The 25th government of Ireland (26 June 1997 – 6 June 2002) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1997 general election to the 28th Dáil held on 6 June 1997. It was a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. It lasted 1,807 days.
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 |
| Total no. 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 |
Nomination of Taoiseach
editThe 28th Dáil first met on 26 June 1997. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Fianna 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 by President Mary Robinson.[2]
| 26 June 1997 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by David Andrews and seconded by Mary O'Rourke Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes |
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
|
Government ministers
editAfter 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]
- Changes to Departments
- ^ The Department of Enterprise and Employment was renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 8 July 1997.[5]
- ^ The Department of the Marine was renamed the Department of Marine and Natural Resources on 12 July 1997.[6]
- ^ The Department of Transport, Energy and Communications was renamed the Department of Public Enterprise on 12 July 1997.[7]
- ^ The Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food on 12 July 1997.[8]
- ^ The Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development on 27 September 1999.[9]
- ^ The Department of Health was renamed the Department of Health and Children on 12 July 1997.[10]
- ^ The Department of the Environment was renamed the Department of the Environment and Local Government on 22 July 1997.[11]
- ^ The Department of Social Welfare was renamed the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on 12 July 1997.[12]
- ^ The Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht was renamed the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on 12 July 1997.[13]
- ^ The functions of the Department of Equality and Law Reform were transferred to the Department of Justice on 8 July 1997.[14] The Department of Justice was renamed the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 9 July.[15]
- ^ John O'Donoghue was appointed as Minister for Justice and Minister for Equality and Law Reform and served as head of both departments until the transfer of functions on 8 July.
- ^ The Department of Tourism and Trade was renamed the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation on 12 July 1997.[16]
- ^ The Department of Education was renamed the Department of Education and Science on 1 October 1997.[17]
Attorney General
editDavid Byrne SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] In 1999, he resigned on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 17 July 1999, Michael McDowell SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of state
editOn 26 June 1997, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Séamus Brennan to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Bobby Molloy to the position of Minister of State to the Government.[2] On 1 July 1997, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Michael Smith and Liz O'Donnell. On 8 July 1997, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State.[4]
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Séamus Brennan | Taoiseach Defence |
Government Chief Whip | Fianna Fáil | |
| Bobby Molloy | Minister of State to the Government Environment and Local Government |
Housing and urban renewal | Progressive Democrats | |
| Michael Smith | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Science and technology | Fianna Fáil | |
| Liz O'Donnell | Foreign Affairs | Overseas development assistance and human rights | Progressive Democrats | |
| Noel Davern | Agriculture and Food | Livestock breeding and horticulture | Fianna Fáil | |
| Joe Jacob | Public Enterprise | Energy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
| Willie O'Dea | Education and Science | Adult education, youth affairs and school transport | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tom Kitt | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | 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 | Environmental information and awareness and the Environmental Protection Agency |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Ned O'Keeffe | Agriculture and Food | Food | Fianna Fáil | |
| Hugh Byrne | Marine and Natural Resources | 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 | Gaeltacht and the islands | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tom Moffatt | Health and Children | Food safety and older people | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 9 October 1997editFollowing the appointment of Michael Smith as Minister for Defence the previous day.[20] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Noel Treacy | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Science and technology | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 21 January 1998editExpansion of scope of Minister of State for Children. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science |
Children | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 1 February 2000editFollowing the resignation of Chris Flood and the appointment of Frank 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 Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science |
Children | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 19 February 2001editFollowing the resignation of Ned O'Keeffe on 17 February.[23] | ||||
| 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 2002editFollowing the resignation of Bobby Molloy as a Minister of State on 10 April 2002.[24][25] 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 | ||
Confidence in the government
editAfter evidence given by Ahern at the Moriarty Tribunal, a motion 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.[26] It was approved by the Dáil.
Dissolution
editOn 25 April 2002, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 17 May.[27][28] The 29th Dáil met on 6 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.
References
edit- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach. – Votes – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 1997. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 305 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 301 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Transport, Energy and Communications (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 299 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 302 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1999 (S.I. No. 307 of 1999). Signed on 21 September 1999. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 308 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Environment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 322 of 1997). Signed on 22 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Social Welfare (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 307 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 306 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 297 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 298 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Tourism and Trade (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 304 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Education (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 430 of 1997). Signed on 30 September 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
- ^ "Resignation of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 October 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 October 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Appointment of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 October 1997. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 January 2000. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 February 2000. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Resignation of Minister of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 February 2002. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "Resignation of Minister of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 17 April 2002. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Minister of State; Resignation of Minister of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2002 (32): 472. 19 April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 522 No. 5". 30 June 2000. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Advice to Dissolve Dáil: Announcement – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 24 April 2002. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Proclamation" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2002 (21): 520. 26 April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.