Government of the 22nd Dáil

Government of Ireland 1981 to 1982

17th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland

Garrett FitzGerald

Date formed| 30 June 1981
Date dissolved| 9 March 1982
People and organisations
President| Patrick Hillery
Taoiseach| Garret FitzGerald
Tánaiste| Michael O'Leary
Total no. of members| 15
Member parties|

* Fine Gael
* Labour Party

Status in legislature| Minority Coalition
Opposition party| Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader| Charles Haughey
History
Election| 1981 general election
Legislature terms|

* 22nd Dáil
* 15th Seanad

Predecessor| 16th government
Successor| 18th government

The 17th government of Ireland (30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil. It was a minority coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach and lasted for 252 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

The 22nd Dáil first met on 30 June 1981. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, 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 79 votes in favour to 83 against, while the nomination of FitzGerald was carried with 81 in favour and 78 against. FitzGerald was appointed as Taoiseach by President Patrick Hillery.[2]

30 June 1981
Nomination of Garret FitzGerald (FG) as Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by Oliver J. Flanagan and seconded by Ivan Yates
Absolute majority: 84/166

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Y Yes | Fine Gael (65), Labour Party (15), Jim Kemmy (1) |

81 / 166

No | Fianna Fáil (78) |

78 / 166

Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Socialist Labour Party (1), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1) |

5 / 166

In prison | Anti H-Block (2) |

2 / 166

## Government ministers

[edit]

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 | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Tánaiste | Michael O'Leary | 1981–1982  |  | Labour
Minister for Industry and Energy[a]
Minister for Agriculture | Alan Dukes | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Defence | James Tully | 1981–1982  |  | Labour
Minister for Education | John Boland | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for the Environment | Peter Barry | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Finance | John Bruton | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry | Tom Fitzpatrick | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Foreign Affairs | John Kelly | 1981 (acting) |  | Fine Gael
Minister for the Gaeltacht | Paddy O'Toole | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Health | Eileen Desmond | 1981–1982  |  | Labour
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Justice | Jim Mitchell | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Labour | Liam Kavanagh | 1981–1982  |  | Labour
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | Patrick Cooney | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael
Minister for Transport
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism[b] | John Kelly | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael

### Change 21 October 1981

[edit]

Appointment of Sen. James Dooge, whose nomination had to await until after the election to Seanad Éireann.[7][8]

Office  | Name  | Term  | Party
Minister for Foreign Affairs | James Dooge | 1981–1982  |  | Fine Gael

Notes

1. ^ On 21 August 1981, the Department of Energy was renamed as the Department of Industry and Energy.[5]
2. ^ On 21 August 1981, the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism.[6]

## Attorney General

[edit]

On 30 July 1981, Peter Sutherland SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4]

## Ministers of state

[edit]

On 30 June 1981, the Government appointed Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[4]

Name  | Department(s)  | Responsibility  | Party

|
|
|

Gerry L'Estrange | Taoiseach | Government Chief Whip  |  | Fine Gael
Defence[9] | Defence
Edward Collins | Industry and Energy | Oil and Minerals Exploration  |  | Fine Gael
Fergus O'Brien | Environment | Housing  |  | Fine Gael
Donal Creed | Health | Health  |  | Fine Gael
Mary Flaherty | Social Welfare | Poverty and the Family  |  | Fine Gael
Joseph Bermingham | Finance | Office of Public Works |  | Labour
Barry Desmond | Finance | Economic Planning  |  | Labour
Michael Begley | Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Tourism  |  | Fine Gael
Michael Keating | Education | Youth and Sport  |  | Fine Gael
Dick Spring | Justice | Law Reform  |  | Labour
Michael D'Arcy | Agriculture | Production and Marketing  |  | Fine Gael
Ted Nealon | Agriculture | Western Development  |  | Fine Gael
Jim O'Keeffe | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development  |  | Fine Gael

### Change 10 July 1981

[edit]

Additional appointment[10]

Name  | Department(s)  | Responsibility  | Party
Paddy Harte | Posts and Telegraphs[11] | Telecommunications  |  | Fine Gael

### Change 24 July 1981

[edit]

Additional appointment[12]

Name  | Department(s)  | Responsibility  | Party
Mary Flaherty | Health |  |  | Fine Gael

### Changes 11 November 1981

[edit]

Reshuffle on grounds of health of L'Estrange.[13][14]

Name  | Department(s)  | Responsibility  | Party
Fergus O'Brien | Taoiseach[15] | Government Chief Whip  |  | Fine Gael
Defence | Defence
Donal Creed | Environment | Housing  |  | Fine Gael
Gerry L'Estrange | Health | Health  |  | Fine Gael

## Budget

[edit]

On 27 January 1982, the Minister for Finance John Bruton proposed the budget, which was rejected by the Dáil.[16][17]

27 January 1982
Financial Resolutions, 1982[18]
Absolute majority: 84/166

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Yes | Fine Gael (65), Labour Party (15), Socialist Labour Party (1) |

81 / 166

N No | Fianna Fáil (78), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Jim Kemmy (1), Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1) |

82 / 166

Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1) |

1 / 166

In prison | Anti H-Block (1) |

1 / 166

Vacancy | 1 |

1 / 166

The Taoiseach sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president, leading to the February 1982 general election.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 June 1981. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
2. ^ a b c "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 June 1981. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 June 1981. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
4. ^ a b c "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 1981. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
5. ^ Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 289 of 1981). Signed on 19 August 1981. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 February 2020.
6. ^ Industry, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 290 of 1981). Signed on 19 August 1981. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 February 2020.
7. ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 October 1981. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.; "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 October 1981. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.; "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 October 1981. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
8. ^ "Appointment of Minister – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 October 1981. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
9. ^ An tOrdú um Reamhchúram in Aghaidh Aer-Ruathar (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) 1981 (S.I. No. 298 of 1981). Signed on 19 August 1981. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 September 2022.
10. ^ "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil) – Vol. 329 No. 5". Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 July 1981. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
11. ^ An tOrdú Poist agus Telegrafa (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) 1981 (S.I. No. 278 of 1981). Signed on 12 August 1981. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 September 2022.
12. ^ "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil) – Vol. 330 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 October 1981. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
13. ^ "New Chief Whip". The Irish Times. 12 November 1981. p. 9. Retrieved 13 September 2021. "Mr. L'Estrange, who is understood to have asked the Taoiseach, Dr. FitzGerald, to be relieved of his position on health grounds, has been made Minister of State at the Department of Health."
14. ^ "Resignations and Appointments of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 November 1981. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
15. ^ An tOrdú Staidrimh (Cumhachtaí agus Dualgais a Tharmligean) 1981 (S.I. No. 395 of 1981). Signed on 17 November 1981. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 September 2022.
16. ^ "Financial Resolutions, 1982 - Financial Statement, Budget, 1982 – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 January 1982. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
17. ^ Ó Duibhir, Séan (6 February 2024). "Did a tax on children's shoes really cause a government to fall?". RTÉ. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
18. ^ "Financial Resolutions, 1982 - Financial Statement, Budget, 1982 – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 January 1982. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.

* v
* t
* e

FitzGerald cabinet (1981–1982)

* Taoiseach: Garret FitzGerald

* Peter Barry
* John Boland
* John Bruton
* Patrick Cooney
* Eileen Desmond
* James Dooge
* Alan Dukes
* Tom Fitzpatrick
* Liam Kavanagh
* John Kelly
* Jim Mitchell
* Michael O'Leary
* Paddy O'Toole
* 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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