There were two governments of the 26th Dáil elected at the 1989 general election on 15 June 1989, both being coalition governments of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. The 21st government of Ireland (12 July 1989 – 11 February 1992) was led by Charles Haughey as Taoiseach and lasted . The 22nd government of Ireland (11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993) was led by Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach and lasted from its appointment until resignation, and continued to carry out its duties for a further 29 days until the appointment of its successor, giving a total of .
21st government of Ireland
Nomination of Taoiseach The 26th Dáil first met on 26 June 1989. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Charles Haughey, Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes, and Labour Party leader Dick Spring were each proposed. Each of these proposals were lost: Haughey received 78 votes with 86 votes against, Dukes received 61 votes with 103 votes against, and Spring received 24 votes with 138 votes against. Haughey resigned as Taoiseach, continuing to serve in a caretaker capacity.
The Dáil met again on 3 July and on 6 July, but no vote was taken on the nomination of the Taoiseach. On 12 July, Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats had agreed to form a coalition government, the 21st government of Ireland (12 July 1989 – 11 February 1992). The same three leaders were proposed again for the nomination of the Dáil for appointment by the president to be Taoiseach. On this occasion, the nomination of Haughey was carried by the Dáil with 84 votes in favour and 79 against.
12 July 1989Nomination of Charles Haughey (FF) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Brian Lenihan and seconded by Gerry CollinsAbsolute majority: 84/166VotePartiesVotes Yes Fianna Fáil (77), Progressive Democrats (6), Independent (1) No Fine Gael (55), Labour Party (15), Workers' Party (7), Democratic Socialist Party (1), Independent (1) Not voting Green Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)
Government ministers After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Haughey proposed the members of the government on 12 July and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day. OfficeNameTermPartyTaoiseachCharles Haughey1989–1992 Minister for the GaeltachtTánaisteBrian Lenihan1989–1990 Minister for DefenceMinister for Agriculture and FoodMichael O'Kennedy1989–1991 Minister for CommunicationsRay Burke1989–1991 Minister for Justice1989–1992Minister for EducationMary O'Rourke1989–1991 Minister for EnergyBobby Molloy1989–1992 Minister for the EnvironmentPádraig Flynn1989–1991 Minister for FinanceAlbert Reynolds1989–1991 Minister for Foreign AffairsGerry Collins1989–1992 Minister for HealthRory O'Hanlon1989–1991 Minister for Industry and CommerceDesmond O'Malley1989–1992 Minister for LabourBertie Ahern1989–1991 Minister for the MarineJohn Wilson1989–1992 Minister for Social WelfareMichael Woods1989–1991 Minister for Tourism and TransportSéamus Brennan1989–1992 Changes 31 October 1990 Following the sacking of Brian Lenihan during the 1990 Presidential election.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for DefenceCharles Haughey(acting) Changes 13 November 1990 Following the sacking of Brian Lenihan as Tánaiste on 31 October.OfficeNameTermPartyTánaisteJohn Wilson1990–1992 Changes 5 February 1991 Appointment to position held by the Taoiseach in an acting capacity.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for DefenceBrendan Daly1991 Changes 8 November 1991 Following the sacking of Albert Reynolds and Pádraig Flynn afterReynolds challenged Charles Haughey for the leadership of Fianna Fáil.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for the EnvironmentJohn Wilson(acting) Minister for FinanceCharles Haughey(acting) Changes 14 November 1991 Positions of sacked ministers filled.; OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for Agriculture and FoodMichael Woods1991–1992 Minister for DefenceVincent Brady1991–1992 Minister for EducationNoel Davern1991–1992 Minister for the EnvironmentRory O'Hanlon1991–1992 Minister for FinanceBertie Ahern1991–1992 Minister for HealthMary O'Rourke1991–1992 Minister for LabourMichael O'Kennedy1991–1992 Minister for Social WelfareBrendan Daly1991–1992
Change to Departments
Attorney General On 12 July 1989 John L. Murray SC was re-appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. Murray resigned on 25 September 1991, and Harry Whelehan SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of state On 12 July 1989, Vincent Brady was appointed by the government 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 19 July 1989, the government appointed the other Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Name Department(s)ResponsibilityParty Vincent BradyTaoiseachDefenceGovernment Chief Whip Brendan DalyTaoiseachFinanceHeritage AffairsOffice of Public Works Máire Geoghegan-QuinnTaoiseachCo-ordinator of Government Policy and EC matters Michael J. NoonanMarine Michael SmithIndustry and CommerceScience and Technology Ger ConnollyEnvironmentUrban renewal Seán CallearyForeign AffairsOverseas aid Terry LeydenIndustry and CommerceTrade and Marketing Joe WalshAgriculture and FoodFood industry Pat "the Cope" GallagherGaeltacht Denis LyonsTourism and TransportTourism Frank FaheyEducationYouth and sport Noel TreacyHealth Séamus KirkAgriculture and FoodHorticulture Mary HarneyEnvironmentOffice for the Protection of the Environment Changes 26 September 1989 Frank Fahey was also appointed Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Transport.Changes 6 February 1991 Following the appointment of Brendan Daly as Minister for Defence.Name Department(s)ResponsibilityParty Vincent BradyFinanceOffice of Public Works Noel TreacyJustice Chris FloodHealth Changes 15 November 1991 Following the appointment of Vincent Brady as Minister for Defence and the sacking of Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Noel Treacy and Michael Smith.Name Department(s)ResponsibilityParty Dermot AhernTaoiseachDefenceGovernment Chief Whip John O'DonoghueFinanceOffice of Public Works Michael P. KittTaoiseachEEC matters and Government policy
Presidential election From January to June 1990 Ireland held the presidency of the European Community. The 1990 Presidential election was held on 7 November. Mary Robinson won the election, defeating the Fianna Fáil candidate Brian Lenihan and the Fine Gael candidate Austin Currie. During the campaign, Lenihan was obliged to correct the record on whether he had contacted president Patrick Hillery in January 1982 to advise against the dissolution of the Dáil. Alan Dukes proposed a motion of no confidence in the government. This was debated as a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government, proposed by Taoiseach Charles Haughey.; It was approved by a vote of 83 to 80.
Challenge to leadership and aftermath In October 1991, the Dáil debated a motion of confidence in the government.; ; ; ; On 18 October, confidence in the government was approved by a vote of 84 to 81.
On 6 November 1991, Seán Power proposed a motion of no confidence in Haughey as leader of Fianna Fáil. Albert Reynolds and Pádraig Flynn, who supported the motion, were sacked from government. On 10 November, the motion was defeated.
In the reshuffle that followed, Jim McDaid was proposed as Minister for Defence on 13 November 1991, but his name was withdrawn later that day.
Resignation In early 1992 Seán Doherty, who as Minister for Justice had taken the blame for the phone-tapping scandal of the early 1980s, claimed on RTÉ that Haughey had known and authorised it. Haughey denied this but the Progressive Democrats stated that they could no longer continue in government with Haughey as Taoiseach.
On 30 January 1992, Haughey resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil. Following a leadership election, he was succeeded by Albert Reynolds who formed the 22nd government of Ireland.
22nd government of Ireland
Charles Haughey resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil on 30 January, and Albert Reynolds won the party leadership election on 6 February. The 22nd government of Ireland (11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993) was formed by the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats parties with Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach.
Nomination of Taoiseach On 11 February, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton were proposed for the nomination of the Dáil for appointment by the president to be Taoiseach. The nomination of Reynolds was carried and he was appointed by the president.
11 February 1992Nomination of Albert Reynolds (FF) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Charles Haughey and seconded by John WilsonAbsolute majority: 84/166VotePartiesVotes Yes Fianna Fáil (77), Progressive Democrats (6), Independent (1) No Fine Gael (55), Labour Party (15), Workers' Party (7), Democratic Socialist Party (1), Green Party (1), Independent (1) Absent orNot voting Fine Gael (2), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)
Government ministers After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Albert Reynolds proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
Reynolds did not re-appoint Ray Burke, Mary O'Rourke and Gerry Collins, while promoting critics of Haughey like David Andrews, Séamus Brennan, and Charlie McCreevy into senior ministerial positions. Reynolds also promoted a number of younger TDs from rural constituencies like Noel Dempsey and Brian Cowen, to cabinet position. Bertie Ahern remained as Minister for Finance.
OfficeNameTermPartyTaoiseachAlbert Reynolds1992–1993 TánaisteJohn Wilson1992–1993 Minister for DefenceMinister for the GaeltachtMinister for Agriculture and FoodJoe Walsh1992–1993 Minister for EducationSéamus Brennan1992–1993 Minister for EnergyBobby Molloy1992 Minister for the EnvironmentMichael Smith1992–1993 Minister for FinanceBertie Ahern1992–1993 Minister for Foreign AffairsDavid Andrews1992–1993 Minister for HealthJohn O'Connell1992–1993 Minister for Industry and CommerceDesmond O'Malley1992 Minister for JusticePádraig Flynn1992–1993 Minister for LabourBrian Cowen1992–1993 Minister for the MarineMichael Woods1992–1993 Minister for Social WelfareCharlie McCreevy1992–1993 Minister for Tourism, Transport and CommunicationsMáire Geoghegan-Quinn1992–1993 Changes 4 November 1992 Following the resignation of Progressive Democrats ministers.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for EnergyAlbert Reynolds(acting) Minister for Industry and CommercePádraig Flynn1992–1993 Changes 4 January 1993 Following the nomination of Pádraig Flynn for the position of European Commissioner.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for JusticeMáire Geoghegan-Quinn1993 Minister for Industry and CommerceBertie Ahern1993
Attorney General On 12 January 1993 Harry Whelehan SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Ministers of state On 11 February 1992, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Noel Dempsey, TD to the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, and Mary Harney as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, with special responsibility for the office for the Protection of the Environment. On 13 February 1992, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State.