Government of the 6th Dáil

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Template:Short description Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Use dmy dates There were two governments of the 6th Dáil. The 4th executive council of the Irish Free State (11 October 1927 – 2 April 1930) was formed after the September 1927 general election to the 6th Dáil held on 15 September 1927. The 4th executive council lasted for Template:Age in years and days from its appointment until it resigned from office, and continued to carry out its duties until the appointment of its successor for a further 5 days, for a total of Template:Age in years and days. The 5th executive council of the Irish Free State (2 April 1930 – 9 March 1932) was formed after the executive council resigned in a Dáil defeat. It lasted for Template:Age in years and days. Both minority governments of Cumann na nGaedheal led by W. T. Cosgrave as President of the Executive Council and had the same composition in personnel.

4th executive council of the Irish Free State

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Nomination of President of the Executive Council

The 6th Dáil first met on 11 October 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 76 votes in favour and 70 against.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.<ref name=mnom4>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

11 October 1927
Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council
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Motion proposed by Gearóid O'Sullivan and seconded by Peadar Doyle
Absolute majority: 77/153

Vote Parties Votes
Template:Tick Yes Cumann na nGaedheal (60), Farmers' Party (6), Independents (10) Template:Composition bar
No Fianna Fáil (57), Labour Party (13) Template:Composition bar
Absent or
Not voting
National League Party (2), Independents (2), Ceann Comhairle (1) Template:Composition bar
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Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 12 October.<ref name=mnom4 /> They were then appointed by the Governor General.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Office Name
President of the Executive Council style="background-color: Template:Party color" | W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council rowspan=3 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Ernest Blythe
Minister for Finance
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Defence style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Education style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Industry and Commerce rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Patrick McGilligan
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture and LandsTemplate:Efn style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Patrick Hogan
Minister for FisheriesTemplate:Efn style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Justice style="background-color: Template:Party color" | James FitzGerald-Kenney
Notes

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Parliamentary secretaries

On 13 March 1927, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President.<ref name=psecs>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Name Office Party
Eamonn Duggan Government Chief Whip rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Cumann na nGaedheal
Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence
Séamus Burke Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance Template:Party name with colour
Michael Heffernan Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Template:Party name with colour
Martin Roddy Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries Template:Party name with colour
James Dolan Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce Template:Party name with colour

Amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

The following amendments to the Constitution of the Irish Free State were proposed by the Executive Council and passed by the Oireachtas:

  • Amendment No. 10 (12 July 1928): Removed all direct democracy provisions except the requirement that, after a transitional period, a referendum be held on all constitutional amendments. However this remaining provision would never be allowed to come into effect.
  • Amendment No. 6 (23 July 1928): Replaced the direct election of the Senate with a system of indirect election.
  • Amendment No. 13 (23 July 1928): Extended the Senate's power of delay over legislation from nine months to twenty months.
  • Amendment No. 8 (25 October 1928): Reduced the age of eligibility for senators from 35 to 30.
  • Amendment No. 9 (25 October 1928): Altered provisions relating to the procedure for nominating candidates to stand in senatorial elections.
  • Amendment No. 7 (30 October 1928): Reduced the term of office of senators from twelve to nine years.
  • Amendment No. 14 (14 May 1929): Clarified a technical matter relating to the relationship between the two houses of the Oireachtas.
  • Amendment No. 15 (14 May 1929): Permitted one member of the Executive Council to be a senator, where previously it had been required that all be members of the Dáil. It was still required that the President, vice-president and Minister for Finance hold seats in the Dáil.
  • Amendment No. 16 (14 May 1929): Extended the period during which amendments of the constitution could be made by ordinary legislation from eight to sixteen years.
  • Amendment No. 11 (17 December 1929): Altered the method for filling casual vacancies in the Seanad by providing for a vote of both houses rather than just the Seanad.
  • Amendment No. 12 (24 March 1930): Altered provisions relating to the Committee of Privileges that had authority to resolves disputes over the definition of a money bill.
File:Executive Council of the Irish Free State 1928.jpg
Executive Council of the Irish Free State – October 1928.Template:Small

Resignation of the Executive Council

On 27 March 1930, the Old Age Pensions Bill 1929, a private member's bill proposed by Conn Ward a member of Fianna Fáil, which was the lead party of the parliamentary opposition, passed second stage by 66 votes to 64.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This occurred in part due to absences from the government benches, including Séamus Burke, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, as well as Independent TDs who regularly supported the government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The following day, the President tendered his resignation to the Governor-General.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Executive Council continued to carry out its duties under Article 53 of the Constitution until the appointment of its successor.

5th executive council of the Irish Free State

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Nomination of President of the Executive Council

In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council on 2 April 1930, Fianna Fáil leader Éamon de Valera, Labour Party Leader Thomas J. O'Connell, and Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave were each proposed. The motions proposing de Valera and O'Connell were defeated, while the motion proposing Cosgrave was carried with 80 votes in favour to 65 votes against.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General James McNeill.<ref name=mnom5>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2 April 1930
Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council
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Motion proposed by Joseph Mongan and seconded by Michael Davis
Absolute majority: 77/153

Vote Parties Votes
Template:Tick Yes Cumann na nGaedheal (62), Farmers' Party (6), National League Party (2), Independents (10) Template:Composition bar
No Fianna Fáil (54), Labour Party (11) Template:Composition bar
Absent or
Not voting
Fianna Fáil (3), Labour Party (2), Independent (1), Ceann Comhairle (1) Template:Composition bar

Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 3 April.<ref name=mnom5 /> They were then appointed by the Governor General.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Office Name
President of the Executive Council style="background-color: Template:Party color" | W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council rowspan=3 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Ernest Blythe
Minister for Finance
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Defence style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Desmond FitzGerald
Minister for Education style="background-color: Template:Party color" | John M. O'Sullivan
Minister for Industry and Commerce rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Patrick McGilligan
Minister for External Affairs
Minister for Agriculture style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Patrick Hogan
Minister for Lands and Fisheries style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Fionán Lynch
Minister for Local Government and Public Health style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Justice style="background-color: Template:Party color" | James FitzGerald-Kenney

Parliamentary secretaries

On 3 April 1930, the Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President.<ref name=psecs />

Name Office Party
Eamonn Duggan Government Chief Whip rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Party color" | Cumann na nGaedheal
Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence
Séamus Burke Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance Template:Party name with colour
Michael Heffernan Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Template:Party name with colour
Martin Roddy Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Lands and Fisheries Template:Party name with colour
James Dolan Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce Template:Party name with colour

Amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State

The following amendment to the Constitution of the Irish Free State was proposed by the Executive Council and passed by the Oireachtas:

  • Amendment No. 17 (17 October 1931): Inserted Article 2A, which included provisions for trial by military tribunals.

External relations

The Statute of Westminster 1931 removed the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to pass laws affecting British Dominions, including the Irish Free State.

See also

References

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Template:4th Executive Council of the Irish Free State Template:5th Executive Council of the Irish Free State Template:Governments of Ireland