Government Of The 9Th Dáil

They were led by Éamon de Valera, first as President of the Executive Council and then as Taoiseach. It was formed after the 1937 general election held on 1 July, the same day the new Constitution of Ireland was approved in a plebiscite. Fianna Fáil were continuing in office as a single-party government as they had since the 1932 general election. The 8th Executive Council lasted for 162 days until the coming into operation of the new constitution and the 1st Government lasted for 184 days.

8th executive council of the Irish Free State
Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Date formed	21 July 1937
Date dissolved	29 December 1937
People and organisations
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	Fine Gael
Opposition leader	W. T. Cosgrave
History
Election(s)	1937 general election
Legislature term(s)	9th Dáil
Predecessor	7th Executive Council
Successor	1st government

 

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Constitution of the Irish Free State (consolidated text)

Election of President of the Executive Council

The 9th Dáil first met on 21 July 1937. In the debate on the election of the President of the Executive Council, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing President Éamon de Valera was proposed, and the motion was approved by 82 votes to 52.

The election took place under Article 53 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State, as amended by the Constitution (Amendment No. 27) Act 1936, which had removed the constitutional role of the Governor-General. It was the only time from December 1922 that the head of government was directly elected by the Dáil only; from December 1922 to December 1936, the nomination of the president of the Executive Council was approved by Dáil for appointment by the Governor-General, and since December 1937, the nomination of the Taoiseach has similarly been approved by the Dáil for appointment by the president of Ireland.

21 July 1937 Election of Éamon de Valera (FF) as President of the Executive Council Motion proposed by Richard Walsh and seconded by Tom McEllistrim Absolute majority: 70/138
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fianna Fáil (67), Labour Party (13), Independents (2)	82 / 138
No	Fine Gael (48), Independents (4)	52 / 138
Absent or Not voting	Independents (2), Fianna Fáil (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)	4 / 138

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were proposed by the President after his election and approved by the Dáil for their appointment by him.

Parliamentary secretaries

On 21 July, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President.

1st government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
Date formed	29 December 1937
Date dissolved	30 June 1938
People and organisations
President	Presidential Commission (Dec. 1937 – June 1938) Douglas Hyde (June 1938)
Taoiseach	Éamon de Valera
Tánaiste	Seán T. O'Kelly
Total no. of members	10
Member party	Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature	Minority Government
Opposition party	Fine Gael
Opposition leader	W. T. Cosgrave
History
Legislature term(s)	9th Dáil 2nd Seanad
Predecessor	8th executive council
Successor	2nd government

 

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Constitution of Ireland (original text)

Under Article 56 of the Constitution of Ireland, the 8th Executive Council of the Irish Free State led by Éamon de Valera of Fianna Fáil became the 1st Government of Ireland (29 December 1937 – 30 June 1938). The offices of President of the Executive Council and Vice-President of the Executive Council were abolished, and replaced by the offices of Taoiseach and Tánaiste respectively. There was no fresh approval or appointment of the government and no change in the personnel of the Government.

Parliamentary secretaries

Foreign relations

The government signed the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom on 25 April 1938, which brought the Anglo-Irish trade war to a close and transferred the Treaty Ports to Ireland. These were the ports of Berehaven, Cóbh and Lough Swilly which had stayed under the control of the United Kingdom after the establishment of the Irish Free State.