View source for Government of the 23rd Dáil

{{Short description|Government of Ireland March to December 1982}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox government cabinet
|cabinet_name            = 18th government of Ireland
|cabinet_type            = Government
|jurisdiction            = Ireland
|incumbent               = 
|image                   = Charles Haughey.jpg
|image_size              = 
|date_formed             = 9 March 1982
|date_dissolved          = 14 December 1982
|government_head_title   = [[Taoiseach]]
|government_head         = [[Charles Haughey]]
|government_head_history = 
|deputy_government_head_title = [[Tánaiste]]
|deputy_government_head  = [[Ray MacSharry]]
|state_head_title        = [[President of Ireland|President]]
|state_head              = [[Patrick Hillery]]
|current_number          = 
|former_members_number   = 
|total_number            = 15
|political_party         = [[Fianna Fáil]]
|legislature_status      = Minority government
|opposition_cabinet      = 
|opposition_party        = [[Fine Gael]]
|opposition_leader       = [[Garret FitzGerald]] 
|election                = [[February 1982 Irish general election|Feb. 1982 general election]]
|last_election           = 
|legislature_term        = {{ubl|[[23rd Dáil]]|[[16th Seanad]]}}
|budget                  = 
|incoming_formation      = 
|outgoing_formation      = 
|previous                = [[Government of the 22nd Dáil|17th government]]
|successor               = [[Government of the 24th Dáil|19th government]]
}}

The '''18th government of Ireland''' (9 March – 14 December 1982) was the [[government of Ireland]] formed after the [[February 1982 Irish general election|February 1982 general election]] to the [[23rd Dáil]]. It was a [[minority government|minority]] [[Fianna Fáil]] government led by [[Charles Haughey]] as [[Taoiseach]], reliant on the support of the [[Workers' Party (Ireland)|Sinn Féin The Workers' Party]] and [[Independent politician (Ireland)|independent]] TD [[Tony Gregory]]. It lasted for {{age in years and days|9 Mar 1982|14 Dec 1982}}.

==Nomination of Taoiseach==
The [[23rd Dáil]] first met on 9 March 1982. In the debate on the [[Dáil vote for Taoiseach|nomination of Taoiseach]], [[Fianna Fáil leader]] [[Charles Haughey]], and [[Fine Gael leader]] and outgoing Taoiseach [[Garret FitzGerald]] were both proposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-03-09/4/|title=Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=9 March 1982|access-date=25 January 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105054727/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-03-09/4/|url-status=live}}</ref> The nomination of Haughey was carried with 86 in favour and 79 against. Haughey was appointed as Taoiseach by [[president of Ireland|president]] [[Patrick Hillery]].<ref name=tapp>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-03-09/8/|title=Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=9 March 1982|access-date=25 January 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105054730/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-03-09/8/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="3" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" align="center"|'''9 March 1982<br/>Nomination of [[Charles Haughey]] ([[Fianna Fáil|FF]]) as Taoiseach'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/vote/dail/23/1982-03-09/1/|title=Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=9 March 1982|access-date=25 January 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125162506/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/vote/dail/23/1982-03-09/1/|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>Motion proposed by [[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]] and seconded by [[Ray MacSharry]]<br/>Absolute majority: 84/166
|- bgcolor="#D8D8D8"
! width=80px|Vote
! width=605px|Parties
! width=80px|Votes
|-
| {{tick}} '''Yes''' || [[Fianna Fáil]] (81), [[Workers' Party (Ireland)|Sinn Féin The Workers' Party]] (3), [[Independent Fianna Fáil]] (1), [[Tony Gregory|Independent]] (1) || {{Composition bar|86|166|hex=green}}
|-
| No || [[Fine Gael]] (63), [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] (15), [[Jim Kemmy|Independent]] (1) || {{Composition bar|79|166|hex=red}}
|-
| Not voting || [[Ceann Comhairle]] (1) || {{Composition bar|1|166|hex=gray}}
|}

==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.<ref name=tapp /> They were appointed by the president on the same day.<ref name=mapp>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-03-23/2/|title=Appointment of Ministers and Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=23 March 1982|access-date=25 January 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028205422/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-03-23/2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"|Name
!Term
|-
|[[Taoiseach]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Charles Haughey]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Tánaiste]]
|rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|rowspan=2|[[Ray MacSharry]]
|rowspan=2|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]]
|-
|[[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Minister for Agriculture]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Paddy Power (Irish politician)|Paddy Power]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Martin O'Donoghue]]
|Mar.–Oct. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Minister for the Environment]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Ray Burke (Irish politician)|Ray Burke]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment|Minister for Fisheries and Forestry]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Brendan Daly (politician)|Brendan Daly]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Gerry Collins (politician)|Gerry Collins]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Children, Disability and Equality|Minister for the Gaeltacht]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Pádraig Flynn]]
|Mar.–Oct. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister for Health]]
|rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|rowspan=2|[[Michael Woods (Irish politician)|Michael Woods]]
|rowspan=2|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Social Protection|Minister for Social Welfare]]
|-
|[[Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport|Minister for Industry and Energy]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Albert Reynolds]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration|Minister for Justice]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Seán Doherty (Roscommon politician)|Seán Doherty]]
|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]]
|rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|rowspan=2|[[Gene Fitzgerald]]
|rowspan=2|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Transport (Ireland)|Minister for the Public Service]]
|-
|[[Minister for Posts and Telegraphs]]
|rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|rowspan=2|[[John Wilson (Irish politician)|John Wilson]]
|rowspan=2|Mar.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Transport (Ireland)|Minister for Transport]]
|-
|[[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Desmond O'Malley]]
|Mar.–Oct. 1982
|-
|colspan="4"|

===Changes 7 October 1982===
Desmond O'Malley and Martin O'Donoghue resigned on 6 October 1982 after<br />supporting an unsuccessful leadership challenge against Charles Haughey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-27/2/|title=Fógra ón Taoiseach – Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=27 October 1982|access-date=17 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817141441/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-27/2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
!Term
|-
|[[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Albert Reynolds]]
|7–27 Oct 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Charles Haughey]]
|7–27 Oct 1982
|-
|colspan="4"|

===Changes 27 October 1982===
Gallagher and Brady approved on a vote of 83 to 78.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-27/35/|title=Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Vol. 338 No. 1|date=27 October 1982|access-date=4 February 2023|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=8 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108033406/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-27/35/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=octapp>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-28/2/|title=Appointment of Ministers – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Vol. 338 No. 2|date=28 October 1982|access-date=4 February 2023|website=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref>
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
!Term
|-
|[[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Pádraig Flynn]]
|Oct.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Gerard Brady]]
|Oct.–Dec. 1982
|-
|[[Minister for Children, Disability and Equality|Minister for the Gaeltacht]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Denis Gallagher]]
|Oct.–Dec. 1982
|}

==Attorney General==
{{see also|GUBU}}
On 9 March 1982, [[Patrick Connolly]] [[senior counsel|SC]] was appointed by the president as [[Attorney General of Ireland|Attorney General]] on the nomination of the Taoiseach.<ref name=tapp/><ref name=mapp/> 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 (judge)|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 [[Minister of State (Ireland)|Ministers of State]].<ref name=mapp/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Name 
!Department(s)
!Responsibility
!colspan=2|Party
|-
|[[Bertie Ahern]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach|Taoiseach]]<ref>{{cite Irish legislation |year=1982 |type=si |number=97 |name=An tOrdú Staidrimh (Cumhachtaí agus Dualgais a Tharmligean) 1982 |lang=ga |date=6 April 1982 |access-date=29 September 2022}}</ref><br/>[[Minister of State at the Department of Defence|Defence]]<ref>{{cite Irish legislation |year=1982 |type=si |number=125 |name=An tOrdú um Réamhchúram in Aghaidh Aer-Ruathar (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) 1982 |lang=ga |date=27 April 1982 |access-date=29 September 2022}}</ref>
|Government Chief Whip
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Sylvester Barrett]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Finance|Finance]]
|[[Office of Public Works]]
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Lorcan Allen]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Agriculture]]
|Land Commission, Production and Marketing
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Bernard Cowen]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Agriculture]]
|Disadvantaged Areas
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Terry Leyden]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Transport|Transport]]<br/>[[Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs|Posts and Telegraphs]]<ref>{{cite Irish legislation |year=1982 |type=si |number=211 |name=Posts and Telegraphs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1982 |date=2 July 1982 |access-date=29 September 2022}}</ref>
|Telecommunications
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Máire Geoghegan-Quinn]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth|Education]]
|Youth and Sport
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Denis Gallagher]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection|Social Welfare]]
|Social Welfare Claims
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Ger Connolly]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Environment]]
|Housing
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Gerard Brady]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Environment]]
|Urban Renewal
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Tom McEllistrim (1926–2000)|Tom McEllistrim]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment|Fisheries and Forestry]]
|Forestry
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|colspan="5"|

===Changes 28 October 1982===
Following the appointment of Brady and Gallagher to cabinet.<ref name=octapp/>
|-
!Name
!Department(s)
!Responsibility
!colspan=2|Party 
|-
|[[Rory O'Hanlon]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection|Social Welfare]]
|Social Welfare Claims
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Niall Andrews]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Environment]]
|Urban Renewal
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Seán Calleary]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Trade, Commerce and Tourism]]
|Tourism
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|-
|[[Jim Fitzsimons]]
|[[Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport|Industry and Energy]]
|Economic Affairs
| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}
|}

==Confidence in the government==
On 1 July 1982, the Dáil voted on a [[confidence motions in Dáil Éireann|motion of confidence]] the Taoiseach placed in the government. The motion was carried by a vote of 84 to 77.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-07-01/3/ |title=Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Vol. 337 No. 3|date=1 July 1982|access-date=28 September 2022|website=Houses of the Oireachtas}}; {{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-07-01/5/ |title=Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil) – Vol. 337 No. 3|date=1 July 1982|access-date=28 September 2022|website=Houses of the Oireachtas}}</ref>

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 (Ireland)|Workers' Party]] voting against Haughey, and [[Tony Gregory]] abstaining.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="3" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" align="center"|'''4 November 1982<br/>Confidence in the Government'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-11-04/3/|title=Confidence in Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=4 November 1982|access-date=25 January 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125162501/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-11-04/3/|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>Motion proposed by [[Taoiseach]] [[Charles Haughey]]<br/>Absolute majority: 84/166
|- bgcolor="#D8D8D8"
! width=80px|Vote
! width=605px|Parties
! width=80px|Votes
|-
| Yes || [[Fianna Fáil]] (79), [[Independent Fianna Fáil]] (1) || {{Composition bar|80|166|hex=green}}
|-
| {{cross}} '''No''' || [[Fine Gael]] (63), [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] (15), [[Workers' Party (Ireland)|Workers' Party]] (3), [[Jim Kemmy|Independent]] (1) || {{Composition bar|82|166|hex=red}}
|-
| Absent or Not voting || [[Ceann Comhairle]] (1), [[Jim Gibbons (Irish politician)|Fianna Fáil]] (1), [[Tony Gregory|Independent]] (1) || {{Composition bar|3|166|hex=gray}}
|-
| Vacancy || 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-27/23/|title=Death of Member. - Expression of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)|date=27 October 1982|access-date=16 June 2022|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=18 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218071755/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1982-10-27/23/|url-status=live}}</ref> || {{Composition bar|1|166|hex=gray}}
|}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{18th Government of Ireland}}
{{Governments of Ireland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government of the 23rd Dail}}
[[Category:1982 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:1982 disestablishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:23rd Dáil]]
[[Category:Cabinets established in 1982]]
[[Category:Cabinets disestablished in 1982]]
[[Category:Governments of Ireland]]
[[Category:Minority governments]]