Government of the 5th Dáil
The Government of the 5th Dáil or the 3rd Executive Council (23 June 1927 – 11 October 1927) was formed after the June 1927 general election held on 9 June 1927. It was led by W. T. Cosgrave, leader of Cumann na nGaedheal, as President of the Executive Council, who had led the government since August 1922.
| Government of the 5th Dáil | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Executive Council of the Irish Free State | |
 | |
| Date formed | 23 June 1927 |
| Date dissolved | 11 October 1927 |
| People and organisations | |
| King | George V |
| Governor-General | Tim Healy |
| President of the Executive Council | W. T. Cosgrave |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | Kevin O'Higgins (June–July 1927) Ernest Blythe (July–Oct. 1927) |
| Total no. of members | 10 |
| Member party | Cumann na nGaedheal |
| Status in legislature | Minority Government |
| Opposition parties | Labour Party Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leaders | Thomas Johnson (June–Aug. 1927) (Lab) Éamon de Valera (Aug.–Oct. 1927) (FF) |
| History | |
| Election(s) | June 1927 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 5th Dáil 1st Seanad (1925–28) |
| Predecessor | 2nd Executive Council |
| Successor | 4th Executive Council |
The 3rd Executive Council lasted 110 days.
3rd Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Nomination of President of the Executive Council
The members of the 5th Dáil first met on 23 June 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 68 votes in favour and 22 against.[1] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.[2]
| 23 June 1927 Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[3] Motion proposed by James Murphy and seconded by Peadar Doyle Absolute majority: 77/153 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 | Cumann na nGaedheal (44), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (13) | 68 / 153 |
| No | Labour Party (22) | 22 / 153 |
| Absent or Not voting | National League Party (8), Cumann na nGaedheal (2), Independents (2), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 13 / 153 |
| Abstentionist | Fianna Fáil (44), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (1) | 50 / 153 |
Members of the Executive Council
The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil.[2] They were then appointed by the Governor General.[4]
| Office | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| President of the Executive Council | W. T. Cosgrave | |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | Kevin O'Higgins | |
| Minister for External Affairs | ||
| Minister for Justice | ||
| Minister for Finance | Ernest Blythe | |
| Minister for Defence | Desmond FitzGerald | |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | Patrick McGilligan | |
| Minister for Education | John M. O'Sullivan | |
| Minister for Agriculture and Lands | Patrick Hogan | |
| Minister for Fisheries | Fionán Lynch | |
| Minister for Local Government and Public Health | Richard Mulcahy | |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | James J. Walsh | |
Changes 14 July 1927Following the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins.[5][6][7] | ||
| Office | Name | |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | Ernest Blythe | |
| Minister for External Affairs | W. T. Cosgrave (acting) | |
| Minister for Justice | ||
Parliamentary Secretaries
The Parliamentary Secretaries were appointed by the Executive Council on the nomination of the President.[8]
| Name | Office | |
|---|---|---|
| Eamonn Duggan | Government Chief Whip | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | ||
| Séamus Burke | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | |
| James FitzGerald-Kenney | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice | |
| Martin Roddy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries | |
Actions of the government
After the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins on 10 July 1927, the Executive Council proposed the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill.[9] This legislation provided for the disqualification for five years of any member of the Oireachtas who did not take the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in Article 17 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State. After this legislation had passed both houses, the TDs elected for Fianna Fáil led by Éamon de Valera took the oath and entered the Dáil for the first time since the 1922 general election.[10]
Confidence in the government
On 16 August, Labour Party leader Thomas Johnson proposed a motion of no confidence in the Executive Council. The motion was defeated, but only on the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes, giving a final vote of 71 votes to 72.[11] Although the Executive Council had narrowly retained the confidence of the Dáil, the president sought a dissolution of the Dáil and a new election was held in September 1927.
See also
References
- "NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Thursday, 23 June 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "NOMINATION OF MINISTERS, MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Thursday, 23 June 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Votes – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Tuesday, 23 June 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- "APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Thursday, 30 June 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- "NOMINATION OF MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Thursday, 14 July 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "NOMINATION OF VICE-PRESIDENT OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Thursday, 14 July 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Wednesday, 20 July 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- "History of Government – Fifth Dáil – Parliamentary Secretaries". Department of the Taoiseach. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- "Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "NEW DEPUTIES TAKE THEIR SEATS – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Friday, 12 August 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "PUBLIC BUSINESS. - NO CONFIDENCE MOTION – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil) – Tuesday, 16 August 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.