Government Of The 28Th Dáil
The 25th government of Ireland (26 June 1997 – 6 June 2002) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1997 general election to the 28th Dáil held on 6 June 1997.
It was a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. It lasted 1,807 days.
25th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 26 June 1997 |
| Date dissolved | 6 June 2002 |
| People and organisations | |
| President |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Tánaiste | Mary Harney |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Election(s) | 1997 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Predecessor | 24th government |
| Successor | 26th government |
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 28th Dáil first met on 26 June 1997. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern were proposed. The vote on Bruton was defeated with 75 votes in favour to 87 against, while the vote on Ahern was approved by 85 to 78. Ahern was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.
| 26 June 1997 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by David Andrews and seconded by Mary O'Rourke Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Yes | Fianna Fáil (77), Progressive Democrats (4), Independent (3), Sinn Féin (1) | 85 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (54), Labour Party (16), Democratic Left (4), Green Party (2), Independent (1), Socialist Party (1) | 78 / 166 |
| Not voting | Independent (2), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 3 / 166 |
Government ministers
After his appointment by the president, Bertie Ahern proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
- Changes to Departments
Attorney General
David Byrne SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. In 1999, he resigned on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 17 July 1999, Michael McDowell SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of state
On 26 June 1997, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Séamus Brennan to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Bobby Molloy to the position of Minister of State to the Government. On 1 July 1997, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Michael Smith and Liz O'Donnell. On 8 July 1997, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Séamus Brennan | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip | Fianna Fáil | |
| Bobby Molloy | Minister of State to the Government Environment and Local Government | Housing and urban renewal | Progressive Democrats | |
| Michael Smith | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Science and technology | Fianna Fáil | |
| Liz O'Donnell | Foreign Affairs | Overseas development assistance and human rights | Progressive Democrats | |
| Noel Davern | Agriculture and Food | Livestock breeding and horticulture | Fianna Fáil | |
| Joe Jacob | Public Enterprise | Energy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
| Willie O'Dea | Education and Science | Adult education, youth affairs and school transport | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tom Kitt | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Labour affairs, consumer rights and international trade | Fianna Fáil | |
| Chris Flood | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Local development and the National Drugs Strategy Team | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dan Wallace | Environment and Local Government | Environmental information and awareness and the Environmental Protection Agency | Fianna Fáil | |
| Ned O'Keeffe | Agriculture and Food | Food | Fianna Fáil | |
| Hugh Byrne | Marine and Natural Resources | Aquaculture and forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Wallace | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality and disabilities | Fianna Fáil | |
| Martin Cullen | Finance | Office of Public Works | Fianna Fáil | |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands | Gaeltacht and the islands | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tom Moffatt | Health and Children | Food safety and older people | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 9 October 1997Following the appointment of Michael Smith as Minister for Defence the previous day. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Noel Treacy | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Science and technology | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 21 January 1998Expansion of scope of Minister of State for Children. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 1 February 2000Following the resignation of Chris Flood and the appointment of Frank Fahey as Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Eoin Ryan | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Local development | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Hanafin | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 19 February 2001Following the resignation of Ned O'Keeffe on 17 February. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Agriculture, Food and Rural Development | Rural development and the Western Development Commission | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Coughlan | Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands | Gaeltacht and the Islands | Fianna Fáil | |
Changes 11 April 2002Following the resignation of Bobby Molloy as a Minister of State on 10 April 2002. O'Donnell continued in her position as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Molloy's position as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government was not filled. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| Liz O'Donnell | Minister of State to the Government | Progressive Democrats | ||
Confidence in the government
After evidence given by Ahern at the Moriarty Tribunal, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was then debated on 30 June 2000 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach. It was approved by the Dáil.
Dissolution
On 25 April 2002, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 17 May. The 29th Dáil met on 6 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.
References
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