Government of the 20th Dáil
14th Government of Ireland
Date formed14 March 1973
Date dissolved5 July 1977
People and organisations
President
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
TánaisteBrendan Corish
Total no. of members15
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderJack Lynch
History
Election(s)1973 general election
Legislature term(s)
Predecessor13th Government
Successor15th Government

The Government of the 20th Dáil or the 14th Government of Ireland (14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1973 general election 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 Government of the 15th Dáil (1954–57), when they were in coalition with Clann na Talmhan.

The 14th Government lasted for 1,575 days. The government was widely referred to as the "cabinet of all the talents".[1][2][3]

14th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

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
check YesFine Gael (54), Labour Party (18)
72 / 144
NoFianna Fáil (69), Independent Fianna Fáil (1)
70 / 144
Not votingCeann Comhairle (1), Independent (1)
2 / 144

Members of the Government

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[lower-alpha 1] 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

Changes 1 November 1973

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

On the nomination of Richard Burke 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[lower-alpha 2] Paddy Donegan 1976–1977 Fine Gael
Minister for Defence Liam Cosgrave (acting) Fine Gael

Changes 16 December 1976

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

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

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

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

Changes 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

Transfer of functions between departments.[22]

Michael Pat Murphy Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries Labour

Actions of the government

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.[23]

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 28.3.3º of the Constitution of Ireland created by an armed conflict.[24] This was approved by the Dáil on 1 September by a vote of 70 to 65.[25] 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.[26] Ó Dálaigh viewed the refusal to remove the Minister was 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.[27] The controversy caused severe damage to the image of the government.

See also

References

  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.
  3. "Liam Cosgrave 1920-2017". Eolas. 1 December 2017.
  4. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 March 1973. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 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. 1 2 3 "Appointment of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 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. 1 2 "Transfer of Departmental Functions: Statement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 February 1977. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  10. "Department of the Public Service: Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 1 November 1973. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  11. "Ministerial Appointments: Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 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 Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1976. Retrieved 19 August 2019.; "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1976. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Appointment of Minister and Parliamentary Secretary – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 1977. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  15. "Appointment of Attorney General – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 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 Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 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. "Transfer of Departmental Functions: Statement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 February 1977. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  23. A Just Society for Ireland? 1964-1987 By Ciara Meehan, 2013
  24. "National Emergency: Motion – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 31 August 1976. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  25. "National Emergency: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 1 September 1976. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  26. "Call for Resignation of Minister: Motion – (20th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 21 October 1976. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  27. "Confidence in the Government: Motion – (20th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 28 October 1976. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.; "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) – (20th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 28 October 1976. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
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