Government of the 22nd Dáil

The 17th government of Ireland (30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil. It was a minority coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach and lasted for 252 days.

17th government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
Garrett FitzGerald
Date formed	30 June 1981
Date dissolved	9 March 1982
People and organisations
President	Patrick Hillery
Taoiseach	Garret FitzGerald
Tánaiste	Michael O'Leary
Total no. of members	15
Member parties	Fine Gael Labour Party
Status in legislature	Minority Coalition
Opposition party	Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader	Charles Haughey
History
Election	1981 general election
Legislature terms	22nd Dáil 15th Seanad
Predecessor	16th government
Successor	18th government

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 22nd Dáil first met on 30 June 1981. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald were both proposed.^[1] The nomination of Haughey was defeated with 79 votes in favour to 83 against, while the nomination of FitzGerald was carried with 81 in favour and 78 against. FitzGerald was appointed as Taoiseach by President Patrick Hillery.^[2]

30 June 1981 Nomination of Garret FitzGerald (FG) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Oliver J. Flanagan and seconded by Ivan Yates Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fine Gael (65), Labour Party (15), Jim Kemmy (1)	81 / 166
No	Fianna Fáil (78)	78 / 166
Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1), Socialist Labour Party (1), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1)	5 / 166
In prison	Anti H-Block (2)	2 / 166

Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Garret FitzGerald 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]

Office	Name	Term	Party
Taoiseach	Garret FitzGerald	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Tánaiste	Michael O'Leary	1981–1982		Labour
Minister for Industry and Energy[a]
Minister for Agriculture	Alan Dukes	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Defence	James Tully	1981–1982		Labour
Minister for Education	John Boland	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for the Environment	Peter Barry	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Finance	John Bruton	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry	Tom Fitzpatrick	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Foreign Affairs	John Kelly	1981 (acting)		Fine Gael
Minister for the Gaeltacht	Paddy O'Toole	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Health	Eileen Desmond	1981–1982		Labour
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Justice	Jim Mitchell	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Labour	Liam Kavanagh	1981–1982		Labour
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs	Patrick Cooney	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Minister for Transport
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism[b]	John Kelly	1981–1982		Fine Gael
Change 21 October 1981 Appointment of Sen. James Dooge, whose nomination had to await until after the election to Seanad Éireann.[7][8]
Office	Name	Term	Party
Minister for Foreign Affairs	James Dooge	1981–1982		Fine Gael

Notes

1. On 21 August 1981, the Department of Energy was renamed as the Department of Industry and Energy.^[5]
2. On 21 August 1981, the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism.^[6]

Attorney General

On 30 July 1981, Peter Sutherland SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[2][4]

Ministers of state

On 30 June 1981, the Government appointed Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[4]

Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Gerry L'Estrange	Taoiseach	Government Chief Whip		Fine Gael
	Defence[9]	Defence
Edward Collins	Industry and Energy	Oil and Minerals Exploration		Fine Gael
Fergus O'Brien	Environment	Housing		Fine Gael
Donal Creed	Health	Health		Fine Gael
Mary Flaherty	Social Welfare	Poverty and the Family		Fine Gael
Joseph Bermingham	Finance	Office of Public Works		Labour
Barry Desmond	Finance	Economic Planning		Labour
Michael Begley	Trade, Commerce and Tourism	Tourism		Fine Gael
Michael Keating	Education	Youth and Sport		Fine Gael
Dick Spring	Justice	Law Reform		Labour
Michael D'Arcy	Agriculture	Production and Marketing		Fine Gael
Ted Nealon	Agriculture	Western Development		Fine Gael
Jim O'Keeffe	Foreign Affairs	Overseas Development		Fine Gael
Change 10 July 1981 Additional appointment[10]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Paddy Harte	Posts and Telegraphs[11]	Telecommunications		Fine Gael
Change 24 July 1981 Additional appointment[12]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Mary Flaherty	Health			Fine Gael
Changes 11 November 1981 Reshuffle on grounds of health of L'Estrange.[13][14]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Fergus O'Brien	Taoiseach[15]	Government Chief Whip		Fine Gael
	Defence	Defence
Donal Creed	Environment	Housing		Fine Gael
Gerry L'Estrange	Health	Health		Fine Gael

Budget

On 27 January 1982, the Minister for Finance John Bruton proposed the budget, which was rejected by the Dáil.^[16][17]

27 January 1982 Financial Resolutions, 1982[18] Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Yes	Fine Gael (65), Labour Party (15), Socialist Labour Party (1)	81 / 166
N No	Fianna Fáil (78), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Jim Kemmy (1), Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1)	82 / 166
Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1)	1 / 166
In prison	Anti H-Block (1)	1 / 166
Vacancy	1	1 / 166

The Taoiseach sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president, leading to the February 1982 general election.