Government of the 7th Dáil

The 6th executive council of the Irish Free State (9 March 1932 – 8 February 1933) was formed after the 1932 general election to the 7th Dáil held on 16 February. It was led by Fianna Fáil leader Éamon de Valera as President of the Executive Council, taking office after ten years of government led by W. T. Cosgrave of Cumann na nGaedheal. De Valera had previously served as President of Dáil Éireann, or President of the Republic, from April 1919 to January 1922 during the revolutionary period of the Irish Republic. It lasted for 336 days.

6th executive council of the Irish Free State
Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Date formed	9 March 1932
Date dissolved	8 February 1933
People and organisations
King	George V
Governor-General	James McNeill (Mar.–Nov. 1932) Domhnall Ua Buachalla (Nov. 1932 – Feb. 1933)
President of the Executive Council	Éamon de Valera
Vice-President of the Executive Council	Seán T. O'Kelly
Total no. of members	10
Member party	Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	Cumann na nGaedheal
Opposition leader	W. T. Cosgrave
History
Election	1932 general election
Legislature terms	7th Dáil 1st Seanad (1931–1934)
Predecessor	5th executive council
Successor	7th executive council

Nomination of President of the Executive Council

The 7th Dáil first met on 9 March 1932. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Fianna Fáil leader Éamon de Valera was proposed, and the motion was approved by 81 votes to 68.^[1] The Labour Party supported the nomination of de Valera and the formation of the executive council, but did not form part of the government. He was then appointed as president by Governor-General James McNeill.

9 March 1932 Nomination of Éamon de Valera (FF) as President of the Executive Council[2] Motion proposed by Michael Kilroy and seconded by Oscar Traynor Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fianna Fáil (71), Labour Party (7), Independents (3)	81 / 153
No	Cumann na nGaedheal (55), Farmers' Party (2), Independents (11)	68 / 153
Absent or Not voting	Cumann na nGaedheal (1), Independent (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)	3 / 153
Vacant	1[3]	1 / 153

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were proposed by the president and approved by the Dáil.^[4] They were then appointed by the Governor-General.^[5]

Office	Name
President of the Executive Council		Éamon de Valera
Minister for External Affairs
Vice-President of the Executive Council		Seán T. O'Kelly
Minister for Local Government and Public Health
Minister for Lands and Fisheries		P. J. Ruttledge
Minister for Industry and Commerce		Seán Lemass
Minister for Finance		Seán MacEntee
Minister for Agriculture		James Ryan
Minister for Defence		Frank Aiken
Minister for Education		Thomas Derrig
Minister for Justice		James Geoghegan
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		Joseph Connolly[a]

Parliamentary secretaries

On 10 March 1932, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President.^[6][7]

Name		Office
	Gerald Boland	Government Chief Whip
		Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence
	Hugo Flinn	Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance
	Conn Ward	Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health
Appointment 5 November 1932
Name		Office
	Seán O'Grady[8]	Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries

Footnotes

1. Connolly was appointed as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs while a member of Seanad Éireann, and became the first person to be a Minister while not a member of Dáil Éireann.