Government of the 6th Dáil

There were two Governments of the 6th Dáil, which was elected at the September 1927 general election held on 15 September 1927. The 4th Executive Council (11 October 1927 – 2 April 1930) and the 5th Executive Council (2 April 1930 – 9 March 1932) were both minority governments of Cumann na nGaedheal led by W. T. Cosgrave as President of the Executive Council.

The 4th Executive Council lasted for 899 days 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. The 5th Executive Council lasted for 707 days.

4th Executive Council of the Irish Free State

Government of the 6th Dáil
4th Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Date formed	11 October 1927
Date dissolved	2 April 1930
People and organisations
King	George V
Governor-General	Tim Healy (Oct. 1927 – Jan. 1928) James McNeill (Jan. 1928 – Apr. 1930)
President of the Executive Council	W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council	Ernest Blythe
Total no. of members	9
Member party	Cumann na nGaedheal
Status in legislature	Minority Government
Opposition party	Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader	Éamon de Valera
History
Election(s)	September 1927 general election
Legislature term(s)	6th Dáil 1st Seanad (1925–28) 1st Seanad (1928–31)
Predecessor	3rd Executive Council
Successor	5th Executive Council

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

The members of the 6th Dáil first met on 11 October 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 76 votes in favour and 70 against.[1] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.[2]

11 October 1927 Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[3] Motion proposed by Gearóid O'Sullivan and seconded by Peadar Doyle Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Cumann na nGaedheal (60), Farmers' Party (6), Independents (10)	76 / 153
No	Fianna Fáil (57), Labour Party (13)	70 / 153
Absent or Not voting	National League Party (2), Independents (2), Ceann Comhairle (1)	5 / 153
Vacancy	1[4]	1 / 153

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 12 October.[2] They were then appointed by the Governor General.[5]

Office	Name
President of the Executive Council		W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council		Ernest Blythe
Minister for Finance
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Defence		Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Education		John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Industry and Commerce		Patrick McGilligan
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture and Lands[lower-alpha 1]		Patrick Hogan
Minister for Fisheries[lower-alpha 2]		Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health		Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Justice		James FitzGerald-Kenney

Notes

1. On 1 September 1928, the Minister for Agriculture and Lands was renamed as Minister for Agriculture.[6]
2. On 1 September 1928, the Minister Fisheries was renamed as Minister for Lands and Fisheries.[6]

Parliamentary Secretaries

The Parliamentary Secretaries were appointed by the Executive Council.[7]

Name	Office	Party
Eamonn Duggan	Government Chief Whip		Cumann na nGaedheal
	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Séamus Burke	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance		Cumann na nGaedheal
Michael Heffernan	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		Farmers' Party
Martin Roddy	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries		Cumann na nGaedheal
James Dolan	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce		Cumann na nGaedheal

Amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

The following amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State 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 – October 1928.L–R: Diarmuid O'Hegarty, Patrick McGilligan, James FitzGerald-Kenney, John M. O'Sullivan, John A. Costello, W. T. Cosgrave, Ernest Blythe, Desmond FitzGerald, Richard Mulcahy, Patrick Hogan and Fionán Lynch.

Resignation of the Executive Council

On 27 March 1930, the Old Age Pensions Bill 1929, a private member's bill proposed by Conn Ward a member of Fianna Fáil, which was the lead party of the parliamentary opposition, passed second stage by 66 votes to 64.[8] The following day, the President tendered his resignation to the Governor-General.[9] 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

Government of the 6th Dáil
5th Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Date formed	2 April 1930
Date dissolved	9 March 1932
People and organisations
King	George V
Governor-General	James McNeill
President of the Executive Council	W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council	Ernest Blythe
Total no. of members	9
Member party	Cumann na nGaedheal
Status in legislature	Minority Government
Opposition party	Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader	Éamon de Valera
History
Legislature term(s)	6th Dáil 1st Seanad (1928–31) 1st Seanad (1931–34)
Predecessor	4th Executive Council
Successor	6th Executive Council

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, Labour Party Leader Thomas J. O'Connell, and Cumann na nGaedheal 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.[10] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General James McNeill.[11]

2 April 1930 Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[12] Motion proposed by Joseph Mongan and seconded by Michael Davis Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Cumann na nGaedheal (62), Farmers' Party (6), National League Party (2), Independents (10)	80 / 153
No	Fianna Fáil (54), Labour Party (11)	65 / 153
Absent or Not voting	Fianna Fáil (3), Labour Party (2), Independent (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)	7 / 153

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 3 April.[11] They were then appointed by the Governor General.[13]

Office	Name
President of the Executive Council		W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council		Ernest Blythe
Minister for Finance
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Defence		Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Education		John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Industry and Commerce		Patrick McGilligan
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture		Patrick Hogan
Minister for Lands and Fisheries		Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health		Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Justice		James FitzGerald-Kenney

Parliamentary Secretaries

The Parliamentary Secretaries were appointed by the Executive Council.[7]

Name	Office	Party
Eamonn Duggan	Government Chief Whip		Cumann na nGaedheal
	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Séamus Burke	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance		Cumann na nGaedheal
Michael Heffernan	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		Farmers' Party
Martin Roddy	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries		Cumann na nGaedheal
James Dolan	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce		Cumann na nGaedheal

Amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

The following amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State 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 removed the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to pass laws affecting British Dominions, including the Irish Free State.

See also

• Dáil Éireann
• Government of Ireland
• Constitution of the Irish Free State
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland

References

1. "NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 October 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
2. "NOMINATION OF MINISTERS, MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Wednesday, 12 October 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
3. "NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – Votes – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 October 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
4. "PRIVATE BUSINESS. - ISSUE OF WRIT—NORTH DUBLIN CONSTITUENCY. – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Thursday, 1 March 1928". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
5. "ORDERS OF THE DAY. - APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS. – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Wednesday, 19 October 1927". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
6. "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1928 (Commencement) Order 1928". Irish Statute Book. 7 August 1928. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
7. "History of Government – Sixth Dáil – Parliamentary Secretaries". Department of the Taoiseach. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
8. "Old Age Pensions Bill, 1929—Second Stage (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Thursday, 27 March". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
9. "RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Friday, 28 March". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
10. "Nomination of President of the Executive Council – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1930". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
11. "Nomination of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Thursday, 3 April 1930". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
12. "Nomination of President of the Executive Council – Votes – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1930". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
13. "Appointment of Executive Council – Dáil Éireann (6th Dáil) – Wednesday, 9 April 1930". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 25 January 2020.