There were two Governments of the 21st Dáil, which was elected at the 1977 general election on 16 June 1977. The 15th

Government of Ireland The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The gover ...

(5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979) was led by Jack Lynch as

Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the o ...

, while the 16th Government of Ireland (11 December 1979 – 30 June 1981) was led by

Charles Haughey Charles James Haughey (; 16 September 1925 – 13 June 2006) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach on three occasions – 1979 to 1981, March to December 1982 and 1987 to 1992. He was also Minister for the Gaeltacht from ...

. Both were single-party majority

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christia ...

governments. The 15th Government lasted for days and the 16th Government lasted for days.

15th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 21st Dáil first met on 5 July 1977. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Jack Lynch was proposed, and this proposal was carried with 82 votes in favour and 61 votes against. Lynch was appointed as Taoiseach by

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Patrick Hillery Patrick John Hillery ( ga, Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile; 2 May 1923 – 12 April 2008) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the sixth president of Ireland from December 1976 to December 1990. He also served as vice-president of the Eur ...

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day. ;Notes

Attorney General

On 5 July 1977, Anthony J. Hederman SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Parliamentary Secretaries (5 July 1977 – 1 January 1978)

On 5 July 1977, the Government appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of State (1 January 1978 – 11 December 1979)

Following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act 1977, the post of Parliamentary Secretary was abolished and replaced by a new post of

Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In ...

. A maximum of 10 Ministers of State could be appointed. 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.

Decisions of the government

This government approved the

Nuclear Energy Board The Nuclear Energy BoardThe Nuclear Energy Board was officially titled "''An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh''", in the Irish language, however the English language title — though unofficial — was used in practice. (NEB) was an Irish agency charg ...

plans for a plant at Carnsore Point to go ahead.

Desmond O'Malley Desmond Joseph O'Malley (2 February 1939 – 21 July 2021) was an Irish politician who served as Minister for Industry and Commerce from 1977 to 1981 and 1989 to 1992, Leader of the Progressive Democrats from 1985 to 1993, Minister for Trade, ...

, as Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, was central to this policy. Later the 16th Government, during the same Dáil, dropped these plans.

Confidence in the government

On 29 May 1979,

Frank Cluskey Frank Cluskey (8 April 1930 – 7 May 1989) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 1982 to 1983, Leader of the Labour Party from 1977 to 1981 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minist ...

proposed a

motion of no confidence A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or m ...

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". On the following day, the amendment was carried by a vote of 67 to 46.

Resignation

Shortly after the loss by Fianna Fáil of two by-elections in Cork on 7 November 1979, Jack Lynch resigned as Fianna Fáil leader.

won the

leadership election A leadership election is a political contest held in various countries by which the members of a political party determine who will be the leader of their party. Generally, any political party can determine its own rules governing how and when a l ...

held on 7 December 1979. Lynch resigned as Taoiseach on 11 December 1979.

16th Government of Ireland

The 16th Government was formed by Charles Haughey following the resignation of Jack Lynch.

Nomination of Taoiseach

On 11 December 1979, Haughey was proposed 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. Haughey was appointed as Taoiseach by

Members of the Government

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.; ; They were appointed by the president on the same day. ;Notes

Attorney General

On 11 December 1979, Anthony J. Hederman SC was re-appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of State

On 12 December 1979, the Government appointed Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government of the 21st Dail 1977 establishments in Ireland 1981 disestablishments in Ireland 21st Dáil Cabinets established in 1977 Cabinets disestablished in 1981 Governments of Ireland

15th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

Members of the Government

Attorney General

Parliamentary Secretaries (5 July 1977 – 1 January 1978)

Ministers of State (1 January 1978 – 11 December 1979)

Decisions of the government

Confidence in the government

Resignation

16th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

Members of the Government

Attorney General

Ministers of State

See also

References