Government of the 23rd Dáil
The Government of the 23rd Dáil or the 18th Government of Ireland (9 March – 14 December 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the February 1982 general election. It was a minority Fianna Fáil government, reliant on the support of the Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party and Independent TD Tony Gregory, led by Charles Haughey as Taoiseach.
| Government of the 23rd Dáil | |
|---|---|
| 18th Government of Ireland | |
| Date formed | 9 March 1982 |
| Date dissolved | 14 December 1982 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Patrick Hillery |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Tánaiste | Ray MacSharry |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member party | Fianna Fáil |
| Status in legislature | Minority Government |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Garret FitzGerald |
| History | |
| Election(s) | Feb. 1982 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 23rd Dáil 16th Seanad |
| Predecessor | 17th Government |
| Successor | 19th Government |
The 18th Government lasted for 280 days.
18th Government of Ireland
Nomination of Taoiseach
The members of the 23rd Dáil first met on 9 March 1982. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald were both proposed.[1] The nomination of Haughey was carried with 86 in favour and 79 against. Haughey was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.[2]
| 9 March 1982 Nomination of Charles Haughey (FF) for Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Brian Lenihan and seconded by Ray MacSharry Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 | Fianna Fáil (81), Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party (3), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1) | 86 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (63), Labour Party (15), Independent (1) | 79 / 166 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1) | 1 / 166 |
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.[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[4]
| Office | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Tánaiste | Ray MacSharry | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Finance | |||
| Minister for Agriculture | Brian Lenihan | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Defence | Paddy Power | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Education | Martin O'Donoghue | Mar.–Oct. 1982 | |
| Minister for the Environment | Ray Burke | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Fisheries and Forestry | Brendan Daly | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Gerry Collins | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | Pádraig Flynn | Mar.–Oct. 1982 | |
| Minister for Health | Michael Woods | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Social Welfare | |||
| Minister for Industry and Energy | Albert Reynolds | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Justice | Seán Doherty | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Labour | Gene Fitzgerald | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for the Public Service | |||
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | John Wilson | Mar.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Transport | |||
| Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Desmond O'Malley | Mar.–Oct. 1982 | |
Changes 7 October 1982Desmond O'Malley and Martin O'Donoghue resigned on 6 October 1982 after | |||
| Office | Name | Term | |
| Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Albert Reynolds | 7–27 Oct 1982 | |
| Minister for Education | Charles Haughey | 7–27 Oct 1982 | |
Changes 27 October 1982Reshuffle following resignations of O'Malley and O'Donoghue.[6] | |||
| Office | Name | Term | |
| Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Pádraig Flynn | Oct.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for Education | Gerard Brady | Oct.–Dec. 1982 | |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | Denis Gallagher | Oct.–Dec. 1982 | |
Attorney General
On 9 March 1982, Patrick Connolly SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] Connolly resigned on 17 August after Malcolm MacArthur, who had been a house-guest of Connolly's, was arrested for murder. On 18 August 1982, John L. Murray SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of State
On 9 March, the Government appointed Bertie Ahern on the nomination of the Taoiseach to the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. On 23 March, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State.[4]
Confidence in the Government
On 4 November 1982, the Dáil voted on a motion of confidence the Taoiseach placed in the government. The resolution was defeated, with 80 votes in favour to 82 against.[7] After the vote, Haughey sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president. A second general election was held on 24 November 1982 for the members of the 24th Dáil.
Footnotes
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 9 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 9 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 9 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Ministers and Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 23 March 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Fógra ón Taoiseach – Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Wednesday, 27 October 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Wednesday, 27 October 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Thursday, 4 November 1982". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.