25th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 26 June 1997 |
| Date dissolved | 6 June 2002 |
| People and organisations | |
| President |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Tánaiste | Mary Harney |
| Totalno. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Election | 1997 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 24th government |
| Successor | 26th government |
The25th government of Ireland (26 June 1997 – 6 June 2002) was thegovernment of Ireland formed after the1997 general election to the28th Dáil held on 6 June 1997. It was aminoritycoalition government ofFianna Fáil and theProgressive Democrats, led byFianna Fáil leaderBertie Ahern as Taoiseach. It lasted 4 years, 345 days.
The28th Dáil first met on 26 June 1997. In thedebate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach andFine Gael leaderJohn Bruton andFianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern were proposed.[1] The vote on Bruton was defeated with 75 votes in favour to 87 against, while the vote on Ahern was approved by 85 to 78. Ahern was then appointed as Taoiseach byPresidentMary Robinson.[2]
| 26 June 1997 Nomination ofBertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed byDavid Andrews and seconded byMary O'Rourke Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 YYes | Fianna Fáil (77),Progressive Democrats (4),Independent (3),Sinn Féin (1) | 85 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (54),Labour Party (16),Democratic Left (4),Green Party (2),Independent (1),Socialist Party (1) | 78 / 166 |
| Not voting | Independent (2),Ceann Comhairle (1) | 3 / 166 |
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]
David ByrneSC was appointed by the president asAttorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] In 1999, he resigned on his nomination asEuropean Commissioner. On 7 July 1999,Michael McDowell SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[23]
Appointments 26 June 1997[edit]The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed ministers of state in attendance at cabinet meetings without a vote.[2] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Séamus Brennan | Taoiseach[24] Defence[25] | Government Chief Whip | Fianna Fáil | |
| Bobby Molloy | Minister of State to the Government Environment and Local Government[26] | Housing and urban renewal | Progressive Democrats | |
Appointments 1 July 1997[edit]The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointedMichael Smith andLiz O'Donnell.[27] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Michael Smith | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment[28] | Science and technology | Fianna Fáil | |
| Liz O'Donnell | Foreign Affairs | Overseas development assistance and human rights | Progressive Democrats | |
Appointments 8 July 1997[edit]The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 13 further ministers of state.[4] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Noel Davern | Agriculture and Food[29] | Livestock breeding and horticulture | Fianna Fáil | |
| Joe Jacob | Public Enterprise[30] | Energy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children[31] | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
| Willie O'Dea | Education and Science[32] | Adult education, youth affairs and school transport | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tom Kitt | Enterprise, Trade and Employment Enterprise, Trade and Employment[33] | Labour affairs, consumer rights and international trade | Fianna Fáil | |
| Chris Flood | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Local development and the National Drugs Strategy Team | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dan Wallace | Environment and Local Government[34] | Environmental information and awareness and theEnvironmental Protection Agency | Fianna Fáil | |
| Ned O'Keeffe | Agriculture and Food[35] | Food | Fianna Fáil | |
| Hugh Byrne | Marine and Natural Resources[36] | Aquaculture and forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Wallace | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality and disabilities | Fianna Fáil | |
| Martin Cullen | Finance | Office of Public Works | Fianna Fáil | |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands[37] | Gaeltacht and the islands | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tom Moffatt | Health and Children[38] | Food safety and older people | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 9 October 1997[edit]Following the appointment ofMichael Smith asMinister for Defence on 8 October.[20] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Noel Treacy | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment[39] | Science and technology | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 21 January 1998[edit]Expansion of scope ofMinister of State for Children. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children[40] Justice, Equality and Law Reform[41] Education and Science[42] | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 1 February 2000[edit]Following the resignation ofChris Flood and the appointment ofFrank Fahey as Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.[22] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Eoin Ryan | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Local development | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Hanafin | Health and Children[43] Justice, Equality and Law Reform[44] Education and Science[45] | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 19 February 2001[edit]Following the resignation ofNed O'Keeffe on 17 February.[46][47] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Agriculture, Food and Rural Development | Rural development and the Western Development Commission | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Coughlan | Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands | Gaeltacht and the Islands | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 11 April 2002[edit]Following the resignation of Bobby Molloy as a Minister of State on 10 April 2002.[48][49] O'Donnell continued in her position as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Molloy's position as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government was not filled. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Liz O'Donnell | Minister of State to the Government | Progressive Democrats | ||
After evidence given by Ahern at theMoriarty Tribunal, amotion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was then debated on 30 June 2000 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach.[50] It was approved by the Dáil.
On 25 April 2002, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and ageneral election was held on 17 May.[51][52] The29th Dáil met on 6 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed anew government.