Government of the 18th Dáil

Irish governments from 1965 to 1969

There were two governments in the 18th Dáil, which was elected at the 1965 general election held on 7 April 1965. Both were single-party Fianna Fáil governments, which had been in government since the 1957 election. The 11th government of Ireland (21 April 1965 – 10 November 1966) was led by Seán Lemass as Taoiseach and lasted for 1 year, 203 days. The 12th government of Ireland (10 November 1966 – 2 July 1969) was led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach and lasted for 2 years, 234 days.

##  11th government of Ireland

[edit]

11th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed| 21 April 1965
Date dissolved| 10 November 1966
People and organisations
President| Éamon de Valera
Taoiseach| Seán Lemass
Tánaiste| Frank Aiken
Total no. of members| 14
Member party| Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature| Majority government
Opposition party| Fine Gael
Opposition leader| Liam Cosgrave
History
Election| 1965 general election
Legislature terms|

* 18th Dáil
* 11th Seanad

Predecessor| 10th government
Successor| 12th government

### Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

The 18th Dáil first met on 21 April 1965. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Seán Lemass, Fine Gael leader James Dillon, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed.[1] The nomination of Lemass was carried with 72 votes in favour and 67 votes against. Lemass was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.[2]

21 April 1965
Nomination of Seán Lemass (FF) as Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by Seán MacEntee and seconded by Johnny Geoghegan
Absolute majority: 73/144

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (72) |

72 / 144

No | Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (20) |

67 / 144

Absent or
Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (2), Labour Party (1), Clann na Poblachta (1) |

5 / 144

### Members of the government

[edit]

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Seán Lemass proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[5]

Office  | Name  | Term

|
|

Taoiseach |  | Seán Lemass | 1965–1966
Tánaiste |  | Frank Aiken | 1965–1966
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries[a] |  | Charles Haughey | 1965–1966
Minister for Defence |  | Michael Hilliard | 1965–1966
Minister for Education |  | George Colley | 1965–1966
Minister for Finance |  | Jack Lynch | 1965–1966
Minister for the Gaeltacht |  | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1965–1966
Minister for Lands
Minister for Health |  | Donogh O'Malley | 1965–1966
Minister for Industry and Commerce |  | Patrick Hillery | 1965–1966
Minister for Justice |  | Brian Lenihan | 1965–1966
Minister for Local Government |  | Neil Blaney | 1965–1966
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs |  | Joseph Brennan | 1965–1966
Minister for Social Welfare |  | Kevin Boland | 1965–1966
Minister for Transport and Power |  | Erskine H. Childers | 1965–1966

#### Changes 13 July 1966

[edit]

Seán Flanagan was appointed to government on 6 July 1966.[7][8]
A reshuffle took place after the establishment of the Department of Labour
under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1966 on 13 July 1966.[9]

Office  | Name  | Term
Minister for Education |  | Donogh O'Malley | 1966
Minister for Health |  | Seán Flanagan | 1966
Minister for Industry and Commerce |  | George Colley | 1966
Minister for Labour |  | Patrick Hillery | 1966

Change to department

1. ^ The Department of Agriculture was renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 2 July 1965.[6]

### Parliamentary Secretaries

[edit]

On 21 April 1965, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[5]

Name  | Office

|

| Michael Carty | Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
| Patrick Lalor | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture
| Jim Gibbons | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
| Pádraig Faulkner | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht[10]
| Seán Flanagan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce
| Paudge Brennan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government

### Confidence in the government

[edit]

On 8 July 1966, Labour leader Brendan Corish and Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave placed separate motions of no confidence in the government. They were debated as part of the debate on the summer adjournment.[11] The motions were defeated, on votes of 50 to 66[12] and 54 to 66[13] respectively.

### Resignation

[edit]

Seán Lemass resigned as Fianna Fáil leader and Jack Lynch won the leadership election to succeed him on 9 November 1966. On the following day, Lemass resigned as Taoiseach.[14]

##  12th government of Ireland

[edit]

The 12th government was formed by Jack Lynch after the resignation of Seán Lemass.

12th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed| 10 November 1966
Date dissolved| 2 July 1969
People and organisations
President| Éamon de Valera
Taoiseach| Jack Lynch
Tánaiste| Frank Aiken
Total no. of members| 14
Member party| Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature| Majority government
Opposition party| Fine Gael
Opposition leader| Liam Cosgrave
History
Legislature terms|

* 18th Dáil
* 11th Seanad

Predecessor| 11th government
Successor| 13th government

### Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

On 10 November 1966, in the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Jack Lynch, Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed.[15] The nomination of Lynch was carried with 71 votes in favour and 64 votes against. Lynch was appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.[16]

10 November 1966
Nomination of Jack Lynch (FF) as Taoiseach[17]
Motion proposed by Seán Lemass and seconded by Frank Aiken
Absolute majority: 73/144

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (71) |

71 / 144

No | Fine Gael (44), Labour Party (20) |

64 / 144

Absent or
Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (2), Fine Gael (2), Labour Party (1), Clann na Poblachta (1) |

7 / 144

Vacancies | 2[18][19] |

2 / 144

### Members of the government

[edit]

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Seán Lemass proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil on 16 November 1966.[20] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[21]

Office  | Name  | Term

|
|

Taoiseach |  | Jack Lynch | 1966–1969
Tánaiste |  | Frank Aiken | 1966–1969
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries |  | Neil Blaney | 1966–1969
Minister for Defence |  | Michael Hilliard | 1966–1969
Minister for Education |  | Donogh O'Malley | 1966–1968
Minister for Finance |  | Charles Haughey | 1966–1969
Minister for the Gaeltacht |  | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1966–1969
Minister for Lands | 1966–1968
Minister for Health |  | Seán Flanagan | 1966–1969
Minister for Industry and Commerce |  | George Colley | 1966–1969
Minister for Justice |  | Brian Lenihan | 1966–1968
Minister for Labour |  | Patrick Hillery | 1966–1969
Minister for Local Government |  | Kevin Boland | 1966–1969
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs |  | Erskine H. Childers | 1966–1969
Minister for Transport and Power
Minister for Social Welfare |  | Joseph Brennan | 1966–1969

#### Changes 26 March 1968

[edit]

Following the death of Donogh O'Malley on 10 March 1968.[22]

Office  | Name  | Term
Minister for Education |  | Brian Lenihan | 1968–1969
Minister for Justice |  | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1968–1969
Minister for Lands |  | Pádraig Faulkner | 1968–1969
Minister for the Gaeltacht

### Parliamentary Secretaries

[edit]

On 16 November 1966, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[21]

Name  | Office  | Term

|
|

| Michael Carty | Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1966–1969
| Don Davern | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | 1966–1968
| Jim Gibbons | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1966–1969
| Pádraig Faulkner | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht[23] | 1966–1968
| Paudge Brennan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government[24] | 1966–1969
| Patrick Lalor | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs[25]
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Power | 1966–1969

### Constitutional referendums

[edit]

The government proposed the Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1968, which would have allowed for divergence in the ratio of population to representation across Dáil constituencies, and the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1968, which would have altered the electoral system from proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) to first past the post (FPTP). They were put to referendums on 16 October 1968, and both were defeated by a margin of 39.2% to 60.8%. It was the second time a Fianna Fáil government had proposed to introduce FPTP, with a previous referendum defeated in 1959.

### Confidence in the government

[edit]

On 5 November 1968, Taoiseach Jack Lynch proposed a motion of confidence in the government, which was debated over three days.[26] On 7 November, it was approved on a vote of 68 to 60.[27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 April 1965. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
2. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 April 1965. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil) – 21 April 1965". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
4. ^ "Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 April 1965. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
5. ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 April 1965. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
6. ^ Agriculture (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1965 (S.I. No. 146 of 1965). Signed on 6 July 1965. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 September 2019.
7. ^ "Nomination of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 July 1966. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
8. ^ "Appointment of Minister – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 1966. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
9. ^ Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1966 (Appointed Day) Order 1966 (S.I. No. 162 of 1966). Signed on 12 July 1966. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 August 2019.
10. ^ Gaeltacht (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1965 (S.I. No. 108 of 1965). Signed on 11 May 1965. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
11. ^ "Adjournment (Summer Recess) – (18th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 8 July 1966. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
12. ^ "Confidence in Government – (18th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 8 July 1966. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
13. ^ "Confidence in Government – (18th Dáil) – 8 July 1966". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
14. ^ "Resignation of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 November 1966. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
15. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 November 1966. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
16. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 November 1966. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
17. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil) – Thursday, 10 November 1966". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
18. ^ "Death of Member: Expression of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 18 October 1966. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
19. ^ "Death of Member: Expression of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 October 1966. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
20. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 November 1966. Retrieved 22 August 2019.; "Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 November 1966. Retrieved 22 August 2019.; "Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 November 1966. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
21. ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 17 November 1966. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
22. ^ "Nomination of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 March 1968. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
23. ^ Gaeltacht (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1966 (S.I. No. 258 of 1966). Signed on 29 November 1966. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
24. ^ Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1969 (S.I. No. 117 of 1969). Signed on 24 June 1969. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
25. ^ Posts and Telegraphs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1967 (S.I. No. 158 of 1967). Signed on 13 June 1967. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
26. ^ "Confidence in Government – (18th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 5 November 1968. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – (18th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 6 November 1968. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – (18th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 7 November 1968. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
27. ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Votes – (18th Dáil) – 7 November 1968". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Lemass cabinet (1965–1966)

* Taoiseach: Seán Lemass

* Frank Aiken
* Neil Blaney
* Kevin Boland
* Joseph Brennan
* Erskine H. Childers
* George Colley
* Seán Flanagan
* Charles Haughey
* Patrick Hillery
* Michael Hilliard
* Brian Lenihan
* Jack Lynch
* Donogh O'Malley
* Mícheál Ó Móráin

* v
* t
* e

Lynch cabinet (1966–1969)

* Taoiseach: Jack Lynch

* Frank Aiken
* Neil Blaney
* Kevin Boland
* Joseph Brennan
* Erskine H. Childers
* George Colley
* Pádraig Faulkner
* Seán Flanagan
* Charles Haughey
* Patrick Hillery
* Michael Hilliard
* Brian Lenihan
* Donogh O'Malley
* Mícheál Ó Móráin

* 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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