7th government of Ireland (Second interparty government) | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
| Date formed | 2 June 1954 |
| Date dissolved | 20 March 1957 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Seán T. O'Kelly |
| Taoiseach | John A. Costello |
| Tánaiste | William Norton |
| Totalno. of members | 13 (14 from 1956) |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Minoritycoalition 73 / 147 (50%) |
| Opposition party | Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leader | Éamon de Valera |
| History | |
| Election | 1954 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 6th government |
| Successor | 8th government |
The7th government of Ireland (2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957), commonly known as thesecond inter-party government, was thegovernment of Ireland formed after the1954 general election to the15th Dáil held on 18 May. It was aminority government ofFine Gael, theLabour Party andClann na Talmhan.Clann na Poblachta, which had been in theFirst inter-party government (1948–1951) with these parties, supported the government but did not form part of it. It lasted for 2 years, 291 days.
The15th Dáil first met on 2 June 1954. In the debate on thenomination of Taoiseach,Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing TaoiseachÉamon de Valera and former TaoiseachJohn A. Costello ofFine Gael were both proposed. The nomination of de Valera was defeated with 66 votes cast in favour and 78 against, while the nomination of Costello was approved by 79 to 66.[1] Costello was appointed as Taoiseach byPresidentSeán T. O'Kelly.[2]
| 2 June 1954 Nomination ofJohn A. Costello (FG) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed byRichard Mulcahy and seconded byWilliam Norton Absolute majority: 74/147 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 YYes | Fine Gael (50),Labour Party (18),Clann na Talmhan (5),Clann na Poblachta (3),Independents (3) | 79 / 147 |
| No | Fianna Fáil (65),Independent (1) | 66 / 147 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1),Independent (1) | 2 / 147 |
The Ministers of the Government were proposed by the Taoiseach and approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[5]
On 3 June 1954, the government appointed theParliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[5]
Ireland joined theUnited Nations in 1955.
The government ended when the Clann na Poblachta withdrew its support in 1957. Fine Gael and Labour had also both lost seats in by-elections to Fianna Fáil the previous year. Costello sought a dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February 1957 which was granted by the president, leading to ageneral election on 9 March 1957.