Government of the 28th Dáil

The Government of the 28th Dáil or the 25th Government of Ireland (26 June 1997 – 6 June 2002) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1997 general election which had been held on 6 June 1997. It was a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach.

Government of the 28th Dáil
25th Government of Ireland
Date formed26 June 1997
Date dissolved6 June 2002
People and organisations
President
TaoiseachBertie Ahern
TánaisteMary Harney
Total no. of members15
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leader
History
Election(s)1997 general election
Legislature term(s)
Predecessor24th Government
Successor26th Government

The 25th Government lasted 1,807 days.

25th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 28th Dáil first met on 26 June 1997. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern were proposed.[1] The vote on Bruton was defeated with 75 votes in favour to 87 against, while the vote on Ahern was approved by 85 to 78. Ahern was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.[2]

26 June 1997
Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by David Andrews and seconded by Mary O'Rourke
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
checkY YesFianna Fáil (77), Progressive Democrats (4), Independent (3), Sinn Féin (1)
85 / 166
NoFine Gael (54), Labour Party (16), Democratic Left (4), Green Party (2), Independent (1), Socialist Party (1)
78 / 166
Not votingIndependent (2), Ceann Comhairle (1)
3 / 166

Members of the Government

After his appointment by the president, Bertie Ahern 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 Party
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Tánaiste Mary Harney 1997–2002 Progressive Democrats
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment[lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Marine and Natural Resources[lower-alpha 2] Michael Woods 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Ray Burke 1997 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Public Enterprise[lower-alpha 3] Mary O'Rourke 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence David Andrews 1997 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] Joe Walsh 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children[lower-alpha 6] Brian Cowen 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil
Minister for the Environment and Local Government[lower-alpha 7] Noel Dempsey 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs[lower-alpha 8] Dermot Ahern 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands[lower-alpha 9] Síle de Valera 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform[lower-alpha 10] John O'Donoghue[lower-alpha 11] 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation[lower-alpha 12] Jim McDaid 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science[lower-alpha 13] Micheál Martin 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil

Changes 8 October 1997

Following the resignation of Ray Burke after allegations of corrupt payments under investigation by the Flood Tribunal.[18][19][20]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews 1997–2000 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence Michael Smith 1997–2002 Fianna Fáil

Changes 27 January 2000

Following the retirement from government of David Andrews.[21][22]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Education and Science Michael Woods 2000–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen 2000–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children Micheál Martin 2000–2002 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Marine and Natural Resources Frank Fahey 2000–2002 Fianna Fáil
Changes to Departments
  1. The Department of Enterprise and Employment was renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 8 July 1997.[5]
  2. The Department of the Marine was renamed the Department of Marine and Natural Resources on 12 July 1997.[6]
  3. The Department of Transport, Energy and Communications was renamed the Department of Public Enterprise on 12 July 1997.[7]
  4. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food on 12 July 1997.[8]
  5. The Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development on 27 September 1999.[9]
  6. The Department of Health was renamed the Department of Health and Children on 12 July 1997.[10]
  7. The Department of the Environment was renamed the Department of the Environment and Local Government on 22 July 1997.[11]
  8. The Department of Social Welfare was renamed the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on 12 July 1997.[12]
  9. The Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht was renamed the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on 12 July 1997.[13]
  10. The functions of the Department of Equality and Law Reform were transferred to the Department of Justice on 8 July 1997.[14] The Department of Justice was renamed the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 9 July.[15]
  11. John O'Donoghue was appointed as Minister for Justice and Minister for Equality and Law Reform and served as head of both departments until the transfer of functions on 8 July.
  12. The Department of Tourism and Trade was renamed the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation on 12 July 1997.[16]
  13. The Department of Education was renamed the Department of Education and Science on 1 October 1997.[17]

Attorney General

David Byrne SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4] In 1999, he resigned on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 17 July 1999, Michael McDowell SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of State

On 26 June 1997, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Séamus Brennan to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Bobby Molloy to the position of Minister of State to the Government.[2] On 1 July 1997, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Michael Smith and Liz O'Donnell. On 8 July 1997, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State.[4]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Séamus Brennan Taoiseach
Defence		 Government Chief Whip Fianna Fáil
Bobby Molloy Minister of State to the Government
Environment and Local Government		 Housing and urban renewal Progressive Democrats
Michael Smith Education and Science
Enterprise, Trade and Employment		 Science and technology Fianna Fáil
Liz O'Donnell Foreign AffairsOverseas development assistance and human rights Progressive Democrats
Noel Davern Agriculture and Food Livestock breeding and horticulture Fianna Fáil
Joe Jacob Public Enterprise Energy Fianna Fáil
Frank Fahey Health and Children Children Fianna Fáil
Willie O'Dea Education and Science Adult education, youth affairs and school transport Fianna Fáil
Tom Kitt Enterprise, Trade and Employment Labour affairs, consumer rights and international trade Fianna Fáil
Chris Flood Tourism, Sport and Recreation Local development and the National Drugs Strategy Team Fianna Fáil
Dan Wallace Environment and Local Government Environmental information and awareness and
the Environmental Protection Agency		 Fianna Fáil
Ned O'Keeffe Agriculture and Food Food Fianna Fáil
Hugh Byrne Marine and Natural Resources Aquaculture and forestry Fianna Fáil
Mary Wallace Justice, Equality and Law Reform Equality and disabilities Fianna Fáil
Martin Cullen Finance Office of Public Works Fianna Fáil
Éamon Ó Cuív Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands Gaeltacht and the islands Fianna Fáil
Tom Moffatt Health and Children Food safety and older people Fianna Fáil

Changes 9 October 1997

Following the appointment of Michael Smith as Minister for Defence the previous day.[20]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Noel Treacy Education and Science
Enterprise, Trade and Employment		 Science and technology Fianna Fáil

Changes 21 January 1998

Expansion of scope of Minister of State for Children.

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Frank Fahey Health and Children
Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Education and Science		Children Fianna Fáil

Changes 1 February 2000

Following the resignation of Chris Flood and the appointment of Frank Fahey as Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.[22]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Eoin Ryan Tourism, Sport and Recreation Local development Fianna Fáil
Mary Hanafin Health and Children
Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Education and Science		Children Fianna Fáil

Changes 19 February 2001

Following the resignation of Ned O'Keeffe on 17 February.[23]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Éamon Ó Cuív Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Rural development and the Western Development Commission Fianna Fáil
Mary Coughlan Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands Gaeltacht and the Islands Fianna Fáil

Changes 11 April 2002

Following the resignation of Bobby Molloy as a Minister of State on 10 April 2002.[24][25] O'Donnell continued in her position as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Molloy's position as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government was not filled.

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Liz O'Donnell Minister of State to the Government Progressive Democrats

Confidence in the government

After evidence given by Ahern at the Moriarty Tribunal, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was then debated on 30 June 2000 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach.[26] It was approved by the Dáil.

Dissolution

On 25 April 2002, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 17 May.[27][28] The members of the 29th Dáil met on 6 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.

See also

References
  1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. "Nomination of Taoiseach. – Votes – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 1997. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 305 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  6. Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 301 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  7. Transport, Energy and Communications (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 299 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  8. Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 302 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  9. Agriculture and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1999 (S.I. No. 307 of 1999). Signed on 21 September 1999. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  10. Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 308 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  11. Environment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 322 of 1997). Signed on 22 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  12. Social Welfare (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 307 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  13. Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 306 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  14. Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 297 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  15. Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 298 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  16. Tourism and Trade (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 304 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  17. Education (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 430 of 1997). Signed on 30 September 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2019.
  18. "Resignation of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 October 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 October 1997. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  20. "Appointment of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 October 1997. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  21. "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 January 2000. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  22. "Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 February 2000. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  23. "Resignation of Minister of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 February 2002. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  24. "Resignation of Minister of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 17 April 2002. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  25. "Appointment of Minister of State; Resignation of Minister of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2002 (32): 472. 19 April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  26. "Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 522 No. 5". 30 June 2000. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  27. "Advice to Dissolve Dáil: Announcement – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 24 April 2002. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  28. "Proclamation" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2002 (21): 520. 26 April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
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