The 13th government of Ireland (2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1969 general election to the 19th Dáil held on 18 June 1969. It was formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 general election. This was the first election it won with Jack Lynch as its leader. It lasted for 1,352 days.

13th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed2 July 1969
Date dissolved14 March 1973
People and organisations
PresidentÉamon de Valera
TaoiseachJack Lynch
TánaisteErskine H. Childers
Total no. of members14
Member partyFianna Fáil
Status in legislatureMajority government
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderLiam Cosgrave
History
Election1969 general election
Legislature terms
Predecessor12th government
Successor14th government

Nomination of Taoiseach

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The 19th Dáil first met on 2 July 1969. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Jack Lynch, the Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave, and the Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed.[1] The nomination of Lynch was carried with 74 votes in favour to 66 against. Lynch was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.[2]

2 July 1969
Nomination of Jack Lynch (FF) as Taoiseach
[3]
Motion proposed by Frank Aiken and seconded by Johnny Geoghegan
Absolute majority: 73/144
Vote Parties Votes
 Y Yes Fianna Fáil (73), Independent (1)
74 / 144
No Fine Gael (49), Labour Party (17)
66 / 144
Absent or
Not voting
Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Fine Gael (1)
3 / 144
Vacancy 1[4]
1 / 144

Members of the government

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After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[5] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[6]

Office Name Term
Taoiseach Jack Lynch 1969–1973
Tánaiste Erskine H. Childers 1969–1973
Minister for Health
Minister for Agriculture Neil Blaney 1969–1970
Minister for Defence Jim Gibbons 1969–1970
Minister for Education Pádraig Faulkner 1969–1973
Minister for Finance Charles Haughey 1969–1970
Minister for External Affairs[a] Patrick Hillery 1969–1973
Minister for the Gaeltacht George Colley 1969–1973
Minister for Industry and Commerce 1969–1970
Minister for Justice Mícheál Ó Móráin 1969–1970
Minister for Labour Joseph Brennan 1969–1973
Minister for Lands Seán Flanagan 1969–1973
Minister for Local Government Kevin Boland 1969–1970
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Patrick Lalor 1969–1973
Minister for Transport and Power Brian Lenihan 1969–1973

Change 7 May 1970

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Mícheál Ó Móráin was in hospital and was asked to resign on 4 May 1970.[8][9][10]

Office Name Term
Minister for Justice Desmond O'Malley 1970–1973

Changes 9 May 1970

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Due to the Arms Crisis, Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney were dismissed on 6 May 1970 when they refused to resign. Kevin Boland resigned from the government.[11][12][13]

Office Name Term
Minister for Agriculture Jim Gibbons 1970–1973
Minister for Defence Jerry Cronin 1970–1973
Minister for Finance George Colley 1970–1973
Minister for Industry and Commerce Patrick Lalor 1970–1973
Minister for Local Government Bobby Molloy 1970–1973
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Gerry Collins 1970–1973
Minister for Social Welfare Joseph Brennan 1970–1973

Changes 3 January 1973

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Michael O'Kennedy was appointed to government on 14 December 1972.[14]
In January 1973 Patrick Hillery was appointed as Irelands's first European Commissioner.

Office Name Term
Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Lenihan 1973
Minister for Transport and Power Michael O'Kennedy 1973
Note
  1. ^ The Department of External Affairs was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs on 3 March 1971.[7]

Parliamentary Secretaries

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On 9 July 1969, the Taoiseach announced the appointment by the Government of the Parliamentary Secretaries on his nomination.[15]

Name Office
Desmond O'Malley Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Paudge Brennan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government[16]
Johnny Geoghegan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare
Noel Lemass Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
Jerry Cronin Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
Bobby Molloy Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education
Gerry Collins Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht

Changes 8 May 1970

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Following the appointment of Desmond O'Malley to government.[10]

Name Office
David Andrews Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence

Changes 9 May 1970

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Following the resignation of Paudge Brennan on 8 May and the appointment of Jerry Cronin, Bobby Molloy and Gerry Collins to government on 9 May.[13]

Name Office
Liam Cunningham Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government[17]
Jackie Fahey Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries[18]
Michael F. Kitt Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht
Michael O'Kennedy Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education

Changes 3 January 1973

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Following the appointment of Michael O'Kennedy to government.

Name Office
Jim Tunney Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education

Arms Crisis

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Following the dismissal of ministers, a motion of confidence in the government was proposed by Jack Lynch.[19] It was approved on a vote of 72 to 64.[20]

After the trial, Lynch placed a further motion of confidence in the government, in response to an opposition motion. This was approved on a vote of 74 to 67.[21]

Foreign affairs

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The government signed the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community on 22 January 1972. After a referendum held on 10 May, a constitutional amendment allowing Ireland to become a member of the European Communities was approved with the support of 83.1% of votes cast. Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom became members of the EEC on 1 January 1973.

References

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  1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 July 1969. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 July 1969. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 July 1969". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Death of Member: Expression of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 July 1969. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Nomination of Members of the Government – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 July 1969. Retrieved 21 August 2019.; "Nomination of Members of the Government (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 July 1969. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Appointment of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 July 1969. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  7. ^ External Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1971 (S.I. No. 158 of 1971). Signed on 2 March 1971. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 16 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Resignation of Minister – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 5 May 1970. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 May 1970. Retrieved 21 August 2019.; "Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 May 1970. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 March 1972. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Order of Business – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 May 1970. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 May 1970. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 May 1970. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 December 1972. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (19th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 1969. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  16. ^ Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1969 (S.I. No. 146 of 1969). Signed on 15 July 1969. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  17. ^ Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1970 (S.I. No. 109 of 1970). Signed on 19 May 1970. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1973 (S.I. No. 52 of 1973). Signed on 6 March 1973. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  18. ^ Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1970 (S.I. No. 123 of 1970). Signed on 28 May 1970. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  19. ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion – (19th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 13 May 1970. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – (19th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 14 May 1970. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.; "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – (19th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 14 May 1970. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed) – Votes – (19th Dáil) – 14 May 1970". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (Resumed) – Votes – (19th Dáil) – 4 November 1970". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
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