After his appointment by the president, Bertie Ahern 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][5]
On 14 June 2007, Ahern announced to the Dáil that the government on his nomination would re-appointTom Kitt,TD to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as GovernmentChief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence, and would appointDick Roche,TD to the position of Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for European Affairs.[2] On 20 June 2007, the Taoiseach announced the government had appointed of a further 15Ministers of State on his nomination, as well as the names of three Ministers of State the government would appoint on his nomination after the passage of theMinisters and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007.[8][5] This legislation increased the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20 and was enacted on 9 July 2007.[9] Kitt and Brendan Smith attended meetings of the cabinet.[10]
On 26 September 2007, amotion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government proposed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was approved with 81 votes in favour and 76 against.[26]
On 28 November 2007, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney was proposed byJan O'Sullivan for theLabour Party. The motion was amended by the Minister, and the amended motion (now a vote of confidence) was carried, with 83 votes in favour to 73 votes against.[27]
The 28th government of Ireland was formed on 7 May 2008 following the resignation the previous day of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. The new Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen was nominated by the Dáil as Ireland's 12th head of government. It was initially composed ofFianna Fáil, theGreen Party, theProgressive Democrats and supported byindependentTDsJackie Healy-Rae,Michael Lowry andFinian McGrath. McGrath later withdrew his support in October 2008.
Following the disbandment of the Progressive Democrats in 2009, it became a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party andMary Harney, continuing as an Independent minister.
Acabinet reshuffle took place on 23 March 2010, following the resignations ofWillie O'Dea andMartin Cullen. After the resignations of six ministers in January 2011, the vacant portfolios were reassigned to other ministers;[30] with the subsequent resignation of Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil on 22 January 2011, the Green Party withdrew their support from the government.[31]
The government was dominated by responses to theeconomic downturn, culminating in a troika of theEU/ECB/IMF troika directing the government's financial decisions in November 2010.
After his appointment by the president, Brian Cowen proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[33] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[35][36]
On 7 May 2008, Cowen announced that the government would on his nomination appointPat Carey,Barry Andrews,Trevor Sargent, andDick Roche asministers of state.[51][33] Carey and Andrews would attend meetings of the cabinet.[52] On 13 May 2008, Cowen announced the appointment by the government on his nomination of 16 further ministers of state.[53][36][54]
On 12 June 2008, areferendum was held on the approval of theTreaty of Lisbon. This was defeated, by a margin of 46.6% to 53.4%. On 15 October 2009, asecond referendum was held on its approval, which was approved by 67.1% to 32.9%.
On 10 June 2009, amotion of confidence in the government proposed by Taoiseach Brian Cowen was approved with 85 votes in favour and 79 against.[105]
On 17 February 2010, a motion of confidence inMinister for DefenceWillie O'Dea proposed by Taoiseach Brian Cowen was approved with 80 votes in favour and 69 against.[106] Nevertheless, Willie O'Dea did resign the following day.[107]
On 15 June 2010, a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government by Taoiseach Brian Cowen was approved with 82 votes in favour and 77 against.[108][109]
^Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 705 of 2007). Signed on 9 October 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2007 (No. 706 of 2007). Enacted on 9 October 2007. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007, s. 1: Increase in number of Ministers of State appointed by Government (No. 33 of 2007, s. 1). Enacted on 9 July 2007. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book.
^Oireachtas (Allowances and Allocations) (Members and Holders of Parliamentary and Certain Ministerial offices) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 56 of 2008). Signed on 26 February 2008. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 561 of 2007). Signed on 25 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 678 of 2007). Signed on 26 September 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 107 of 2008). Signed on 2 April 2008. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 679 of 2007). Signed on 26 September 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 4) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 562 of 2007). Signed on 25 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 560 of 2007). Signed on 25 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 556 of 2007). Signed on 25 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^"Resignation of the Taoiseach"(PDF).Iris Oifigiúil.2008 (39): 510. 13 May 2008.Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved1 September 2021.
^Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2008 (No. 216 of 2010). Enacted on 18 May 2010. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Education and Science (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (No. 184 of 2010). Enacted on 27 April 2010. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Social and Family Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (No. 186 of 2010). Enacted on 27 April 2010. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Arts, Sport and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (No. 178 of 2010). Enacted on 22 April 2010. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (No. 185 of 2010). Enacted on 22 April 2010. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (No. 215 of 2010). Enacted on 18 May 2010. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
^Oireachtas (Allowances) (Certain Ministers of State and Chairpersons of Oireachtas Sub-committees) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 178 of 2009). Signed on 5 May 2009. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
^Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 226 of 2008). Signed on 24 June 2008. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
^Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 225 of 2008). Signed on 24 June 2008. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
^Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 248 of 2009). Signed on 23 June 2009. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 334 of 2010). Signed on 29 June 2010. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 63 of 2011). Signed on 1 February 2011. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.
^Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 188 of 2009). Signed on 19 May 2009. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.; Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 407 of 2009). Signed on 6 October 2009. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.; Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 65 of 2011). Signed on 7 February 2011. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
^Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 333 of 2010). Signed on 29 June 2010. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 62 of 2011). Signed on 1 February 2011. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.
^Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 368 of 2010). Signed on 13 July 2010. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.
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