There were two governments of the21st Dáil, which was elected at the1977 general election on 16 June 1977. Both were single-party majorityFianna Fáil governments. The15th government of Ireland (5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979) was led byJack Lynch asTaoiseach and lasted for 2 years, 159 days. The16th government of Ireland (11 December 1979 – 30 June 1981) was led byCharles Haughey and lasted for 1 year, 201 days.
15th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
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| Date formed | 5 July 1977 |
| Date dissolved | 11 December 1979 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Patrick Hillery |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Tánaiste | George Colley |
| Totalno. of members | 15 |
| Member party | Fianna Fáil |
| Status in legislature | Majority government |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Garret FitzGerald |
| History | |
| Election | 1977 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 14th government |
| Successor | 16th government |
The21st Dáil first met on 5 July 1977. In the debate on thenomination of Taoiseach,Fianna Fáil leaderJack Lynch was proposed, and this proposal was carried with 82 votes in favour and 61 votes against.[1] Lynch was appointed as Taoiseach bypresidentPatrick Hillery.[2]
| 5 July 1977 Nomination ofJack Lynch (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed byVivion de Valera and seconded byKit Ahern Absolute majority: 75/148 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 YYes | Fianna Fáil (82) | 82 / 148 |
| No | Fine Gael (43),Labour Party (16),Independent (2) | 61 / 148 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1),Fianna Fáil (1),Labour Party (1),Independent Fianna Fáil (1),Independent (1) | 5 / 148 |
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch 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]
On 5 July 1977,Anthony J. HedermanSC was appointed by the president asAttorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4]
On 5 July 1977, the Government appointedParliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[4]
Following the enactment of theMinisters and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, the post ofParliamentary Secretary was abolished and replaced by a new post ofMinister of State.[14] A maximum of 10 Ministers of State could be appointed.[15] On 14 December 1977, Taoiseach Jack Lynch announced that the existing Parliamentary Secretaries would be appointed as Ministers of State in their respective departments with effect from 1 January 1978, and the appointment of three TDs as additional Ministers of State who would also take office on that date.[16]
| Name | Department(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Lalor | Taoiseach[17] (Government Chief Whip) | |
| Defence[18] | ||
| David Andrews | Foreign Affairs | |
| Jim Tunney | Education | |
| Tom Fitzpatrick | Posts and Telegraphs[19] | |
| Tourism and Transport | ||
| Pearse Wyse | Finance | |
| Thomas Hussey | Agriculture[20] | |
| Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | Industry, Commerce and Energy | |
| John O'Leary | Environment[16] | |
| Ray MacSharry | Public Service[21][16] | |
| Ray Burke | Industry, Commerce and Energy[16] | |
Changes 1 January 1979[edit]Appointment to additional department.[22] | ||
| Name | Department(s) | |
| David Andrews | Justice[23] | |
Changes 1 July 1979[edit]Following resignation ofPatrick Lalor on 17 June 1979 on hiselection to theEuropean Parliament.[24] | ||
| Name | Department(s) | |
| Michael Woods | Taoiseach[25] (Government Chief Whip) Defence[26] | |
This government approved theNuclear Energy Board plans for a plant atCarnsore Point to go ahead.Desmond O'Malley, asMinister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, was central to this policy. Later the 16th Government, during the same Dáil, dropped these plans.[citation needed]
On 29 May 1979,Frank Cluskey proposed amotion of no confidence in the government, citing the "serious economic mismanagement of the country by the Government".Brian Lenihan,Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, proposed an amendment to the motion expressing "satisfaction at the Government's management of the economy".[27] On the following day, the amendment was carried by a vote of 67 to 46.[28]
Shortly after the loss by Fianna Fáil of two by-elections in Cork on 7 November 1979, Jack Lynch resigned as Fianna Fáil leader.Charles Haughey won theleadership election held on 7 December 1979. Lynch resigned as Taoiseach on 11 December 1979.[29]
16th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 11 December 1979 |
| Date dissolved | 30 June 1981 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Patrick Hillery |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Tánaiste | George Colley |
| Totalno. of members | 15 |
| Member party | Fianna Fáil |
| Status in legislature | Majority government |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Garret FitzGerald |
| History | |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 15th government |
| Successor | 17th government |
The 16th government was formed by Charles Haughey following the resignation of Jack Lynch.
On 11 December 1979, Haughey wasproposed for the nomination of the Dáil for the position of Taoiseach, and this proposal was carried with 82 votes in favour and 62 votes against.[30] Haughey was appointed as Taoiseach bypresidentPatrick Hillery.[31]
| 11 December 1979 Nomination ofCharles Haughey (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed byJack Lynch Absolute majority: 75/148 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| YYes | Fianna Fáil (82) | 82 / 148 |
| No | Fine Gael (44),Labour Party (17),Independent (1) | 62 / 148 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1),Fine Gael (1),Independent Fianna Fáil (1),Independent (1) | 4 / 148 |
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Charles Haughey proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil on 12 December.[32] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[33]
On 11 December 1979,Anthony J. HedermanSC was re-appointed by the president asAttorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[32][33]
On 12 December 1979, the Government appointed Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[45]
| Name | Department(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Seán Moore | Taoiseach[46] (Government Chief Whip) Defence[47][48] | |
| Jackie Fahey | Environment | |
| Jim Tunney | Education[49] | |
| Thomas Hussey | Agriculture[50] | |
| Ray Burke | Industry, Commerce and Tourism | |
| Lorcan Allen | Agriculture[51] | |
| Ger Connolly | Environment | |
| Tom McEllistrim | Finance | |
| Seán Calleary | Public Service Labour | |
| Mark Killilea Jnr | Posts and Telegraphs[52] | |
Changes 25 March 1980[edit]The number of Ministers of State was increased from 10 to 15 following the enactment of the | ||
| Name | Department(s) | |
| Thomas Meaney | Industry, Commerce and Tourism | |
| Tom Nolan | Health Social Welfare | |
| Brendan Daly | Labour | |
| Pádraig Flynn | Transport | |
| Seán Doherty | Justice | |
Changes 15 October 1980[edit] | ||
| Name | Department(s) | |
| Denis Gallagher | Industry, Commerce and Tourism | |
Changes 17 December 1980[edit] | ||
| Name | Department(s) | |
| Thomas Hussey | Health Social Welfare | |
| Michael Smith | Agriculture[54] | |