The 4th Government of Ireland (9 June 1944 – 18 February 1948) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1944 general election to the 12th Dáil held on 30 May. It was a single-party Fianna Fáil government led by Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach. It lasted for 1,350 days.Fianna Fáil had been in office since the 1932 general election.
4th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 9 June 1944 |
| Date dissolved | 18 February 1948 |
| People and organisations | |
| President |
|
| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Tánaiste |
|
| Total no. of members |
|
| Member party | Fianna Fáil |
| Status in legislature | Majority Government |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Richard Mulcahy |
| History | |
| Election | 1944 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 3rd government |
| Successor | 5th government |
Nomination of Taoiseach
editThe 12th Dáil first met on 9 June 1944. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was proposed. This motion was approved by 81 to 37.[1] De Valera was appointed as Taoiseach by President Douglas Hyde.[2]
| 9 June 1944 Nomination of Éamon de Valera (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Michael Kennedy and seconded by Timothy O'Sullivan Absolute majority: 70/138 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes |
Fianna Fáil (75), National Labour Party (3), Independents (3) | 81 / 138
|
| No | Fine Gael (29), Labour Party (7), Independent (1) | 37 / 138
|
| Absent of Not voting |
Clann na Talmhan (9), Independents (7), Fine Gael (1), Labour Party (1), National Labour Party (1), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 20 / 138
|
Members of the government
editAfter his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Éamon de Valera proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[5]
- Note
- ^ The functions of the Minister for Supplies were transferred to the Minister for Industry and Commerce on 1 August 1945.[6]
- ^ The Department of Local Government and Public Health was renamed as the Department of Local Government on 22 January 1947.[7]
Parliamentary Secretaries
editOn 9 June, the Government appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[12]
| Name | Office | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eamon Kissane | Government Chief Whip | 1944–1948 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1944–1948 | ||
| Paddy Smith | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1944–1946 | |
| Conn Ward | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health[13] | 1944–1946 | |
| Seán O'Grady | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce | 1944–1946 | |
| Erskine H. Childers | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health | 1944–1948 | |
Change 13 July 1946editResignation of Conn Ward following the report of the Ward Tribunal.[14] | |||
Changes 1 January 1947edit | |||
| Paddy Smith | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture | Jan. 1947 | |
| Seán O'Grady | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1947–1948 | |
References
edit- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 June 1944. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 June 1944. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil) – Friday, 9 June 1944". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion of Approval – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 June 1944. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 June 1944. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ Minister for Supplies (Transfer of Functions) Act 1945 (Appointed Day) Order 1945 (S.R.O. No. 171 of 1945). Signed on 20 July 1945. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 August 2019.
- ^ Local Government and Public Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1947 (S.R.O. No. 16 of 1947). Signed on 21 January 1947. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Election of President of Ireland – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 June 1945. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946 (Section 2) (Commencement) Order 1947 (S.R.O. No. 14 of 1947). Signed on 21 January 1947. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 August 2019.
- ^ Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946 (Section 3) (Commencement) Order 1947 (S.R.O. No. 15 of 1947). Signed on 21 January 1947. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 August 2019.
- ^ "Nomination of Deputy Patrick Smith as a Member of the Government—Motion – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 January 1947. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "History of Government – Twelfth Dáil – Parliamentary Secretaries". Government of Ireland. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Local Government and Public Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1944 (S.R.O. No. 188 of 1944). Signed on 15 June 1944. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Local Government and Public Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1945 (S.R.O. No. 58 of 1945). Signed on 6 April 1945. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
- ^ "Private Notice Question - Position of Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 July 1946. Retrieved 14 January 2021.