The 14th government of Ireland (14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1973 general election to the 20th Dáil held on 28 February 1973. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, known as the National Coalition, led by Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach with Brendan Corish as Tánaiste. It was the first time either of the parties had been in government since the second inter-party government (1954–1957), when they were in coalition with Clann na Talmhan. It lasted for . The government was widely referred to as the "cabinet of all the talents".
Nomination of Taoiseach The 20th Dáil first met on 14 March 1973. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Jack Lynch, and Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave were both proposed. The nomination of Lynch was defeated with 69 votes in favour to 73 against, while the nomination of Cosgrave was carried with 72 in favour and 70 against. Cosgrave was appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.
14 March 1973Nomination of Liam Cosgrave (FG) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Brendan Corish and seconded by Maurice E. DockrellAbsolute majority: 73/144VotePartiesVotes Yes Fine Gael (54), Labour Party (18) No Fianna Fáil (69), Independent Fianna Fáil (1) Not voting Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1)
Members of the government Appointments 14 March 1973 After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Liam Cosgrave proposed the members of the governmentand they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.OfficeNameTermPartyTaoiseachLiam Cosgrave1973–1977 TánaisteBrendan Corish1973–1977Labour PartyMinister for HealthMinister for Social WelfareMinister for Agriculture and FisheriesMark Clinton1973–1977 Minister for DefencePaddy Donegan1973–1976 Minister for EducationRichard Burke1973–1976 Minister for FinanceRichie Ryan1973–1977 Minister for Foreign AffairsGarret FitzGerald1973–1977 Minister for the GaeltachtTom O'Donnell1973–1977 Minister for Industry and CommerceJustin Keating1973–1977 Minister for JusticePatrick Cooney1973–1977 Minister for LabourMichael O'Leary1973–1977 Minister for LandsTom Fitzpatrick1973–1976 Minister for Local GovernmentJames Tully1973–1977 Minister for Posts and TelegraphsConor Cruise O'Brien1973–1977 Minister for Transport and PowerPeter Barry1973–1976 Change 1 November 1973 Assignment of new department to Minister for Finance Richie Ryan.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for the Public ServiceRichie Ryan1973–1977 Changes 2 December 1976 Following the resignation of Richard Burke on his nomination as European Commissioner.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for EducationPeter Barry1976–1977 Minister for Transport and PowerTom Fitzpatrick1976–1977 Minister for LandsPaddy Donegan1976–1977 Minister for DefenceLiam Cosgrave(acting) Changes 16 December 1976 Reassignment of the Department of Defence.; OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for DefenceOliver J. Flanagan1976–1977 Changes 9 February 1977 Reorganisation of government departments.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for AgricultureMark Clinton1973–1977 Minister for FisheriesPaddy Donegan1976–1977 Changes to departments
Attorney General On 14 March 1973, Declan Costello SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. On 19 May 1977, Costello resigned as Attorney General on his nomination by the government for appointment as a judge of the High Court and John M. Kelly SC was appointed as Attorney General.
Parliamentary Secretaries Appointments 14 March 1973 On 14 March 1973, the government appointed parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.NameOfficePartyJohn M. KellyGovernment Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for DefenceMichael Pat MurphyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries; Richard BarryParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health Henry KennyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance Frank CluskeyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare Michael BegleyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government John BrutonParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and CommerceChanges 30 September 1975 Following the death of Henry Kenny.NameOfficePartyMichael BegleyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance Oliver J. FlanaganParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government Changes 17 December 1976 Following the appointment of Oliver J. Flanagan as Minister for Defence.NameOfficePartyPatrick J. ReynoldsParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Public ServiceChange 9 February 1977 Transfer of functions between departments.Michael Pat MurphyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries
Actions of the government The National Coalition restricted the power of the National Council for Educational Awards. This forced the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and Thomond College of Education, Limerick to apply to the National University of Ireland for the conferring of degrees and diplomas. It removed the requirement that Irish be passed to obtain a Leaving Certificate; it also reformed the civil service by removing the requirement of knowledge in Irish and the mandatory retirement on marriage that many women faced during their civil service careers.
A free travel scheme was also introduced covering bus and rail services for all blind persons over the age of 21.
In response to the assassination of the British Ambassador to Ireland Christopher Ewart-Biggs by the Provisional IRA on 21 July, Cosgrave introduced a motion to declare a national emergency under Article 28.3.3° of the Constitution of Ireland created by an armed conflict. This was approved by the Dáil on 1 September by a vote of 70 to 65. This was followed by the introduction of the Emergency Powers Bill 1976.
President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh referred the Emergency Powers Bill to the Supreme Court. Minister of Defence Paddy Donegan described the president as a "thundering disgrace" for this decision. The Minister apologised and privately offered to resign. Cosgrave refused to accept his resignation. On 21 October, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion in the Dáil calling on the minister to resign, which was defeated. Ó Dálaigh viewed the refusal to remove the minister as an affront to his office by the government and resigned on 22 October 1976. The following week, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion of no confidence in the government. This was countered by a motion of confidence in the government proposed by Cosgrave, which was carried on a vote of 73 to 67.;
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