Government of the 30th Dáil
Governments of Ireland 2007 to 2011
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There were two governments of the 30th Dáil, which was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007. The 27th government of Ireland (14 June 2007 – 7 May 2008) was led by Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach and lasted 328 days. The 28th government of Ireland (7 May 2008 – 9 March 2011) was led by Brian Cowen as Taoiseach and lasted 2 years, 306 days. The governments were formed as coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. The Progressive Democrats disbanded in November 2009 and Mary Harney continued as an Independent member of the government until 20 January 2011. The Green Party left government on 23 January 2011.
27th government of Ireland
27th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 14 June 2007 |
| Date dissolved | 7 May 2008 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary McAleese |
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Tánaiste | Brian Cowen |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Minority coalition |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Enda Kenny |
| History | |
| Election | 2007 general election |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | 26th government |
| Successor | 28th government |
The 27th government of Ireland was composed of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. It was also supported by four independent TDs: Beverley Flynn, Jackie Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry and Finian McGrath. Flynn later rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in April 2008.
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 30th Dáil first met on 14 June. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny were proposed. Ahern received the nomination of the Dáil.[1] Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.[2]
| 14 June 2007 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Brian Cowen and seconded by Trevor Sargent Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
 Yes | Fianna Fáil (77), Green Party (6), Independent (4), Progressive Democrats (2) | 89 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (51), Labour Party (20), Sinn Féin (4), Independent (1) | 76 / 166 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1) | 1 / 166 |
Government ministers
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][5]
- Changes to Departments
- The Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 20 October 2007.[6]
- The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was renamed the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 20 October 2007.[7]
Attorney General
On 14 June 2007, Paul Gallagher was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][5]
Ministers of state
On 14 June 2007, Ahern announced to the Dáil that the government on his nomination would re-appoint Tom Kitt, TD to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence, and would appoint Dick Roche, TD to the position of Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for European Affairs.[2] On 20 June 2007, the Taoiseach announced the government had appointed of a further 15 Ministers of State on his nomination, as well as the names of three Ministers of State the government would appoint on his nomination after the passage of the Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007.[8][5] This legislation increased the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20 and was enacted on 9 July 2007.[9] Kitt and Brendan Smith attended meetings of the cabinet.[10]
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Kitt In attendance at cabinet |
Taoiseach[11] Defence |
Government Chief Whip Defence |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Brendan Smith In attendance at cabinet |
Health and Children[12] Justice, Equality and Law Reform[13] Education and Science |
Children | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dick Roche | Foreign Affairs | European Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Kitt | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Haughey | Education and Science[14] Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Lifelong Learning, Youth Work and School Transport |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Billy Kelleher | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[15] | Labour Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Trevor Sargent | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[16] | Food and Horticulture | Green | |
| Noel Ahern | Finance | Office of Public Works | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tony Killeen | Environment, Heritage and Local Government[17] Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
Environment and Energy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Wallace | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[18] | Forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Batt O'Keeffe | Environment, Heritage and Local Government[19] | Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas | Fianna Fáil | |
| Pat Carey | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Conor Lenihan | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Education and Science Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Integration Policy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Ahern | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment[20] |
Innovation Policy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | Health and Children[21] | Health Promotion and Food Safety | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Power | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality Issues | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Browne | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Fisheries | Fianna Fáil | |
Appointments after 9 July 2007Following the increase in the number of Ministers of State. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| John McGuinness | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[22] | Trade and Commerce | Fianna Fáil | |
| Jimmy Devins | Health and Children[23] Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment Justice, Equality and Law Reform[24] |
Disability Issues and Mental Health | Fianna Fáil | |
| Máire Hoctor | Health and Children[25] Social and Family Affairs Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
Older People | Fianna Fáil | |
Confidence in the Government
On 26 September 2007, a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government proposed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was approved with 81 votes in favour and 76 against.[26]
On 28 November 2007, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney was proposed by Jan O'Sullivan for the Labour Party. The motion was amended by the Minister, and the amended motion (now a vote of confidence) was carried, with 83 votes in favour to 73 votes against.[27]
Resignation
On 2 April 2008, Bertie Ahern announced his intention to resign as leader of Fianna Fáil. On 9 April, Brian Cowen was elected unopposed to succeed him. On 6 May, Ahern resigned as Taoiseach.[28][29]
28th government of Ireland
28th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
Government of Ireland | |
.jpg) | |
| Date formed | 7 May 2008 |
| Date dissolved | 9 March 2011 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary McAleese |
| Taoiseach | Brian Cowen |
| Tánaiste | Mary Coughlan |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition cabinet | Second Kenny front bench |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Enda Kenny |
| History | |
| Legislature terms | |
| Budgets | |
| Predecessor | 27th government |
| Successor | 29th government |
The 28th government of Ireland was formed on 7 May 2008 following the resignation the previous day of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. The new Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen was nominated by the Dáil as Ireland's 12th head of government. It was initially composed of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and supported by independent TDs Jackie Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry and Finian McGrath. McGrath later withdrew his support in October 2008.
Following the disbandment of the Progressive Democrats in 2009, it became a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Mary Harney, continuing as an Independent minister.
A cabinet reshuffle took place on 23 March 2010, following the resignations of Willie O'Dea and Martin Cullen. After the resignations of six ministers in January 2011, the vacant portfolios were reassigned to other ministers;[30] with the subsequent resignation of Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil on 22 January 2011, the Green Party withdrew their support from the government.[31]
The government was dominated by responses to the economic downturn, culminating in a troika of the EU/ECB/IMF troika directing the government's financial decisions in November 2010.
Nomination of Taoiseach
On 7 May 2008, following the resignation of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore were each proposed to be nominated by Dáil Éireann for the position of Taoiseach. Cowen received the nomination of the Dáil.[32] Cowen was appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.[33]
| 7 May 2008 Nomination of Brian Cowen (FF) as Taoiseach[34] Motion proposed by Bertie Ahern and seconded by John Gormley Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Yes | Fianna Fáil (76), Green Party (6), Independent (4), Progressive Democrats (2) | 88 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (51), Labour Party (20), Sinn Féin (4), Independent (1) | 76 / 166 |
| Absent or Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1) | 2 / 166 |
Government ministers
After his appointment by the president, Brian Cowen proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[33] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[35][36]
- Changes to departments
- The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was renamed the Department of Justice and Law Reform on 2 June 2010.[37]
- The Department of Education and Science was renamed the Department of Education and Skills on 2 May 2010.[42]
- The Department of Social and Family Affairs was renamed the Department of Social Protection on 2 May 2010.[43]
- The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was renamed the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport on 2 May 2010.[44]
- The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on 2 May 2010.[45]
- The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was renamed the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs on 2 June 2010.[46]
Attorney General
On 7 May 2008, Paul Gallagher was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[50][33][36]
Ministers of state
On 7 May 2008, Cowen announced that the government would on his nomination appoint Pat Carey, Barry Andrews, Trevor Sargent, and Dick Roche as ministers of state.[51][33] Carey and Andrews would attend meetings of the cabinet.[52] On 13 May 2008, Cowen announced the appointment by the government on his nomination of 16 further ministers of state.[53][36][54]
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Carey In attendance at cabinet |
Taoiseach[55] Defence |
Government Chief Whip Active Citizenship |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Barry Andrews In attendance at cabinet |
Health and Children[56] Education and Science[57] Justice, Equality and Law Reform[58] |
Children and Youth Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dick Roche | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs |
European Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Trevor Sargent | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[59] | Food and Horticulture | Green | |
| Noel Ahern | Transport[60] | Road Safety | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Power | Communications, Energy and Natural Resources[61] | Information Society and Natural Resources | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tony Killeen | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[62] | Fisheries and Forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Conor Lenihan | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Education and Science Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Integration Policy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Wallace | Health and Children[63] | Health Promotion and Food Safety | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Haughey | Education and Science[64] Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Lifelong Learning and School Transport | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Kitt | Environment, Heritage and Local Government[65] | Local Services | Fianna Fáil | |
| Billy Kelleher | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[66] | Labour Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| John McGuinness | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[67] | Trade and Commerce | Fianna Fáil | |
| Jimmy Devins | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment[68] |
Science, Technology and Innovation | Fianna Fáil | |
| Máire Hoctor | Health and Children[69] Social and Family Affairs Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
Older People | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Moloney | Health and Children[70] Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Equality, Disability Issues and Mental Health | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Finneran | Environment, Heritage and Local Government[71] | Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Curran | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[72] | Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Peter Power | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development | Fianna Fáil | |
| Martin Mansergh | Finance Arts, Sport and Tourism[73] |
Office of Public Works Arts |
Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 22 April 2009On 22 April 2009, Taoiseach Brian Cowen sought the resignation of all 20 ministers of state. He then nominated a reduced number of 15 ministers of state for appointment by the government as part of cost-cutting measures due to the Irish financial crisis. These included 13 of the outgoing ministers, as well as two new appointments, Dara Calleary and Áine Brady.[74][75] Those not reappointed were Noel Ahern, John McGuinness, Michael Kitt, Seán Power, Máire Hoctor, Mary Wallace and Jimmy Devins.[76] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Pat Carey In attendance at cabinet |
Taoiseach[77] Defence |
Government Chief Whip Active Citizenship |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Barry Andrews In attendance at cabinet |
Health and Children[78] Education and Science Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Children and Young People | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dick Roche | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs |
European Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Trevor Sargent | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[79] Health and Children[80] |
Food and Horticulture | Green | |
| Tony Killeen | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[81] | Fisheries and Forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Conor Lenihan | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[82] Education and Science Communications, Energy and Natural Resources[83] |
Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Haughey | Education and Science[84] Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Lifelong Learning and School Transport | Fianna Fáil | |
| Billy Kelleher | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[85] | Trade and Commerce | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Moloney | Health and Children[86] Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Equality, Disability Issues and Mental Health | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Finneran | Environment, Heritage and Local Government[87] | Housing and Local Services | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Curran | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[88] Education and Science Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Peter Power | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development | Fianna Fáil | |
| Martin Mansergh | Finance Arts, Sport and Tourism[89] |
Office of Public Works Arts |
Fianna Fáil | |
| Áine Brady | Health and Children[90] Social and Family Affairs Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
Older People and Health Promotion | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dara Calleary | Enterprise, Trade and Employment[91] | Labour Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 23 March 2010Following the resignation of Trevor Sargent on 23 February 2010,[92][93] and the appointment of Carey and Killeen to government.[94][95][40] | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| John Curran In attendance at cabinet[96] |
Taoiseach[97] Defence |
Government Chief Whip Active Citizenship |
Fianna Fáil | |
| John Moloney | Health and Children[98] Education and Skills Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Justice and Law Reform |
Disability Issues and Mental Health | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dara Calleary | Taoiseach Finance Enterprise, Trade and Innovation[99] |
Public Service Transformation and Labour Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Ciarán Cuffe | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[100] Transport Environment, Heritage and Local Government[101] |
Horticulture, Sustainable Travel and Planning; and Heritage | Green | |
| Seán Connick | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food[102] | Fisheries and Forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary White | Justice and Law Reform Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs[103] Education and Skills |
Equality and Human Rights; and Integration | Green | |
Changes 23 January 2011Ciarán Cuffe and Mary White resigned on 23 January 2011 after the Green Party withdrew from government.[104][49] | ||||
Constitutional referendums
On 12 June 2008, a referendum was held on the approval of the Treaty of Lisbon. This was defeated, by a margin of 46.6% to 53.4%. On 15 October 2009, a second referendum was held on its approval, which was approved by 67.1% to 32.9%.
Budgets
The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, delivered the following budgets:
- 2009 budget, on 14 October 2008
- 2009 emergency budget, on 7 April 2009
- 2010 Irish budget, on 9 December 2009
- 2011 Irish budget, on 7 December 2010
Motions of confidence
On 10 June 2009, a motion of confidence in the government proposed by Taoiseach Brian Cowen was approved with 85 votes in favour and 79 against.[105]
On 17 February 2010, a motion of confidence in Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea proposed by Taoiseach Brian Cowen was approved with 80 votes in favour and 69 against.[106] Nevertheless, Willie O'Dea did resign the following day.[107]
On 15 June 2010, a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government by Taoiseach Brian Cowen was approved with 82 votes in favour and 77 against.[108][109]
Dissolution
On 1 February, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach and a general election was held on 25 February 2011.[110]