Government of the 23rd Dáil

The 18th government of Ireland (9 March – 14 December 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the February 1982 general election to the 23rd Dáil. It was a minority Fianna Fáil government led by Charles Haughey as Taoiseach, reliant on the support of the Sinn Féin The Workers' Party and independent TD Tony Gregory. It lasted for 280 days.

18th government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
Date formed	9 March 1982
Date dissolved	14 December 1982
People and organisations
President	Patrick Hillery
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Tánaiste	Ray MacSharry
Total no. of members	15
Member party	Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	Fine Gael
Opposition leader	Garret FitzGerald
History
Election	Feb. 1982 general election
Legislature terms	23rd Dáil 16th Seanad
Predecessor	17th government
Successor	19th government

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 23rd Dáil first met on 9 March 1982. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald were both proposed.^[1] The nomination of Haughey was carried with 86 in favour and 79 against. Haughey was appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.^[2]

9 March 1982 Nomination of Charles Haughey (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Brian Lenihan and seconded by Ray MacSharry Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fianna Fáil (81), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (3), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1)	86 / 166
No	Fine Gael (63), Labour Party (15), Independent (1)	79 / 166
Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1)	1 / 166

Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Charles Haughey 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
Taoiseach		Charles Haughey	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Tánaiste		Ray MacSharry	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Finance
Minister for Agriculture		Brian Lenihan	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Defence		Paddy Power	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Education		Martin O'Donoghue	Mar.–Oct. 1982
Minister for the Environment		Ray Burke	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry		Brendan Daly	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Foreign Affairs		Gerry Collins	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for the Gaeltacht		Pádraig Flynn	Mar.–Oct. 1982
Minister for Health		Michael Woods	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Social Welfare
Minister for Industry and Energy		Albert Reynolds	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Justice		Seán Doherty	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Labour		Gene Fitzgerald	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs		John Wilson	Mar.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Transport
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism		Desmond O'Malley	Mar.–Oct. 1982
Changes 7 October 1982 Desmond O'Malley and Martin O'Donoghue resigned on 6 October 1982 after supporting an unsuccessful leadership challenge against Charles Haughey.[5]
Office	Name		Term
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism		Albert Reynolds	7–27 Oct 1982
Minister for Education		Charles Haughey	7–27 Oct 1982
Changes 27 October 1982 Gallagher and Brady approved on a vote of 83 to 78.[6][7]
Office	Name		Term
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism		Pádraig Flynn	Oct.–Dec. 1982
Minister for Education		Gerard Brady	Oct.–Dec. 1982
Minister for the Gaeltacht		Denis Gallagher	Oct.–Dec. 1982

Attorney General

See also: GUBU

On 9 March 1982, Patrick Connolly SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[2][4] Connolly resigned on 17 August after Malcolm MacArthur, who had been a house-guest of Connolly's, was arrested for murder. On 18 August 1982, John L. Murray SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of state

On 9 March, the Government appointed Bertie Ahern on the nomination of the Taoiseach to the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. On 23 March, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State.^[4]

Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Bertie Ahern	Taoiseach[8] Defence[9]	Government Chief Whip		Fianna Fáil
Sylvester Barrett	Finance	Office of Public Works		Fianna Fáil
Lorcan Allen	Agriculture	Land Commission, Production and Marketing		Fianna Fáil
Bernard Cowen	Agriculture	Disadvantaged Areas		Fianna Fáil
Terry Leyden	Transport Posts and Telegraphs[10]	Telecommunications		Fianna Fáil
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn	Education	Youth and Sport		Fianna Fáil
Denis Gallagher	Social Welfare	Social Welfare Claims		Fianna Fáil
Ger Connolly	Environment	Housing		Fianna Fáil
Gerard Brady	Environment	Urban Renewal		Fianna Fáil
Tom McEllistrim	Fisheries and Forestry	Forestry		Fianna Fáil
Changes 28 October 1982 Following the appointment of Brady and Gallagher to cabinet.[7]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Rory O'Hanlon	Social Welfare	Social Welfare Claims		Fianna Fáil
Niall Andrews	Environment	Urban Renewal		Fianna Fáil
Seán Calleary	Trade, Commerce and Tourism	Tourism		Fianna Fáil
Jim Fitzsimons	Industry and Energy	Economic Affairs		Fianna Fáil

Confidence in the government

On 1 July 1982, the Dáil voted on a motion of confidence the Taoiseach placed in the government. The motion was carried by a vote of 84 to 77.^[11]

On 4 November 1982, the Dáil voted on a motion of confidence the Taoiseach placed in the government. The motion was defeated, the Workers' Party voting against Haughey, and Tony Gregory abstaining.

4 November 1982 Confidence in the Government[12] Motion proposed by Taoiseach Charles Haughey Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Yes	Fianna Fáil (79), Independent Fianna Fáil (1)	80 / 166
N No	Fine Gael (63), Labour Party (15), Workers' Party (3), Independent (1)	82 / 166
Absent or Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1)	3 / 166
Vacancy	1[13]	1 / 166

After the vote, Haughey sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president. A second general election of that year was held on 24 November 1982 for the 24th Dáil.