Government of the 12th Dáil
Irish government from 1944 to 1948
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The 4th Government of Ireland (9 June 1944 – 18 February 1948) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1944 general election to the 12th Dáil held on 30 May. It was a single-party Fianna Fáil government led by Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach. It lasted for 3 years, 254 days. Fianna Fáil had been in office since the 1932 general election.
- Douglas Hyde (1944–1945)
- Seán T. O'Kelly (1945–1948)
4th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 9 June 1944 |
| Date dissolved | 18 February 1948 |
| People and organisations | |
| |
| Éamon de Valera | |
| |
Total no. of members |
|
Member party | Fianna Fáil |
Status in legislature | Majority Government 76 / 138 (55%)
|
Opposition party | Fine Gael |
Opposition leader | Richard Mulcahy |
| History | |
| Election | 1944 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 3rd government |
| Successor | 5th government |
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 12th Dáil first met on 9 June 1944. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was proposed. This motion was approved by 81 to 37.[1] De Valera was appointed as Taoiseach by President Douglas Hyde.[2]
| 9 June 1944 Nomination of Éamon de Valera (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Michael Kennedy and seconded by Timothy O'Sullivan Absolute majority: 70/138 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes | Fianna Fáil (75), National Labour Party (3), Independents (3) | 81 / 138 |
| No | Fine Gael (29), Labour Party (7), Independent (1) | 37 / 138 |
| Absent of Not voting | Clann na Talmhan (9), Independents (7), Fine Gael (1), Labour Party (1), National Labour Party (1), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 20 / 138 |
Members of the government
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Éamon de Valera proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[5]
- Note
- The Department of Local Government and Public Health was renamed as the Department of Local Government on 22 January 1947.[7]
Parliamentary Secretaries
On 9 June, the Government appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[12]
| Name | Office | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eamon Kissane | Government Chief Whip | 1944–1948 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1944–1948 | ||
| Paddy Smith | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1944–1946 | |
| Conn Ward | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health[13] | 1944–1946 | |
| Seán O'Grady | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce | 1944–1946 | |
| Erskine H. Childers | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health | 1944–1948 | |
Change 13 July 1946Resignation of Conn Ward following the report of the Ward Tribunal.[14] | |||
Changes 1 January 1947 | |||
| Paddy Smith | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture | Jan. 1947 | |
| Seán O'Grady | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1947–1948 | |