Government of the 17th Dáil
Irish government from 1961 to 1965
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 10th government of Ireland (11 October 1961 â 21 April 1965) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1961 general election to the 17th Dáil held on 4 October 1961. It was a minority government formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 election. It was the first election it had won since Seán Lemass had succeeded Ãamon de Valera as leader. It lasted for 3 years, 192 days.
10th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 11 October 1961 |
| Date dissolved | 21 April 1965 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Ãamon de Valera |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Tánaiste | Seán MacEntee |
| Total no. of members | 14 |
| Member party | Fianna Fáil |
| Status in legislature | Minority government |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | James Dillon |
| History | |
| Election | 1961 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 9th government |
| Successor | 11th government |
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 17th Dáil first met on 11 October 1961. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Seán Lemass, Fine Gael leader James Dillon, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed.[1] The nomination of Lemass was carried with 72 votes in favour and 68 against. Lemass was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Ãamon de Valera.[2]
| 11 October 1961 Nomination of Seán Lemass (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Seán MacEntee and seconded by James Ryan Absolute majority: 73/144 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes | Fianna Fáil (70), Independents (2) | 72 / 144 |
| No | Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (15), Clann na Talmhan (2), National Progressive Democrats (2), Clann na Poblachta (1), Independent (1) | 68 / 144 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (3) | 4 / 144 |
Members of the government
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Seán Lemass proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on 12 October 1961.[5]
Parliamentary Secretaries
On 12 October 1961, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[5]
| Name | Office | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Brennan | Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence |
1961â1965 | |
| Donogh O'Malley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1961â1965 | |
| Brian Lenihan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice[8] Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands[9] |
1961â1964 | |
Change 21 October 1964Appointment of Brian Lenihan to government.[6] | |||
| Name | Office | Term | |
| George Colley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands[10] | 1964â1965 | |
Confidence in the government
On 30 October 1963, Brendan Corish, leader of the Labour Party, proposed a motion of no confidence in the government after its introduction of the turnover tax.[11] This motion was amended by the government as a motion of confidence, and approved by a vote of 73 to 69.[12]