Government of the 20th Dáil

Government of Ireland 1973 to 1977

14th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed| 14 March 1973
Date dissolved| 5 July 1977
People and organisations
President|

* Éamon de Valera (1973)
* Erskine H. Childers (1973–1974)
* Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh (1974–1976)
* Patrick Hillery (1976–1977)

Taoiseach| Liam Cosgrave
Tánaiste| Brendan Corish
Total no. of members| 15
Member parties|

* Fine Gael
* Labour Party

Status in legislature| Coalition
Opposition party| Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader| Jack Lynch
History
Election| 1973 general election
Legislature terms|

* 20th Dáil
* 13th Seanad

Predecessor| 13th government
Successor| 15th government

The 14th government of Ireland (14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1973 general election to the 20th Dáil held on 28 February 1973. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, known as the National Coalition, led by Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach with Brendan Corish as Tánaiste. It was the first time either of the parties had been in government since the second inter-party government (1954–1957), when they were in coalition with Clann na Talmhan. It lasted for 4 years, 113 days. The government was widely referred to as the "cabinet of all the talents".[1][2][3]

## Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

The 20th Dáil first met on 14 March 1973. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Jack Lynch, and Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave were both proposed.[4] The nomination of Lynch was defeated with 69 votes in favour to 73 against, while the nomination of Cosgrave was carried with 72 in favour and 70 against. Cosgrave was appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.[5]

14 March 1973
Nomination of Liam Cosgrave (FG) as Taoiseach[6]
Motion proposed by Brendan Corish and seconded by Maurice E. Dockrell
Absolute majority: 73/144

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Y Yes | Fine Gael (54), Labour Party (18) |

72 / 144

No | Fianna Fáil (69), Independent Fianna Fáil (1) |

70 / 144

Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1) |

2 / 144

## Members of the government

[edit]

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Liam Cosgrave proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[5] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[7]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party

|
|
|

Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Tánaiste | Brendan Corish | 1973–1977  |  | Labour Party
Minister for Health
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Agriculture[a] | Mark Clinton | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Defence | Paddy Donegan | 1973–1976  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Education | Richard Burke | 1973–1976  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Finance | Richie Ryan | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Foreign Affairs | Garret FitzGerald | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for the Gaeltacht | Tom O'Donnell | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Industry and Commerce | Justin Keating | 1973–1977  |  | Labour
Minister for Justice | Patrick Cooney | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Labour | Michael O'Leary | 1973–1977  |  | Labour
Minister for Lands | Tom Fitzpatrick | 1973–1976  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Local Government | James Tully | 1973–1977  |  | Labour
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | Conor Cruise O'Brien | 1973–1977  |  | Labour
Minister for Transport and Power | Peter Barry | 1973–1976  |  | Fine Gael

### Change 1 November 1973

[edit]

Assignment of new department to Minister for Finance Richie Ryan.[10]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for the Public Service | Richie Ryan | 1973–1977  |  | Fine Gael

### Changes 2 December 1976

[edit]

Following the resignation of Richard Burke on his nomination as European Commissioner.[11]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Education | Peter Barry | 1976–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Transport and Power | Tom Fitzpatrick | 1976–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Lands[b] | Paddy Donegan | 1976–1977  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Defence | Liam Cosgrave | (acting) |  | Fine Gael

### Changes 16 December 1976

[edit]

Reassignment of the Department of Defence.[13][14]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Defence | Oliver J. Flanagan | 1976–1977  |  | Fine Gael

Changes to departments

1. ^ The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries was renamed as the Department of Agriculture on 9 February 1977.[8][9]
2. ^ The Department of Lands was renamed as the Department of Fisheries on 9 February 1977.[12][9]

## Attorney General

[edit]

On 14 March 1973, Declan Costello SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[5][7] On 19 May 1977, Costello resigned as Attorney General on his nomination by the government for appointment as a judge of the High Court and John M. Kelly SC was appointed as Attorney General.[15]

## Parliamentary Secretaries

[edit]

On 14 March 1973, the government appointed parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[7]

Name  | Office  | Party

|
|

John M. Kelly | Government Chief Whip |  | Fine Gael
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Michael Pat Murphy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries[16] |  | Labour
Richard Barry | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health |  | Fine Gael
Henry Kenny | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance |  | Fine Gael
Frank Cluskey | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare[17] |  | Labour
Michael Begley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government[18] |  | Fine Gael
John Bruton | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education |  | Fine Gael
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce

### Changes 30 September 1975

[edit]

Following the death of Henry Kenny.[19]

Name  | Office  | Party
Michael Begley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance |  | Fine Gael
Oliver J. Flanagan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government[20] |  | Fine Gael

### Changes 17 December 1976

[edit]

Following the appointment of Oliver J. Flanagan as Minister for Defence.[14]

Name  | Office  | Party
Patrick J. Reynolds | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government[21] |  | Fine Gael
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Public Service

### Change 9 February 1977

[edit]

Transfer of functions between departments.[9]

Michael Pat Murphy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture |  | Labour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries

## Actions of the government

[edit]

The National Coalition restricted the power of the National Council for Educational Awards. This forced the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and Thomond College of Education, Limerick to apply to the National University of Ireland for the conferring of degrees and diplomas. It removed the requirement that Irish be passed to obtain a Leaving Certificate; it also reformed the civil service by removing the requirement of knowledge in Irish and the mandatory retirement on marriage that many women faced during their civil service careers.

A free travel scheme was also introduced covering bus and rail services for all blind persons over the age of 21.[22]

In response to the assassination of the British Ambassador to Ireland Christopher Ewart-Biggs by the Provisional IRA on 21 July, Cosgrave introduced a motion to declare a national emergency under Article 28.3.3° of the Constitution of Ireland created by an armed conflict.[23] This was approved by the Dáil on 1 September by a vote of 70 to 65.[24] This was followed by the introduction of the Emergency Powers Bill 1976.

President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh referred the Emergency Powers Bill to the Supreme Court. Minister of Defence Paddy Donegan described the president as a "thundering disgrace" for this decision. The Minister apologised and privately offered to resign. Cosgrave refused to accept his resignation. On 21 October, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion in the Dáil calling on the minister to resign, which was defeated.[25] Ó Dálaigh viewed the refusal to remove the minister as an affront to his office by the government and resigned on 22 October 1976. The following week, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion of no confidence in the government. This was countered by a motion of confidence in the government proposed by Cosgrave, which was carried on a vote of 73 to 67.[26]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "40 years on, three 'talents' remain". Irish Independent. 6 October 2017.
2. ^ Burns, John (8 October 2017). "Cosgrave's 'no nonsense' farewell". The Times. London.
3. ^ "Liam Cosgrave 1920-2017". Eolas. 1 December 2017.
4. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach". Dáil Debates – Vol. 265 No. 1. 14 March 1973. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
5. ^ a b c "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government". Dáil Debates – Vol. 265 No. 1. 14 March 1973. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
6. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 March 1973. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
7. ^ a b c "Appointment of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries". Dáil Debates – Vol. 265 No. 2. 28 March 1973. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
8. ^ Agriculture and Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 31 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2020.
9. ^ a b c "Transfer of Departmental Functions: Statement by Taoiseach". Dáil Debates – Vol. 296 No. 7. 8 February 1977. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
10. ^ "Department of the Public Service: Statement by the Taoiseach". Dáil Debates – Vol. 268 No. 8. 1 November 1973. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
11. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: Statement by the Taoiseach". Dáil Debates – Vol. 294 No. 9. 2 December 1976. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
12. ^ Lands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 29 of 1977). Signed on 8 February 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2020.
13. ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion". Dáil Debates – Vol. 295 No. 5. 15 December 1976. Retrieved 19 August 2019.; "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (Resumed)". Dáil Debates – Vol. 295 No. 5. 15 December 1976. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
14. ^ a b "Appointment of Minister and Parliamentary Secretary". Dáil Debates – Vol. 296 No. 1. 25 January 1977. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
15. ^ "Appointment of Attorney General". Dáil Debates – Vol. 299 No. 9. 19 May 1977. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
16. ^ Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1973 (S.I. No. 93 of 1973). Signed on 6 April 1973. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1976 (S.I. No. 263 of 1976). Signed on 12 November 1976. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
17. ^ Social Welfare (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1975 (S.I. No. 193 of 1975). Signed on 18 August 1975. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
18. ^ Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1973 (S.I. No. 84 of 1973). Signed on 29 March 1973. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
19. ^ "Appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries". Dáil Debates – Vol. 285 No. 1. 22 October 1975. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
20. ^ Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1975 (S.I. No. 236 of 1975). Signed on 7 October 1975. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
21. ^ Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1976 (S.I. No. 306 of 1976). Signed on 21 December 1976. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
22. ^ Meehan, Ciara (2013). A Just Society for Ireland? 1964-1987.
23. ^ "National Emergency: Motion". Dáil Debates – Vol. 292 No. 1. 31 August 1976. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
24. ^ "National Emergency: Motion (Resumed)". Dáil Debates – Vol. 292 No. 2. 1 September 1976. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
25. ^ "Call for Resignation of Minister: Motion". Dáil Debates. 21 October 1976. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
26. ^ "Confidence in the Government: Motion". Dáil Debates – Vol. 293 No. 5. 28 October 1976. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.; "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed)". Dáil Debates – Vol. 293 No. 5. 28 October 1976. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.

* v
* t
* e

L. Cosgrave cabinet (1973–1977)

* Taoiseach: Liam Cosgrave

* Peter Barry
* Richard Burke
* Patrick Cooney
* Brendan Corish
* Mark Clinton
* Paddy Donegan
* Garret FitzGerald
* Tom Fitzpatrick
* Oliver J. Flanagan
* Justin Keating
* Conor Cruise O'Brien
* Tom O'Donnell
* Michael O'Leary
* Richie Ryan
* James Tully

* 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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