| 10th Dáil | |||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||
| Legislative body | Dáil Éireann | ||||||||||||
| Jurisdiction | Ireland | ||||||||||||
| Meeting place | Leinster House | ||||||||||||
| Term | 30 June 1938 – 26 June 1943 | ||||||||||||
| Election | 1938 general election | ||||||||||||
| Government | 2nd government of Ireland | ||||||||||||
| Members | 138 | ||||||||||||
| Ceann Comhairle | Frank Fahy | ||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera | ||||||||||||
| Tánaiste | Seán T. O'Kelly | ||||||||||||
| Chief Whip | Paddy Smith —Patrick Little until 26 September 1939 | ||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | W. T. Cosgrave | ||||||||||||
| Sessions | |||||||||||||
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The10th Dáil was elected at the1938 general election on 17 June 1938 and first met on 30 June 1938. The members ofDáil Éireann, thehouse of representatives of theOireachtas (legislature) ofIreland, are known asTDs. It sat with the3rd Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas.
The 10th Dáil is the longest serving Dáil, lasting 4 years, 361 days. The Dáil adjourned on 26 May 1943 and on 31 MayPresidentDouglas Hyde calleda general election for 17 June at the request of theTaoiseachÉamon de Valera. Exceptionally, the outgoing Dáil was notdissolved until 26 June, after the election.[1] Althoughthe Constitution requires the President to dissolve the Dáil before a general election, this procedure was overridden by the General Elections (Emergency Provisions) Act 1943.[2][3] The act, which would have been unconstitutional if not forthe state of emergency in effect duringWorld War II, was intended to increase national security by minimising the interval during which no Dáil was in existence.[3]
| Party | June 1938 | June 1943 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 77 | 72 |  5 | |
| Fine Gael | 45 | 41 | 4 | |
| Labour | 9 | 9 |  | |
| Independent | 7 | 8 |  1 | |
| Ceann Comhairle | — | 1 | 1 | |
| Vacant | — | 7 | 7 | |
| Total | 138 | |||
This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 10th Dáil from June 1938. This was not the official seating plan.
On 30 June 1938,Frank Fahy (FF), who had served asCeann Comhairle since 1932, was proposed byÉamon de Valera and seconded byDonnchadh Ó Briain for the position, and was elected without a vote.[4]
The list of the 138 TDs byDáil constituency.[5]
the Dáil will rise to–day. ... It is my intention to advise the President so that on the 31st May he may issue his direction for the holding of a general election. His proclamation may be issued on the 31st May. ... the 22nd June will be the polling day and then the outgoing Dáil, the present Dáil, would have to be dissolved not later than 8th July. The House is aware that it will be dissolved as soon as the Clerk of the Dáil is able to inform us that he has got returns for all the writs.