British monarchy in Ireland. It also declared that the description of the state was the Republic of Ireland. The Act came into operation on Easter Monday, 18 April 1949.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 18 February 1948". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
2. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 18 February 1948". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 18 February 1948". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
4. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion of Approval – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 18 February 1948". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
5. ^ a b "Appointment of Members of Government and Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 25 February 1948". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
6. ^ "Assignment of Local Government Department – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Tuesday, 3 May 19459". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
7. ^ "Nomination of Member of the Government – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 11 May 1949". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
8. ^ "Appointment of Member of the Government – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 11 May 1949". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
9. ^ "Assignment of Departments— Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Wednesday, 7 March 1951". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
10. ^ "Personal Statement by a Deputy – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 April 1951. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
11. ^ "Adjournment Debate—Resignation of Minister – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 April 1951. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
12. ^ "The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 (Commencement) Order 1949". Irish Statute Book. 4 February 1949. Retrieved 16 March 2020.

## Further reading

[edit]

* McCullagh, David (1998). A Makeshift Majority: The First Inter-Party Government, 1948-51. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. ISBN 978-1872002699.

* v
* t
* e

Costello cabinet (1948–1951)

* Taoiseach: John A. Costello

* Joseph Blowick
* Noël Browne
* James Dillon
* James Everett
* Michael Keyes
* Seán MacBride
* Seán Mac Eoin
* Patrick McGilligan
* Daniel Morrissey
* Richard Mulcahy
* Timothy J. Murphy
* William Norton
* Thomas F. O'Higgins

* v
* t
* e

Governments of Ireland

Ministry of Dáil Éireann (1919–1922)|

* Brugha
* De Valera
* 1
* 2
* Griffith
* W. T. Cosgrave 1

Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|

* Collins
* W. T. Cosgrave 1

Executive Council of the Irish Free State (1922–1937)|

* W. T. Cosgrave
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* De Valera
* 3
* 4
* 5

Government of Ireland (1937–present)|

* De Valera
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* Costello 1
* De Valera 10
* Costello 2
* De Valera 11
* Lemass
* 1
* 2
* 3
* Lynch
* 1
* 2
* L. Cosgrave
* Lynch 3
* Haughey 1
* FitzGerald 1
* Haughey 2
* FitzGerald 2
* Haughey
* 3
* 4
* Reynolds
* 1
* 2
* Bruton
* Ahern
* 1
* 2
* 3
* Cowen
* Kenny
* 1
* 2
* Varadkar 1
* Martin 1
* Varadkar 2
* Harris
* Martin 2

Formation, confidence and resignations|

* Dáil vote for Taoiseach
* Dáil Éireann confidence motions
* Resignation and sackings of ministers

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