24th government of Ireland

The 24th government of Ireland (15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997) was the government formed after the Labour Party had left its previous coalition with Fianna Fáil two years into the 27th Dáil. It was a coalition of Fine Gael, with leader John Bruton as Taoiseach, Labour, with Dick Spring as Tánaiste, and Democratic Left, led by Proinsias De Rossa, known as the Rainbow Coalition. It is the only time to date that a new government was formed within the same Dáil term composed of a different coalition of parties. The 24th government lasted .

Formation

The Labour Party had been part of the 23rd Government with Fianna Fáil, formed in January 1993 after the 1992 general election, but left in November 1994 following a number of scandals, particularly those which emerged from the Beef Tribunal and the alleged mishandling of the extradition of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth. After Albert Reynolds was replaced as Fianna Fáil leader by Bertie Ahern, there was speculation that Labour would rejoin Fianna Fáil in government, but instead it formed a government with two parties which had been in opposition. By-election gains since 1992 meant the three parties had enough TDs between them for an overall majority.

Nomination of Taoiseach In the Dáil debate on the nomination for Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader John Bruton were proposed. Ahern was defeated by 67 votes to 94, while Bruton was approved. Bruton was appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.

15 December 1994Nomination of John Bruton (FG) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Nora Owen and seconded by Paddy HarteAbsolute majority: 84/166 Vote Parties Votes Yes Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (32), Democratic Left (6) No Fianna Fáil (65), Progressive Democrats (8), Independent (1) Absent orNot voting Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Green Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1)

Government ministers After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, John Bruton proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day. OfficeNameTermPartyTaoiseachJohn Bruton1994–1997 TánaisteDick Spring1994–1997 Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for FinanceRuairi Quinn1994–1997 Minister for HealthMichael Noonan1994–1997 Minister for Equality and Law ReformMervyn Taylor1994–1997 Minister for Arts, Culture and the GaeltachtMichael D. Higgins1994–1997 Minister for the EnvironmentBrendan Howlin1994–1997 Minister for EducationNiamh Bhreathnach1994–1997 Minister for JusticeNora Owen1994–1997 Minister for Social WelfareProinsias De Rossa1994–1997 Minister for Tourism and TradeEnda Kenny1994–1997 Minister for Enterprise and EmploymentRichard Bruton1994–1997 Minister for Agriculture, Food and ForestryIvan Yates1994–1997 Minister for Transport, Energy and CommunicationsMichael Lowry1994–1996 Minister for DefenceHugh Coveney1994–1995 Minister for the MarineChanges 23 May 1995 Hugh Coveney was demoted to a Minister of State after allegations of improper contact with businessmen.Minister for DefenceSeán Barrett1995–1997 Minister for the MarineChanges 3 December 1996 Michael Lowry resigned following reports of improper payments from businessman Ben Dunne.Minister for Transport, Energy and CommunicationsAlan Dukes1996–1997

Attorney General Dermot Gleeson SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of state Appointments 15 December 1994 Seán Barrett, TD was appointed by the government as Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. Pat Rabbitte, TD was appointed as Minister of State to the Government. Both attended cabinet meetings without a vote.NameDepartment(s)ResponsibilityPartySeán BarrettTaoiseach; DefenceGovernment Chief Whip Pat RabbitteMinister of State to the GovernmentEnterprise and Employment; ; ; Commerce, science and technology and consumer affairs Appointments 20 December 1994 Appointment by the government of 13 further Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.NameDepartment(s)ResponsibilityPartyEmmet StaggTransport, Energy and Communications; Brian O'SheaHealth; Mental handicap, health promotion, food safety and public health Eithne FitzGeraldOffice of the TánaisteEnterprise and EmploymentLabour affairs Joan BurtonForeign AffairsJusticeOverseas development assistance Toddy O'SullivanTourism and Trade Gay MitchellTaoiseachForeign AffairsEuropean affairsIFSC and local development initiatives Bernard AllenEducationEnvironmentYouth and sportLocal government reform Bernard DurkanSocial Welfare Jimmy DeenihanAgriculture, Food and Forestry; Phil HoganFinance Austin CurrieHealthEducationJusticeChildren Eamon GilmoreMarine; ; Liz McManusEnvironment Appointments 27 January 1995 Following the increase in the number of Ministers of State permitted from 15 to 17 in the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1995.NameDepartment(s)ResponsibilityParty Avril DoyleTaoiseachFinanceTransport, Energy and CommunicationsConsumers of Public Services Donal CareyTaoiseachArts, Culture and the GaeltachtWestern Development and Rural Renewal Change 10 February 1995 Resignation of Phil Hogan after leaking details of the budget.NameDepartment(s)ResponsibilityParty Jim HigginsFinancePublic ExpenditureOffice of Public Works Changes 24 May 1995 Following the appointment of Seán Barrett to government.NameDepartment(s)ResponsibilityParty Jim HigginsTaoiseachDefenceGovernment Chief Whip Hugh CoveneyFinance

Constitutional referendums The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Equality and Law Reform Mervyn Taylor and approved in a referendum on 24 November 1995. It removed the prohibition on divorce, replacing it terms allowing a court to dissolve a marriage, including a requirement to have been separated for four of the previous five years. It was followed by Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996.

The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Justice Nora Owen and approved in a referendum on 28 November 1996. It allowed a court to refuse bail to someone convicted of a serious offence when reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. It was followed by the Bail Act 1997.

Confidence in the government After the government had failed to properly effect the dismissal of Judge Dominic Lynch, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was debated on 12 and 13 November 1996 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach.; ; It was approved by a vote of 79 to 70.

Dissolution On 15 May 1997, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 6 June. When the 28th Dáil met on 26 June, Bertie Ahern was nominated and appointed as Taoiseach and formed a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition government.

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Further reading