Government of the 31st Dáil
The Government of the 31st Dáil or the 29th Government of Ireland (9 March 2011 – 6 May 2016) was the government of Ireland which was formed following the 2011 general election to Dáil Éireann on 25 February 2011. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. From 2011 to 2014, Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore served as Tánaiste, and from 2014 to 2016, the new Labour leader Joan Burton served as Tánaiste.
| Government of the 31st Dáil | |
|---|---|
| 29th Government of Ireland | |
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| Date formed | 9 March 2011 |
| Date dissolved | 6 May 2016 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary McAleese (2011) Michael D. Higgins (2011–16) |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Tánaiste | Eamon Gilmore (2011–14) Joan Burton (2014–16) |
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member parties | Fine Gael Labour Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority Coalition |
| Opposition cabinet | First Martin front bench |
| Opposition party | Fianna Fáil |
| Opposition leader | Micheál Martin |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2011 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 31st Dáil 24th Seanad |
| Budget(s) | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Outgoing formation | 2016 government formation |
| Predecessor | 28th Government |
| Successor | 30th Government |
The 29th Government lasted 1828 days from its appointment until its resignation, and continued to carry out its duties for a further 60 days until the appointment of the successor government.
29th Government of IrelandEdit
Nomination of TaoiseachEdit
The members of the 31st Dáil first met on 9 March 2011. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, only Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was proposed.[1] This proposal was carried with 117 votes in favour and 27 votes against, the greatest number of votes cast in the Dáil in favour of the nomination of a candidate for Taoiseach. Kenny was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Mary McAleese.[2]
| 9 March 2011 Nomination of Taoiseach vote for Enda Kenny (FG)[3] Motion proposed by Simon Harris and seconded by Ciara Conway Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes |
Fine Gael (76), Labour Party (37), Independent (5) | 117 / 166
|
| No | Sinn Féin (14), Independent (8), People Before Profit Alliance (2), Socialist Party (2), Workers and Unemployed Action Group (1) | 27 / 166
|
| Not voting | Fianna Fáil (20), Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1) | 22 / 166
|
Members of the GovernmentEdit
After his appointment by the president, Enda Kenny proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[2][4][5]
- Changes to departments
- ^ The Department of Foreign Affairs was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 2 June 2011.[6]
- ^ The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was established by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 which was enacted on 4 July 2011.[7]
- ^ The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation was renamed the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on 2 June 2011.[8]
- ^ The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport was renamed the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on 2 June 2011.[9]
- ^ The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government was renamed the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on 2 May 2011.[10]
- ^ The Department of Justice and Law Reform was renamed the Department of Justice and Equality on 2 April 2011.[11]
- ^ The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was renamed the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 17 October 2011.[12]
- ^ The Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs was renamed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on 2 June 2011.[13]
- ^ The Department of Health and Children was renamed the Department of Health on 4 June 2011.[14]
- ^ The Department of Transport was renamed the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on 2 April 2011.[15]
Attorney GeneralEdit
Máire Whelan SC was appointed as Attorney General by the president on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][4]
Ministers of StateEdit
On 9 March 2011, Paul Kehoe and Willie Penrose were appointed by the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach as Ministers of State who would attend cabinet without a vote.[2] On 10 March 2011, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 13 further Ministers of State.[20][21]
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Term | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Kehoe (In attendance at cabinet) |
Taoiseach Defence |
Government Chief Whip Defence |
2011–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Willie Penrose (In attendance at cabinet) |
Environment, Community and Local Government | Housing and Planning | 2011 | Labour Party | |
| Dinny McGinley | Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | Gaeltacht Affairs | 2011–2014 | Fine Gael | |
| Róisín Shortall | Health | Primary Care | 2011–2012 | Labour Party | |
| John Perry | Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Small Business | 2011–2014 | Fine Gael | |
| Michael Ring | Transport, Tourism and Sport | Tourism and Sport | 2011–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Jan O'Sullivan | Foreign Affairs and Trade | Trade and Development | 2011 | Labour Party | |
| Kathleen Lynch | Justice and Equality Health |
Disability, Equality and Mental Health |
2011–2014 | Labour Party | |
| Fergus O'Dowd | Environment, Community and Local Government Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
NewERA Project[22] | 2011–2014 | Fine Gael | |
| Brian Hayes | Public Expenditure and Reform Finance |
Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works |
2011–2014 | Fine Gael | |
| Shane McEntee | Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Food, Horticulture and Food Safety |
2011–2012 | Fine Gael | |
| Lucinda Creighton | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs and Trade |
European Affairs | 2011–2013 | Fine Gael | |
| Seán Sherlock | Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Education and Skills |
Research and Innovation | 2011–2014 | Labour Party | |
| Ciarán Cannon | Education and Skills | Training and Skills | 2011–2014 | Fine Gael | |
| Alan Kelly | Transport, Tourism and Sport | Public and Commuter Transport | 2011–2014 | Labour Party | |
Change on 20 December 2011EditFollowing the resignation of Willie Penrose on 15 November 2011. | |||||
| Jan O'Sullivan (In attendance at cabinet) |
Environment, Community and Local Government | Housing and Planning | 2011–2014 | Labour Party | |
| Joe Costello | Foreign Affairs and Trade | Trade and Development | 2011–2014 | Labour Party | |
Change on 2 October 2012EditFollowing the resignation of Róisín Shortall on 26 September 2012.[23][24] | |||||
| Alex White | Health | Primary Care | 2012–2014 | Labour Party | |
Change on 5 June 2013EditFollowing the death of Shane McEntee on 21 December 2012.[25] | |||||
| Tom Hayes | Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Food, Horticulture and Food Safety |
2013–2016 | Fine Gael | |
Change on 12 July 2013EditFollowing the resignation of Lucinda Creighton on 11 July 2013.[26] | |||||
| Paschal Donohoe | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs and Trade |
European Affairs | 2013–2014 | Fine Gael | |
Change on 15 July 2014Edit | |||||
| Ged Nash (In attendance at cabinet) |
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Business and Employment | 2014–2016 | Labour Party | |
| Jimmy Deenihan | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs and Trade |
Diaspora | 2014–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Kathleen Lynch | Health | Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability |
2014–2016 | Labour Party | |
| Seán Sherlock | Foreign Affairs and Trade | Overseas Development Assistance, Trade Promotion and North/South Cooperation |
2014–2016 | Labour Party | |
| Damien English | Education and Skills Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
Skills, Research and Innovation | 2014–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Joe McHugh | Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources |
2014–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Paudie Coffey | Environment, Community and Local Government | Housing, Planning and Construction 2020 Strategy |
2014–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Simon Harris | Finance Public Expenditure and Reform Taoiseach |
Office of Public Works, Public Procurement and International Banking |
2014–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Kevin Humphreys | Social Protection | Employment, Community and Social Support |
2014–2016 | Labour Party | |
| Dara Murphy | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs and Trade |
European Affairs and Data Protection |
2014–2016 | Fine Gael | |
| Aodhán Ó Ríordáin | Justice and Equality Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
New Communities, Culture and Equality |
2014–2016 | Labour Party | |
| Ann Phelan | Agriculture, Food and the Marine Transport, Tourism and Sport |
Rural Economic Development and Rural Transport |
2014–2016 | Labour Party | |
Economic Management CouncilEdit
The Economic Management Council was a cabinet subcommittee of senior ministers formed to co-ordinate the response to the Irish financial crisis and the government's dealings with the troika of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.[28] Its members were the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.[29] It was supported by the Department of the Taoiseach, led by Dermot McCarthy.[28][30] Brigid Laffan compared it to a war cabinet.[31] Opposition parties suggested the Council represented a dangerous concentration of power.[32]
Following the formation of a government in 2016, Shane Ross, a member of the Government of the 32nd Dáil, confirmed in the Dáil that the subcommittee would not form part of the new government. Ross told the Dáil on 6 May 2016: "I had a conversation last night with the Taoiseach. I was talking to him about Dáil reform and I asked him about an issue - a last point I had forgotten to ask about earlier - which was the abolition of the Economic Management Council. I thought it was going to be like one of these thorny topics which we had been through over the last few weeks. He told me okay, it is gone, that it had been needed for a particular time and it is not needed any more and I was to consider it gone. To me that was very encouraging because it meant that one of those obstacles to Dáil reform, one of those rather secretive bodies that had dictated to the Cabinet and to the Dáil the agenda of what came out to the country, was now a thing of the past."[33]
Dissolution and resignationEdit
On 3 February 2016, Taoiseach Enda Kenny sought a dissolution of the Dáil which was granted by the president, with the new Dáil to convene on 10 March.[34] The general election took place on 26 February.
The members of the 32nd Dáil first met on 10 March. Enda Kenny, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, and Richard Boyd Barrett of the Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit were each proposed for nomination as Taoiseach. None of the four motions were successful.[35] Kenny announced that he would resign as Taoiseach but that under the provisions of Article 28.11 of the Constitution, the government would continue to carry out their duties until their successors were appointed.[36] Kenny continued in this capacity until 6 May 2016, when he was again nominated for the appointment by the president to the position of Taoiseach and formed the 30th Government of Ireland.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Wednesday, 9 March 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) - Wednesday, 9 March 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) - Wednesday, 9 March 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 15 March 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Enda Kenny reveals new Cabinet". RTÉ News. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Foreign Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Tourism, Culture and Sport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Justice and Law Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Thursday, 8 May 2014". Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 13 May 2014". Oireachtas. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Friday, 11 July 2014". Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 15 July 2014". Oireachtas. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Government appoints Ministers of State". MerrionStreet.ie. 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 15 March 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ Government economic stimulus plan
- ^ "Resignation of Minister of State: Statement – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Thursday, 27 September 2012". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "Ministerial Appointment: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 2 October 2012". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 11 June 2013". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Minister of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 16 July 2013". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "New Ministers of State Appointed". MerrionStreet.ie. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ a b State's most senior civil servant to step down
- ^ "Economic Management Council". Department of the Taoiseach. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ "Cabinet Committee Meetings". Dáil debates. Oireachtas. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ Laffan, Brigid (28 August 2013). "Economic Management Council acts as a 'war cabinet' in Ireland's fight for survival". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ "Martin queries constitutionality of Economic Management Council". RTÉ News. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (Continued) – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Friday, 6 May 2016". Oireachtas. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "Advice to Dissolve Dáil: Announcement – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Wednesday, 3 February 2016". Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Thursday, 10 March 2016". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ Constitution of Ireland, Article 28.11