Government of the 5th Dáil

The 3rd executive council of the Irish Free State (23 June 1927 – 11 October 1927) was formed after the June 1927 general election to the 5th Dáil held on 9 June 1927. It was led by W. T. Cosgrave, leader of Cumann na nGaedheal, as President of the Executive Council, who had led the government since August 1922. It lasted 110 days.

3rd executive council of the Irish Free State
Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Date formed	23 June 1927
Date dissolved	11 October 1927
People and organisations
King	George V
Governor-General	Tim Healy
President of the Executive Council	W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council	Kevin O'Higgins (Jun.–Jul. 1927) Ernest Blythe (Jul.–Oct. 1927)
Total no. of members	10
Member party	Cumann na nGaedheal
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition parties	Labour Party Fianna Fáil
Opposition leaders	Thomas Johnson (Jun.–Aug. 1927) (Lab) Éamon de Valera (Aug.–Oct. 1927) (FF)
History
Election	June 1927 general election
Legislature terms	5th Dáil 1st Seanad (1925–1928)
Predecessor	2nd executive council
Successor	4th executive council

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

The 5th Dáil first met on 23 June 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 68 votes in favour and 22 against.^[1] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.^[2]

23 June 1927 Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[3] Motion proposed by James Murphy and seconded by Peadar Doyle Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Cumann na nGaedheal (44), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (13)	68 / 153
No	Labour Party (22)	22 / 153
Absent or Not voting	National League (8), Cumann na nGaedheal (2), Independents (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)	12 / 153
Abstentionist	Fianna Fáil (44), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (2)	51 / 153

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the president and approved by the Dáil by a vote of 66 to 31.^[2] They were then appointed by the Governor General.^[4]

Office	Name
President of the Executive Council		W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council		Kevin O'Higgins
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Justice
Minister for Finance		Ernest Blythe
Minister for Defence		Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Industry and Commerce		Patrick McGilligan
Minister for Education		John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Agriculture and Lands		Patrick Hogan
Minister for Fisheries		Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health		Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		J. J. Walsh
Changes 14 July 1927 Following the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins.[5][6][7]
Office	Name
Vice-President of the Executive Council		Ernest Blythe
Minister for External Affairs		W. T. Cosgrave (acting)
Minister for Justice

Parliamentary secretaries

The Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President. The first three were appointed on 24 June 1927.^[8]

Name		Office
	Eamonn Duggan	Government Chief Whip
		Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence
	Séamus Burke	Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance
	Martin Roddy	Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Fisheries
Appointment 18 August 1927
Name		Office
	James FitzGerald-Kenney	Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Justice

Actions of the government

After the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins on 10 July 1927, the Executive Council proposed the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill.^[9] This legislation provided for the disqualification for five years of any member of the Oireachtas who did not take the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in Article 17 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State. After this legislation had passed both houses, the TDs elected for Fianna Fáil led by Éamon de Valera took the oath and entered the Dáil for the first time since the 1922 general election.^[10]

Confidence in the government

On 16 August, Labour Party leader Thomas Johnson proposed a motion of no confidence in the Executive Council, which was defeated.^[11]

16 August 1927 Motion of no confidence in the Executive Council[12] Motion proposed by Thomas Johnson (Lab) and seconded by Hugh Colohan (Lab) Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Yes	Fianna Fáil (43), Labour Party (21), National League (6), Independent (1)	71 / 153
N No	Cumann na nGaedheal (45), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (15)	71 / 153
Absent	Labour Party (1), National League (1)	2 / 153
Vacant	2	2 / 153
Abstentionist	Sinn Féin (5), Independent (1)	6 / 153
Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes exercised his casting vote against the motion.

Dissolution

On 24 August, Cumann na nGaedheal won two by-elections, and sought to capitalise on this success by calling a new general election seeking an increased mandated. The president sought a dissolution of the Dáil and a new election was held in September 1927.