24th Government of Ireland

Government of the 27th Dáil
24th Government of Ireland
Date formed 15 December 1994
Date dissolved 26 June 1997
People and organisations
Head of government John Bruton
Deputy head of government Dick Spring
Head of state Mary Robinson
Total number of ministers 15
Member parties Fine Gael
Labour Party
Democratic Left
Status in legislature Rainbow Coalition
Opposition leader Bertie Ahern (Fianna Fáil)
History
Legislature term(s) 27th Dáil
Predecessor 23rd Government
Successor 25th Government

The 24th Government of Ireland (15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997) was the 2nd Government of the 27th Dáil. Known as the Rainbow Coalition,[fn 1] it was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left. The Labour Party had formed the 23rd Government with Fianna Fáil after the 1992 general election, but left in 1994 following a number of scandals, particularly over the beef industry and the alleged mishandling of the prosecution of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth. After Albert Reynolds was replaced by Bertie Ahern as Fianna Fáil leader, there was speculation that Labour would rejoin Fianna Fáil in government, but instead it joined with two opposition parties. By-election gains since 1992 meant the three now had enough TDs for an overall majority. This was the first time in Irish political history that a party had left a governing coalition and gone into government with opposition parties without first holding a general election.

Ministers

Nomination of Taoiseach vote

15 December 1994
Nomination of Taoiseach vote for Bertie Ahern (FF)

Motion proposed by Albert Reynolds and seconded by David Andrews
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
Yes Fianna Fáil (66), Independent Fianna Fáil (1)
67 / 166
No Fine Gael (46), Labour Party (32), Progressive Democrats (9), Democratic Left (6),
Green Party (1)
94 / 166
Abstentions Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1), Fine Gael (1)
5 / 166
Source: Oireachtas Debates
15 December 1994
Nomination of Taoiseach vote for John Bruton (FG)

Motion proposed by Nora Owen and seconded by Paddy Harte
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
Yes Yes Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (32), Democratic Left (6)
85 / 166
No Fianna Fáil (65), Progressive Democrats (9)
74 / 166
Abstentions Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Green Party (1),
Independent Fianna Fáil (1)
7 / 166
Source: Oireachtas Debates

Composition

Office Name Term Party
Taoiseach John Bruton 1994–97 Fine Gael
Tánaiste Dick Spring 1994–97 Labour Party
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry Ivan Yates 1994–97 Fine Gael
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Michael D. Higgins 1994–97 Labour Party
Minister for Defence Hugh Coveney[fn 2] 1994–95 Fine Gael
Minister for the Marine
Minister for Education Niamh Bhreathnach 1994–97 Labour Party
Minister for Equality and Law Reform Mervyn Taylor 1994–97 Labour Party
Minister for Enterprise and Employment Richard Bruton 1994–97 Fine Gael
Minister for the Environment Brendan Howlin 1994–97 Labour Party
Minister for Finance Ruairi Quinn 1994–97 Labour Party
Minister for Health Michael Noonan 1994–97 Fine Gael
Minister for Justice Nora Owen 1994–97 Fine Gael
Minister for Social Welfare Proinsias De Rossa 1994–97 Democratic Left
Minister for Tourism and Trade Enda Kenny 1994–97 Fine Gael
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications Michael Lowry[fn 3] 1994–96 Fine Gael
Office Name Term Party
Minister for Defence Seán Barrett 1995–97 Fine Gael
Minister for the Marine
Office Name Term Party
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications John Bruton (acting) Fine Gael
Office Name Term Party
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications Alan Dukes 1996–97 Fine Gael

Footnotes

  1. The term "Rainbow Coalition" in an Irish context had originally been used to describe a hypothetical coalition of Fine Gael (blue), Labour (red) and the Progressive Democrats (yellow).
  2. Hugh Coveney was demoted to a junior ministry in 1995 after allegations of improper contact with businessmen.
  3. Michael Lowry resigned in 1996 following reports of improper payments from businessman Ben Dunne.

See also

Sources

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