24th government of Ireland

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24th Government of Ireland
Date formed15 December 1994
Date dissolved26 June 1997
People and organisations
PresidentMary Robinson
TaoiseachJohn Bruton
TánaisteDick Spring
Total no. of members15
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyFianna Fáil
Opposition leaderBertie Ahern
History
Legislature term(s)
Incoming formation1994 Irish government crisis
Predecessor23rd Government
Successor25th Government

The 24th Government of Ireland (15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997) was the government formed after the Labour Party had left its previous coalition with Fianna Fáil two years into the 27th Dáil. It was a coalition of Fine Gael, with leader John Bruton as Taoiseach, Labour, with Dick Spring as Tánaiste, and Democratic Left, led by Proinsias De Rossa, known as the Rainbow Coalition. (Irish: Comhrialtas Bogha Ceatha),[1] It is the only time to date that a new government was formed within the same Dáil term composed of a different coalition of parties.

The 24th Government lasted 925 days.

Formation[edit]

The Labour Party had been part of the 23rd Government with Fianna Fáil, formed in January 1993 after the 1992 general election, but left in November 1994 following a number of scandals, particularly those which emerged from the Beef Tribunal and the alleged mishandling of the prosecution of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth.[2] After Albert Reynolds was replaced as Fianna Fáil leader by Bertie Ahern, there was speculation that Labour would rejoin Fianna Fáil in government, but instead it formed a government with two parties which had been in opposition. By-election gains since 1992 meant the three parties had enough TDs between them for an overall majority.

Nomination of Taoiseach[edit]

In the Dáil debate on the nomination for Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader John Bruton were proposed. Ahern was defeated by 67 votes to 94, while Bruton was approved.[3] Bruton was appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.[4]

15 December 1994
Nomination of John Bruton (FG) as Taoiseach
[5]
Motion proposed by Nora Owen and seconded by Paddy Harte
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
checkY Yes Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (32), Democratic Left (6)
85 / 166
No Fianna Fáil (65), Progressive Democrats (9)
74 / 166
Absent or
Not voting
Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Green Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1)
7 / 166

Members of the Government[edit]

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, John Bruton proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4][6] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[7]

Office Name Term Party
Taoiseach John Bruton[a] 1994–1997 Fine Gael
Tánaiste Dick Spring 1994–1997 Labour
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Finance Ruairi Quinn 1994–1997 Labour
Minister for Health Michael Noonan 1994–1997 Fine Gael
Minister for Equality and Law Reform Mervyn Taylor 1994–1997 Labour
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Michael D. Higgins 1994–1997 Labour
Minister for the Environment Brendan Howlin 1994–1997 Labour
Minister for Education Niamh Bhreathnach 1994–1997 Labour
Minister for Justice Nora Owen 1994–1997 Fine Gael
Minister for Social Welfare Proinsias De Rossa 1994–1997 Democratic Left
Minister for Tourism and Trade Enda Kenny 1994–1997 Fine Gael
Minister for Enterprise and Employment Richard Bruton 1994–1997 Fine Gael
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry Ivan Yates 1994–1997 Fine Gael
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications Michael Lowry 1994–1996 Fine Gael
Minister for Defence Hugh Coveney 1994–1995 Fine Gael
Minister for the Marine

Changes 23 May 1995[edit]

Hugh Coveney was demoted to a Minister of State after allegations of improper contact with businessmen.[8][9]

Minister for Defence Seán Barrett 1995–1997 Fine Gael
Minister for the Marine

Changes 3 December 1996[edit]

Michael Lowry resigned following reports of improper payments from businessman Ben Dunne.[10][11]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications Alan Dukes 1996–1997 Fine Gael
  1. ^ Bruton served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications from 30 November to 3 December 1996 after the resignation of Lowry.

Attorney General[edit]

Dermot Gleeson SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[4][7]

Ministers of State[edit]

On 15 December 1994, Seán Barrett, TD was appointed by the government to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. Also on the same day Pat Rabbitte, TD was appointed to the position of Minister of State to the Government.[4] This was the first time a Minister of State other than the Chief Whip attended cabinet.[12] On 20 December 1994, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[7]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Seán Barrett
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach
Defence
Government Chief Whip Fine Gael
Pat Rabbitte
(In attendance at cabinet)
Minister of State to the Government
Enterprise and Employment
Commerce, science and technology and consumer affairs Democratic Left
Emmet Stagg Transport, Energy and Communications Labour
Brian O'Shea Health Mental handicap, health promotion, food safety and public health Labour
Eithne FitzGerald Office of the Tánaiste
Enterprise and Employment
Labour Affairs Labour
Joan Burton Foreign Affairs
Justice
Overseas development assistance Labour
Toddy O'Sullivan Tourism and Trade Labour
Gay Mitchell Taoiseach
Foreign Affairs
European affairs
IFSC and local development initiatives
Fine Gael
Bernard Allen Education
Environment
Youth and sport
Local government reform
Fine Gael
Bernard Durkan Social Welfare Fine Gael
Jimmy Deenihan Agriculture, Food and Forestry[13][14] Fine Gael
Phil Hogan Finance Fine Gael
Austin Currie Health
Education
Justice
Children's Rights Fine Gael
Eamon Gilmore Marine Democratic Left
Liz McManus Environment Democratic Left

Additional appointments 27 January 1995[edit]

Following the increase in the number of Ministers of State permitted from 15 to 17 in the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1995.[15]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Avril Doyle Taoiseach
Finance
Transport, Energy and Communications
Consumers of Public Services Fine Gael
Donal Carey Taoiseach
Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Western Development and Rural Renewal Fine Gael

Changes 10 February 1995[edit]

Resignation of Phil Hogan after leaking details of the budget.[16][17]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Jim Higgins Finance Public Expenditure
Office of Public Works
Fine Gael

Changes 24 May 1995[edit]

Following the appointment of Seán Barrett to government.[9]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Jim Higgins
(In attendance at cabinet)
Taoiseach
Defence
Government Chief Whip Fine Gael
Hugh Coveney Finance Fine Gael

Constitutional referendums[edit]

The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Equality and Law Reform Mervyn Taylor and approved in a referendum on 24 November 1995. It removed the prohibition on divorce, replacing it terms allowing a court to dissolve a marriage, including a requirement to have been separated for four of the previous five years. It was followed by Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996.

The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Justice Nora Owen and approved in a referendum on 28 November 1996. It allowed a court to refuse bail to someone convicted of a serious offence when reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. It was followed by the Bail Act 1997.

Confidence in the government[edit]

After the government had failed to properly effect the dismissal of Judge Dominic Lynch, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was debated on 12 and 13 November 1996 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach.[18] It was approved by a vote of 79 to 70.[19]

Dissolution[edit]

On 15 May 1997, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 6 June.[20] When the 28th Dáil met on 26 June, Bertie Ahern was nominated and appointed as Taoiseach and formed a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition government.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bréadún, Deaglán De (1 May 2016). Cinnlinte: Saol an Iriseora. Cois Life. ISBN 9781907494581 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Resignation of Taoiseach and Ministerial Changes: Statement – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 November 1994. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1994. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1994. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1994. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1994. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 1995. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Nomination of Member of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 May 1995. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Appointment of Member of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 24 May 1995. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Nomination of Member of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 December 1996. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Appointment of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 4 December 1996. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister of State's Status and Role – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 1995. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  13. ^ Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1995 (S.I. No. 37 of 1995). Signed on 24 January 1995. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 August 2021.
  14. ^ Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 65 of 1997). Signed on 4 February 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State". Houses of the Oireachtas. 1 February 1995. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Resignation of Minister of State: Personal Explanation – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 February 1995. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 February 1995. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 471 No. 4". 12 November 1996. Retrieved 24 October 2022.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 471 No. 5". 13 November 1996. Retrieved 24 October 2022.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 471 No. 5". 13 November 1996. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Votes – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – 13 November 1996". Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Dissolution of Dáil – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 May 1997. Retrieved 31 March 2020.