View source for Government of the 2nd Dáil

{{Short description|Governments of Ireland 1921 to 1922}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
There were two '''governments of the 2nd Dáil''', which were [[Ministry of Dáil Éireann|ministries of Dáil Éireann]], the assembly of [[Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic)|Dáil Éireann]] that was the legislature of the [[Irish Republic]], a [[unilateral declaration of independence|unilaterally declared]] state which lasted from 1919 to 1922. The [[Second Dáil]] was elected at the [[1921 Irish elections]] on 24 May 1921. The 3rd ministry (26 August 1921 – 9 January 1922) was led by [[Éamon de Valera]] as president and lasted 136 days. De Valera resigned as president after the Dáil voted to accept the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]]. The 4th ministry (10 January – 9 September 1922) was led by [[Arthur Griffith]] as president. Griffith died in office on 12 August 1922, but a new Dáil ministry was not formed until 9 September 1922. Griffith served 214 days as president, with a further 28 days between his death and the appointment of [[W. T. Cosgrave]] as his successor by the Dáil.

The [[Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|provisional government of Ireland]], established under the terms of the Treaty, overlapped with the later period of ministries of Dáil Éireann. The 1st provisional government was led by [[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]] as [[Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State|Chairman of the Provisional Government]] from 16 January 1922 until his death on 22 August 1922. On 25 August 1922, W. T. Cosgrave was appointed as his successor, with the other members of the new provisional government appointed on 30 September. The 1st provisional government lasted 218 days from the appointment of Collins until his death, with three days elapsing until the appointment of Cosgrave as his successor.

==3rd ministry==
{{Infobox government cabinet
|cabinet_name       = {{ubl|Government of the 2nd Dáil|{{small|3rd ministry}} }}
|cabinet_number     =
|jurisdiction       =
|incumbent          =
|image              = Éamon de Valera 03.jpg
|image_size         = 100
|caption            = 
|date_formed        = 26 August 1921
|date_dissolved     = 9 January 1922
|government_head    = [[Éamon de Valera]]
|government_head_title   = [[President of Dáil Éireann|President of the Republic]]
|government_head_history =
|total_number       = 15 {{small|(inc. 9 non-members of cabinet)}}
|political_party    = [[Sinn Féin]]
|legislature_status = Majority government
|opposition_cabinet =
|opposition_party   =
|opposition_leader  =
|election           = [[1921 Irish elections|1921 general election]]
|last_election      =
|legislature_term   = [[2nd Dáil]]
|previous           = [[Government of the 1st Dáil#2nd ministry|2nd ministry]]
|successor          = [[Government of the 2nd Dáil#4th ministry|4th ministry]]
}}
The [[members of the 2nd Dáil]] first met on 16 August 1921.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-16/1/|title=Prelude – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Tuesday, 16 August 1921|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094242/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-16/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> The outgoing [[ministry of Dáil Éireann]] did not resign immediately. On 26 August 1921, [[Éamon de Valera]] resigned as president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/2/|title=RESIGNATION OF MINISTRY – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Friday, 26 August 1921|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094244/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/2/|url-status=live}}</ref> De Valera was then proposed by [[Seán Mac Eoin]] and seconded by [[Richard Mulcahy]] to the position of [[President of the Irish Republic]] and approved unanimously.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/3/|title=ELECTION OF PRESIDENT – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Friday, 26 August 1921|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094242/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/3/|url-status=live}}</ref> This was a change of title, suggesting that de Valera was now considered as the [[head of state]] of the [[Irish Republic]], rather than only its [[head of government]].

De Valera then proposed the members of the 3rd ministry of the [[Irish Republic]] (26 August 1921 – 9 January 1922), which were approved by the Dáil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/4/|title=THE NEW MINISTRY – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Friday, 26 August 1921|access-date=19 March 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094247/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/4/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|[[President of Dáil Éireann|President of the Republic]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Éamon de Valera]]
|-
|[[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Arthur Griffith]]
|-
|[[Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration|Secretary of State for Home Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Austin Stack]]
|-
|[[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Secretary of State for Defence]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Cathal Brugha]]
|-
|[[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Secretary of State for Finance]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]]
|-
|[[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Secretary of State for Local Government]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]
|-
|[[Minister for Economic Affairs|Secretary of State for Economic Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Robert Barton]]
|-
|colspan="3"|

===Ministers not in cabinet===
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|[[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Assistant Secretary of State for Local Government]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Kevin O'Higgins]]
|-
|[[Minister for Fine Arts|Secretary for Fine Arts]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[George Noble Plunkett|Count Plunkett]]
|-
|[[Minister for Publicity|Secretary for Publicity]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Desmond FitzGerald (politician)|Desmond FitzGerald]]
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Secretary for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[John J. O'Kelly]]
|-
|[[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Secretary for Labour]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Constance Markievicz]]
|-
|[[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Secretary for Trade and Commerce]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Ernest Blythe]]
|-
|[[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Secretary for Agriculture]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Art O'Connor]]
|-
|[[Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment|Secretary for Fisheries]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Seán Etchingham]]
|}

==4th ministry==
{{Infobox government cabinet
|cabinet_name       = {{ubl|Government of the 2nd Dáil|{{small|4th ministry}}}}
|cabinet_number     =
|jurisdiction       =
|incumbent          =
|image              = Arthur Griffith (1871-1922) (cropped).jpg
|image_size         = 100
|caption            = 
|date_formed        = 10 January 1922
|date_dissolved     = 9 September 1922
|government_head    = [[Arthur Griffith]] {{small|d. 12 August 1922}}
|government_head_title = [[President of Dáil Éireann]]
|state_head         = 
|total_number       = 14 {{small|(inc. 5 non-members of cabinet<br/>& 3 assistant ministers)}}
|political_party    = [[Sinn Féin]]
|legislature_status = Majority government
|opposition_cabinet =
|opposition_party   =
|opposition_leader  =
|election           = 
|last_election      =
|legislature_term   = [[2nd Dáil]]
|previous           = [[Government of the 2nd Dáil#3rd ministry|3rd ministry]]
|successor          = [[Government of the 3rd Dáil#2nd provisional government and 5th ministry|5th ministry]]
}}
On 7 January 1922, the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] was approved by Dáil Éireann in a [[Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil vote|vote of 64 to 57]]. Among those voting against were President de Valera. On Monday 9 January, he resigned as president. He was then proposed by [[Kathleen Clarke]] and seconded by [[Liam Mellowes]] for the position of president. This motion was defeated with 58 votes in favour to 60 against.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-01-09/2/|title=RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Monday, 9 January 1922|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094246/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-01-09/2/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 January, [[Arthur Griffith]] was proposed as President of Dáil Éireann by [[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]] and seconded by [[Eoin O'Duffy]]. While the vote was to take place, de Valera and his supporters rose and left the Dáil chamber. Griffith was then approved unanimously by those members remaining in the Dáil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-01-10/2/|title=ELECTION OF PRESIDENT – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Tuesday, 10 January 1922|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094244/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-01-10/2/|url-status=live}}</ref> The members of the 4th ministry were then proposed by Griffith and approved by the Dáil.

Under the terms of the Treaty another cabinet, the [[Provisional Government of the Irish Free State|provisional government]], was also established on 16 January, with [[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]] as [[Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State]]. The 4th ministry therefore held office in parallel with the [[Government of the 2nd Dáil#1st Provisional Government|1st provisional government]]. In August, Griffith died of natural causes and Collins was killed in action. The remaining members of the ministry remained in office until the [[Third Dáil]] elected a new ministry on 9 September under W. T. Cosgrave. Cosgrave had also been named as Chairman of the Provisional Government on the death of Collins in August, and from 9 September the personnel of the two cabinets were identical. Both cabinets were replaced by the [[Executive Council of the Irish Free State]] on 6 December 1922.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|[[President of Dáil Éireann]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Arthur Griffith]]
|-
|[[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]
|rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[George Gavan Duffy]]
|-
|[[Arthur Griffith]]{{efn|Served from 26 July 1922 – 12 August 1922.}}
|-
|[[Michael Hayes (politician)|Michael Hayes]]{{efn|Served from 21 August 1922 – 30 August 1922.}}
|-
|[[Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration|Minister for Home Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Eamonn Duggan]]
|-
|[[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Minister for Local Government]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]
|-
|[[Minister for Economic Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Kevin O'Higgins]]
|-
|[[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Richard Mulcahy]]
|-
|colspan="3"|

===Ministers not in cabinet===
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Michael Hayes (politician)|Michael Hayes]]
|-
|[[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Trade]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Ernest Blythe]]
|-
|[[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Minister for Agriculture]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Patrick Hogan (Cumann na nGaedheal politician)|Patrick Hogan]]
|-
|[[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Joseph McGrath (Irish politician)|Joseph McGrath]]
|-
|[[Minister for Publicity]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Desmond FitzGerald (politician)|Desmond FitzGerald]]
|-
|colspan="3"|

===Assistant Ministers===
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|[[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Asst. Minister for Local Government]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Lorcan Robbins]]{{efn|Served from 11 January 1922 – 9 September 1922.}}
|-
|[[Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration|Asst. Minister for Home Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[George Nicolls]]{{efn|Served from 17 January 1922 – 9 September 1922.}}
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Asst. Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Frank Fahy (politician)|Frank Fahy]]{{efn|Served until 3 February 1922, appointment date is unknown.}}
|}

==1st provisional government==
{{Infobox government cabinet
|cabinet_name       = Government of the 2nd Dáil<br/>{{small|1st provisional government}}
|cabinet_number     =
|jurisdiction       =
|incumbent          =
|image              = Michael Collins 1921.jpg
|image_size         = x85px
|image2             = William Thomas Cosgrave.jpg
|image_size2        = x85px
|caption            = Michael Collins, W. T. Cosgrave
|date_formed        = 16 January 1922
|date_dissolved     = 30 August 1922
|government_head    = {{ubl|[[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]]<br/>{{small|(Jan.–22 Aug. 1922)}}|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]<br/>{{small|(22–30 Aug. 1922)}} }}
|government_head_title = [[Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State|Chairman of the Provisional Government]]
|governor_general_title = [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland|Lord Lieutenant]]
|governor_general   = [[Edmund FitzAlan-Howard, 1st Viscount FitzAlan of Derwent|Lord FitzAlan]]
|deputy_government_head =
|state_head         = [[George V]]
|state_head_title   = [[Monarchy in the Irish Free State|King]]
|current_number     =
|former_members_number =
|total_number       = 13 {{small|(inc. 4 acting ministers)}}
|political_party    = [[Sinn Féin]]
|legislature_status = Majority government
|opposition_cabinet =
|opposition_party   =
|opposition_leader  =
|election           = 
|last_election      =
|legislature_term   = [[2nd Dáil]]
|previous           = 
|successor          = [[Government of the 3rd Dáil#2nd provisional government and 5th ministry|2nd provisional government]]
}}
{{main|Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)}}
The 1st provisional government was the [[Provisional Government of Southern Ireland|provisional government]] that held office from 16 January – 30 August 1922.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/99eec5-second-dail/|title=History of Government – Second Dáil|website=Government of Ireland|access-date=7 September 2020|date=26 November 2018|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004024931/https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/99eec5-second-dail/|url-status=live}}</ref> The provisional government was established under the terms of the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] as an interim administration that would govern Ireland (not including [[Northern Ireland]]) until the establishment of the [[Irish Free State]] in December. Its members were nominated at a meeting of "the members elected to sit in the [[House of Commons of Southern Ireland]]" (pro-Treaty Sinn Féin and four unionist members), on 14 January, and they took up office two days later. The British government formally transferred power to the cabinet on 1 April. Headed by [[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]] as [[Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State|Chairman]], its membership consisted solely of members of the pro-Treaty wing of [[Sinn Féin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Parliament in Ireland|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/visit-and-learn/history-and-buildings/history-of-parliament-in-ireland/|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|access-date=19 March 2020|archive-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329185418/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/visit-and-learn/history-and-buildings/history-of-parliament-in-ireland/|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the time the provisional government was established there was a pre-existing executive administration in the form of the 4th ministry of the Irish Republic, but that cabinet was not recognised by the British government. The 4th ministry had come to office on 10 January, just six days before the provisional government, and continued in office after the latter's establishment. There were thus two parallel administrations, with an overlapping membership.

After the [[Irish Civil War|Civil War]] began on 29 June four members of the cabinet were seconded for military service and substitutes were appointed to temporarily take their places as acting ministers. Two new members, [[Michael Hayes (politician)|Michael Hayes]] and [[Ernest Blythe]], began serving as acting ministers on 17 July and were added to the cabinet as permanent members on 27 July. Collins was killed in action on 22 August and so the cabinet met and elected Cosgrave as chairman on 25 August. Five days later the entire cabinet was reconstituted as the 2nd provisional government. The [[Third Dáil]] met on 9 September and appointed the 5th ministry, with its membership identical to that of the newly constituted provisional government. This cabinet, with its dual identities, continued as the sole government, and was superseded on 6 December 1922 by the formation of the 1st [[Executive Council of the Irish Free State]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State|Chairman of the Provisional Government]]
|rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]]{{efn|Served until 22 August 1922.}}
|-
|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]{{efn|Served from 25 August 1922 – 30 August 1922.}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]]
|rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]]{{efn|Served from 16 January 1922 – 17 July 1922.}}
|-
|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]{{efn|Served as acting Minister for Finance from 17 July 1922 – 30 August 1922.}}
|-
|[[Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration|Minister for Home Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Eamonn Duggan]]
|-
|[[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Minister for Local Government]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]
|-
|[[Minister for Economic Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Kevin O'Higgins]]
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Fionán Lynch]]
|-
|[[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Minister for Agriculture]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Patrick Hogan (Cumann na nGaedheal politician)|Patrick Hogan]]
|-
|[[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Joseph McGrath (Irish politician)|Joseph McGrath]]
|-
|[[Minister for Posts and Telegraphs|Postmaster-General]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[J. J. Walsh]]
|-
|colspan="3"|

===Substitutes===
|-
!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|[[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Acting Minister for Finance]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[W. T. Cosgrave]]
|-
|[[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Acting Minister for Labour]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Patrick Hogan (Cumann na nGaedheal politician)|Patrick Hogan]]
|-
|[[Minister for Education and Youth|Acting Minister for Education]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Michael Hayes (politician)|Michael Hayes]]
|-
|[[Minister for Economic Affairs|Acting Minister for Economic Affairs]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
|[[Ernest Blythe]]
|}

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
*[[Constitution of the Irish Free State]]
*[[Dáil Éireann]]
*[[Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic)]]
*[[Government of Ireland]]
*[[Politics of the Republic of Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{3rd Ministry of Dáil Éireann}}
{{4th Ministry of Dáil Éireann}}
{{1st Provisional Government of the Irish Free State}}
{{Governments of Ireland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government Of The 2nd Dail}}
[[Category:Ministries of George V]]
[[Category:2nd Dáil]]
[[Category:Governments of Ireland|Government 02]]
[[Category:1921 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:1922 disestablishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Cabinets established in 1921]]
[[Category:Cabinets disestablished in 1922]]