Government of the 17th Dáil

The 10th government of Ireland (11 October 1961 – 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 Éamon 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	Éamon 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	17th Dáil 10th Seanad
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 Éamon 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
Y 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]

Office	Name		Term
Taoiseach		Seán Lemass	1961–1965
Tánaiste		Seán MacEntee	1961–1965
Minister for Health
Minister for Agriculture		Paddy Smith	1961–1964
Minister for Defence		Gerald Bartley	1961–1965
Minister for Education		Patrick Hillery	1961–1965
Minister for Finance		James Ryan	1961–1965
Minister for External Affairs		Frank Aiken	1961–1965
Minister for the Gaeltacht		Mícheál Ó Móráin	1961–1965
Minister for Lands
Minister for Industry and Commerce		Jack Lynch	1961–1965
Minister for Justice		Charles Haughey	1961–1964
Minister for Local Government		Neil Blaney	1961–1965
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		Michael Hilliard	1961–1965
Minister for Social Welfare		Kevin Boland	1961–1965
Minister for Transport and Power		Erskine H. Childers	1961–1965
Changes 8 October 1964 Paddy Smith resigned in disagreement at the government's response to certain farming issues.[6]
Office	Name		Term
Minister for Agriculture		Charles Haughey	1964–1965
Minister for Justice		Seán Lemass	(acting)
Changes 3 November 1964 Appointment of new member of the government in place of Smith.[7][6]
Office	Name		Term
Minister for Justice		Brian Lenihan	1964–1965

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	1961–1965
	Donogh O'Malley	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance	1961–1965
	Brian Lenihan	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice[8] Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands[9]	1961–1964
Change 21 October 1964 Appointment of Brian Lenihan to government.[6]
Name		Office	Term
	George Colley	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands[10]	1964–1965

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]