24th Government of Ireland
The 24th Government of Ireland (15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997) was the 2nd Government of the 27th Dáil. Known as the Rainbow Coalition, it was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left. The Labour Party had been part of the 23rd Government with Fianna Fáil, formed after the 1992 general election, but left in November 1994 following a number of scandals, particularly those which emerged from the Beef Tribunal and the alleged mishandling of the prosecution of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth.[1] After Albert Reynolds was replaced as Fianna Fáil leader by Bertie Ahern, there was speculation that Labour would rejoin Fianna Fáil in government, but instead it formed a government with two parties which had been in opposition. By-election gains since 1992 meant the three parties had enough TDs between them for an overall majority. It is the only time to date that a new government was formed within the same Dáil term composed of different parties.
| 24th Government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Date formed | 15 December 1994 |
| Date dissolved | 26 June 1997 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary Robinson |
| Taoiseach | John Bruton |
| Tánaiste | Dick Spring |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | Fine Gael Labour Party Democratic Left |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition party | Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leader | Bertie Ahern |
| History | |
| Legislature term(s) | 27th Dáil 20th Seanad |
| Predecessor | 23rd Government |
| Successor | 25th Government |
The 24th Government lasted 924 days.
Nomination of Taoiseach
In the Dáil debate on the nomination for Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader John Bruton were proposed. Ahern was defeated by 67 votes to 94, while Bruton was approved.[2] Bruton was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.[3]
| 15 December 1994 Nomination of Taoiseach vote for John Bruton (FG)[4] Motion proposed by Nora Owen and seconded by Paddy Harte Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 | Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (32), Democratic Left (6) | 85 / 166 |
| No | Fianna Fáil (65), Progressive Democrats (9) | 74 / 166 |
| Absent or Not voting | Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Green Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1) | 7 / 166 |
Members of the Government
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, John Bruton proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[3][5] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[6]
Attorney General
Dermot Gleeson SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[3][6]
Ministers of State
On 15 December 1994, Seán Barrett, TD to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. Also on the same day Pat Rabbitte, TD was appointed to the position of Minister of State to the Government.[3] This was the first time a Minister of State other than the Chief Whip attended cabinet.[11] On 20 December 1994, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[6]
| Name | Department | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seán Barrett | Taoiseach Minister of State at the Department of Defence | Government Chief Whip | Fine Gael | |
| Pat Rabbitte | Minister of State to the Government Enterprise and Employment | Commerce, science and technology and consumer affairs | Democratic Left | |
| Emmet Stagg | Transport, Energy and Communications | Labour Party | ||
| Brian O'Shea | Health | Mental handicap, health promotion, food safety and public health | Labour Party | |
| Eithne FitzGerald | Office of the Tánaiste Enterprise and Employment | Labour Affairs | Labour Party | |
| Joan Burton | Foreign Affairs Justice | Overseas development assistance | Labour Party | |
| Toddy O'Sullivan | Tourism and Trade | Labour Party | ||
| Gay Mitchell | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs | European affairs IFSC and local development initiatives |
Fine Gael | |
| Bernard Allen | Education Environment | Youth and sport Local government reform |
Fine Gael | |
| Bernard Durkan | Social Welfare | Fine Gael | ||
| Jimmy Deenihan | Agriculture, Food and Forestry | Fine Gael | ||
| Phil Hogan | Finance | Fine Gael | ||
| Austin Currie | Health Education Justice | Fine Gael | ||
| Eamon Gilmore | Marine | Democratic Left | ||
| Liz McManus | Environment | Democratic Left | ||
Changes 27 January 1995Following the increase in the number of Ministers of State permitted from 15 to 17 in the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1995. | ||||
| Name | Department | Responsibility | Party | |
| Avril Doyle | Taoiseach Finance | Fine Gael | ||
| Donal Carey | Taoiseach Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | Fine Gael | ||
Changes 10 February 1995Resignation of Phil Hogan after details of the budget were leaked.[12][13] | ||||
| Name | Department | Responsibility | Party | |
| Jim Higgins | Finance | Fine Gael | ||
Changes 24 May 1995Following the appointment of Seán Barrett to government. | ||||
| Name | Department | Responsibility | Party | |
| Jim Higgins | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip | Fine Gael | |
| Hugh Coveney | Finance | Fine Gael | ||
Constitutional referendums
The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Equality and Law Reform Mervyn Taylor and approved in a referendum on 24 November 1995. It removed the prohibition on divorce, replacing it terms allowing a court to dissolve a marriage, including a requirement to have been separated for four of the previous five years. It was followed by Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996.
The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Justice Nora Owen and approved in a referendum on 28 November 1996. It allowed a court to refuse bail to someone convicted of a serious offence when reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. It was followed by the Bail Act 1997.
Dissolution
On 15 May 1997, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 6 June.[14] When the members of the 28th Dáil met on 26 June, Bertie Ahern was nominated and appointed as Taoiseach and formed a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition government.
References
- "Resignation of Taoiseach and Ministerial Changes: Statement – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Tuesday, 22 November 1994". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 15 December 1994". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 15 December 1994". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 15 December 1994". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 15 December 1994". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Tuesday, 25 January 1995". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- "Nomination of Member of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Tuesday, 23 May 1995". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Appointment of Member of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Wednesday, 24 May 1995". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Nomination of Member of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Tuesday, 3 December 1996". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Appointment of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Wednesday, 4 December 1996". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister of State's Status and Role – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Wednesday, 25 January 1995". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- "Resignation of Minister of State: Personal Explanation – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 9 February 1995". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Tuesday, 14 February 1995". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- "Dissolution of Dáil – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 15 May 1997". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 31 March 2020.