Government Of The 30Th Dáil
There were two governments of the 30th Dáil, which was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007.
The 27th government of Ireland (14 June 2007 – 7 May 2008) was led by Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach and lasted 329 days. The 28th government of Ireland (7 May 2008 – 9 March 2011) was led by Brian Cowen as Taoiseach and lasted 1,037 days. The governments were formed as coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. The Progressive Democrats disbanded in November 2009 and Mary Harney continued as an Independent member of the government until 20 January 2011. The Green Party left government on 23 January 2011.
27th government of Ireland
27th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Government of Ireland | |
 | |
| Date formed | 14 June 2007 |
| Date dissolved | 7 May 2008 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary McAleese |
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Tánaiste | Brian Cowen |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Enda Kenny |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2007 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Predecessor | 26th government |
| Successor | 28th government |
The 27th government of Ireland was composed of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. It was also supported by four Independent TDs: Beverley Flynn, Jackie Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry and Finian McGrath. Flynn later rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in April 2008.
Nomination of Taoiseach
The 30th Dáil first met on 14 June. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny were proposed. Ahern received the nomination of the Dáil. Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.
| 14 June 2007 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Brian Cowen and seconded by Trevor Sargent Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
 Yes | Fianna Fáil (77), Green Party (6), Independent (4), Progressive Democrats (2) | 89 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (51), Labour Party (20), Sinn Féin (4), Independent (1) | 76 / 166 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1) | 1 / 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
On 14 June 2007, Paul Gallagher was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of state
On 14 June 2007, Ahern announced to the Dáil that the government on his nomination would re-appoint Tom Kitt, TD to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence, and would appoint Dick Roche, TD to the position of Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for European Affairs. On 20 June 2007, the Taoiseach announced the government had appointed of a further 15 Ministers of State on his nomination, as well as the names of three Ministers of State the government would appoint on his nomination after the passage of the Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007. This legislation increased the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20 and was enacted on 9 July 2007. Kitt and Brendan Smith attended meetings of the cabinet.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Kitt In attendance at cabinet | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip Defence | Fianna Fáil | |
| Brendan Smith In attendance at cabinet | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Children | Fianna Fáil | |
| Dick Roche | Foreign Affairs | European Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Kitt | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Haughey | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Lifelong Learning, Youth Work and School Transport | Fianna Fáil | |
| Billy Kelleher | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Labour Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Trevor Sargent | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Food and Horticulture | Green | |
| Noel Ahern | Finance | Office of Public Works | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tony Killeen | Environment, Heritage and Local Government Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | Environment and Energy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Wallace | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Forestry | Fianna Fáil | |
| Batt O'Keeffe | Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas | Fianna Fáil | |
| Pat Carey | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs | Fianna Fáil | |
| Conor Lenihan | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Education and Science Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Integration Policy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Ahern | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Innovation Policy | Fianna Fáil | |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | Health and Children | Health Promotion and Food Safety | Fianna Fáil | |
| Seán Power | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality Issues | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Browne | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Fisheries | Fianna Fáil | |
Appointments after 9 July 2007Following the increase in the number of Ministers of State. | ||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | |
| John McGuinness | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Trade and Commerce | Fianna Fáil | |
| Jimmy Devins | Health and Children Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Disability Issues and Mental Health | Fianna Fáil | |
| Máire Hoctor | Health and Children Social and Family Affairs Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Older People | Fianna Fáil | |
Confidence in the Government
On 26 September 2007, a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government proposed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was approved with 81 votes in favour and 76 against.
On 28 November 2007, a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney was proposed by Jan O'Sullivan for the Labour Party. The motion was amended by the Minister, and the amended motion (now a vote of confidence) was carried, with 83 votes in favour to 73 votes against.
Resignation
On 2 April 2008, Bertie Ahern announced his intention to resign as leader of Fianna Fáil. On 9 April, Brian Cowen was elected unopposed to succeed him. On 6 May, Ahern resigned as Taoiseach.
28th government of Ireland
28th government of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Government of Ireland | |
.jpg) | |
| Date formed | 7 May 2008 |
| Date dissolved | 9 March 2011 |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Mary McAleese |
| Taoiseach | Brian Cowen |
| Tánaiste | Mary Coughlan |
| Total no. of members | 15 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition cabinet | Second Kenny front bench |
| Opposition party | Fine Gael |
| Opposition leader | Enda Kenny |
| History | |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Budget(s) | |
| Predecessor | 27th government |
| Successor | 29th government |
The 28th government of Ireland was formed on 7 May 2008 following the resignation the previous day of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. The new Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen was nominated by the Dáil as Ireland's 12th head of government. It was initially composed of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and supported by Independent TDs Jackie Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry and Finian McGrath. McGrath later withdrew his support in October 2008.
Following the disbandment of the Progressive Democrats in 2009, it became a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Mary Harney, continuing as an Independent minister.
A cabinet reshuffle took place on 23 March 2010, following the resignations of Willie O'Dea and Martin Cullen. After the resignations of six ministers in January 2011, the vacant portfolios were reassigned to other ministers; with the subsequent resignation of Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil on 22 January 2011, the Green Party withdrew their support from the government.
The government was dominated by responses to the economic downturn, culminating in a troika of the EU/ECB/IMF troika directing the government's financial decisions in November 2010.
Nomination of Taoiseach
On 7 May 2008, following the resignation of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore were each proposed to be nominated by Dáil Éireann for the position of Taoiseach. Cowen received the nomination of the Dáil. Cowen was appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.
| 7 May 2008 Nomination of Brian Cowen (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Bertie Ahern and seconded by John Gormley Absolute majority: 84/166 | ||
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Yes | Fianna Fáil (76), Green Party (6), Independent (4), Progressive Democrats (2) | 88 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (51), Labour Party (20), Sinn Féin (4), Independent (1) | 76 / 166 |
| Absent or Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1) | 2 / 166 |
Government ministers
After his appointment by the president, Brian Cowen 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