23rd Government of Ireland
The 23rd Government of Ireland (12 January 1993 – 15 December 1994) was the government formed following the 1992 general election to the 27th Dáil held on 25 November 1992. It was a coalition of Fianna Fáil, with leader Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach, and the Labour Party, with leader Dick Spring as Tánaiste. It was the first time that these two parties were in government together; on each previous occasion Labour was in government, it was a junior coalition party with Fine Gael. The government lasted for 675 days from its appointment until its resignation on 17 November 1994, and continued to carry out its duties for a further 28 days until the appointment of its successor, giving a total of 703 days.
23rd Government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Date formed | 12 January 1993 |
| Date dissolved | 15 December 1994 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary Robinson |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Tánaiste |
|
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties |
|
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | John Bruton |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 1992 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Predecessor | 22nd Government |
| Successor | 24th Government |
The 27th Dáil lasted until 1997, but the first government fell in 1994 after the breakdown of relations between the two parties. It was succeeded in December 1994 by the 24th Government, a coalition of Fine Gael, with leader John Bruton as Taoiseach, Labour, with Dick Spring serving again as Tánaiste, and Democratic Left, led by Proinsias De Rossa. This was the only time a government with a new coalition of parties was formed within a single Dáil term.
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 27th Dáil first met on 14 December 1992. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Labour Party leader Dick Spring were each proposed. None of these proposals were passed by the Dáil: Reynolds received 68 votes in favour with 94 against, Bruton received 55 in favour to 107 against, and Spring received 39 in favour to 122 against.[1] Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach and continued in a caretaker capacity.[2]
On 12 January 1993, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton were again proposed for the nomination of the Dáil for the position of Taoiseach, and on this occasion, the nomination of Reynolds was successful by 102 votes to 60.[3] Reynolds was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.[4]
| 12 January 1993 Nomination of Albert Reynolds (FF) as Taoiseach[5] Motion proposed by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and seconded by Dick Spring Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes | Fianna Fáil (68), Labour Party (33), Independent Fianna Fáil (1) | 102 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (45), Progressive Democrats (10), Democratic Left (4), Green Party (1) | 60 / 166 |
| Not voting | Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 4 / 166 |
Members of the Government
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Albert Reynolds proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[6]
- Notes
- The Department of Industry and Commerce was renamed as the Department of Enterprise and Employment on 20 January 1993.[7]
- The Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry on 21 January 1993.[8]
- The Department of Energy was renamed as the Department of Tourism and Trade on 22 January 1993.[9]
- McCreevy had initially been appointed as Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications and was re-assigned after the transfer of departmental function.[6]
- The Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications was renamed as the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications on 22 January 1993.[10]
- Cowen had initially been appointed as Minister for Energy and was re-assigned after the transfer of departmental functions.[6]
- The Department of Labour was renamed as the Department of Equality and Law Reform on 21 January 1993.[11]
- The Department of the Gaeltacht was renamed as the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht on 21 January 1993.[12]
Attorney General
On 12 January 1993 Harry Whelehan SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[4][6] He resigned as Attorney General on 11 November 1994 on his nomination as President of the High Court (a position he would serve in for only two days). On 11 November 1994, Eoghan Fitzsimons SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of State
On 12 January 1993, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Noel Dempsey to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip.[4] On 14 January 1993, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State.[6]
Confidence in the government
After the sum of European Structural and Investment Funds allocated to Ireland was lower than previously announced, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was then debated on 28 October 1993 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach.[15] It was approved by a vote of 94 to 55.[16]
Resignation of government
In November 1994, the Attorney General, Harry Whelehan was nominated by the government as President of the High Court.[17] It emerged that he had failed to expedite the extradition of Fr Brendan Smyth to Northern Ireland for sexual offences committed against children. The appointment of Whelehan to the court despite this led to a motion of no confidence in the government. Reynolds responded on 16 November by proposing a motion reaffirming the confidence of the Dáil in the Taoiseach and the Government.[18]
On the following day, 17 November, Labour withdrew from the government and Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach.[13] The motion of confidence in the government was withdrawn.[19] Reynolds and the Fianna Fáil ministers continued to carry on their duties until their successors were appointed on 15 December.[14]
References
- "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 December 1992. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Resignation of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 2". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 December 1992. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 6". 12 January 1993. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 6". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 January 1993. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- "Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) – Votes – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Tuesday, 12 January 1993". Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 7". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 February 1993. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- Industry and Commerce (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 19 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 January 2020.
- Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 11 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 January 2020.
- Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 16 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 January 2020.
- Tourism, Transport and Communications (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 17 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 January 2020.
- Labour (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 20 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 January 2020.
- Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 22 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 January 2020.
- "Statement by Taoiseach: Resignation of Members of Government – Vol. 447 No. 3". Oireachtas. 17 November 1994. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- "Resignation of Taoiseach and Ministerial Changes: Statement – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 447 No. 4". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 November 1994. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 435 No. 2". 28 October 1993. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2022.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 435 No. 2". 28 October 1993. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Votes – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – 28 October 1993". Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- "Appointment of President of High Court: Statements – Vol. 447 No. 1". Oireachtas. 15 November 1994. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- "Confidence in Government: Motion – Vol. 447 No. 2". Oireachtas. 16 November 1994. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- "Withdrawal of Motion of Confidence – Vol. 447 No. 3". Oireachtas. 17 November 1994. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.