There were two governments of the 6th Dáil. The 4th executive council of the Irish Free State (11 October 1927 – 2 April 1930) was formed after the September 1927 general election to the 6th Dáil held on 15 September 1927. The 4th executive council lasted for from its appointment until it resigned from office, and continued to carry out its duties until the appointment of its successor for a further 5 days, for a total of . The 5th executive council of the Irish Free State (2 April 1930 – 9 March 1932) was formed after the executive council resigned in a Dáil defeat. It lasted for . Both

minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in ...

s of

Cumann na nGaedheal Cumann na nGaedheal (; ) was a political party in the Irish Free State, which formed the government from 1923 to 1932. It was named after the original Cumann na nGaedheal organisation which merged with the Dungannon Clubs and the National Co ...

led by W. T. Cosgrave as President of the Executive Council and had the same composition in personnel.

4th executive council of the Irish Free State

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

The 6th Dáil first met on 11 October 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council,

leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 76 votes in favour and 70 against. Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

Tim Healy.

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 12 October. They were then appointed by the Governor General. ;Notes

Parliamentary secretaries

On 13 March 1927, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President.

Amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

The following amendments to the

Constitution of the Irish Free State The Constitution of the Irish Free State () was adopted by Act of Dáil Éireann sitting as a constituent assembly on 25 October 1922. In accordance with Article 83 of the Constitution,

were proposed by the Executive Council and passed by the Oireachtas: * Amendment No. 10 (12 July 1928): Removed all direct democracy provisions except the requirement that, after a transitional period, a referendum be held on all constitutional amendments. However this remaining provision would never be allowed to come into effect. * Amendment No. 6 (23 July 1928): Replaced the direct election of the Senate with a system of indirect election. * Amendment No. 13 (23 July 1928): Extended the Senate's power of delay over legislation from nine months to twenty months. * Amendment No. 8 (25 October 1928): Reduced the age of eligibility for senators from 35 to 30. * Amendment No. 9 (25 October 1928): Altered provisions relating to the procedure for nominating candidates to stand in senatorial elections. * Amendment No. 7 (30 October 1928): Reduced the term of office of senators from twelve to nine years. * Amendment No. 14 (14 May 1929): Clarified a technical matter relating to the relationship between the two houses of the Oireachtas. * Amendment No. 15 (14 May 1929): Permitted one member of the Executive Council to be a senator, where previously it had been required that all be members of the Dáil. It was still required that the President, vice-president and Minister for Finance hold seats in the Dáil. * Amendment No. 16 (14 May 1929): Extended the period during which amendments of the constitution could be made by ordinary legislation from eight to sixteen years. * Amendment No. 11 (17 December 1929): Altered the method for filling casual vacancies in the Seanad by providing for a vote of both houses rather than just the Seanad. * Amendment No. 12 (24 March 1930): Altered provisions relating to the Committee of Privileges that had authority to resolves disputes over the definition of a money bill. Executive Council of the Irish Free State 1928

Executive Council of the Irish Free State 1928

Resignation of the Executive Council

On 27 March 1930, the Old Age Pensions Bill 1929, a

private member's bill A private member's bill is a bill (proposed law) introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch. The designation "private member's bill" is used in most Westminster system jurisdictions, in wh ...

proposed by Conn Ward a member of

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

, which was the lead party of the

parliamentary opposition Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. This article uses the term ''government'' as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning ''t ...

, passed second stage by 66 votes to 64. This occurred in part due to absences from the government benches, including Séamus Burke, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, as well as Independent TDs who regularly supported the government. The following day, the President tendered his resignation to the

. The Executive Council continued to carry out its duties under Article 53 of the Constitution until the appointment of its successor.

5th executive council of the Irish Free State

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council on 2 April 1930, Fianna Fáil leader

Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera (; ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was an American-born Irish statesman and political leader. He served as the 3rd President of Ire ...

, Labour Party Leader Thomas J. O'Connell, and

leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave were each proposed. The motions proposing de Valera and O'Connell were defeated, while the motion proposing Cosgrave was carried with 80 votes in favour to 65 votes against. Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by

James McNeill James McNeill (27 March 1869 – 12 December 1938) was an Ireland, Irish colonial administrator, politician, and diplomat, who served as the first High Commissioner to London and second Governor-General of the Irish Free State. Early life One ...

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 3 April. They were then appointed by the Governor General.

Parliamentary secretaries

On 3 April 1930, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President.

Amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

The following amendment to the

was proposed by the Executive Council and passed by the Oireachtas: * Amendment No. 17 (17 October 1931): Inserted Article 2A, which included provisions for trial by military tribunals.

External relations

The

Statute of Westminster 1931 The Statute of Westminster 1931 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that significantly increased the autonomy of the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. Passed on 11 December 1931, the statute increased the sovereignty of t ...

removed the power of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace ...

to pass laws affecting British

Dominion A dominion was any of several largely self-governance, self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of self-governing colony, colon ...

s, including the

Irish Free State The Irish Free State (6 December 192229 December 1937), also known by its Irish-language, Irish name ( , ), was a State (polity), state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-ye ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government Of The 6th Dail Ministries of George V Government 06 Governments of the Irish Free State 1927 establishments in Ireland 1930 disestablishments in Ireland Cabinets established in 1927 Cabinets disestablished in 1930 1930 establishments in Ireland 1932 disestablishments in Ireland Cabinets established in 1930 Cabinets disestablished in 1932 Minority governments 6th Dáil

4th executive council of the Irish Free State

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

Members of the Executive Council

Parliamentary secretaries

Amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

Resignation of the Executive Council

5th executive council of the Irish Free State

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

Members of the Executive Council

Parliamentary secretaries

Amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

External relations

See also

References