# Government of the 5th Dáil

The 3rd executive council of the Irish Free State (23 June 1927 – 11 October 1927) was formed after the June 1927 general election to the 5th Dáil held on 9 June 1927. It was led by W. T. Cosgrave, leader of Cumann na nGaedheal, as President of the Executive Council, who had led the government since August 1922. It lasted 110 days.

## Nomination of President of the Executive Council

The 5th Dáil first met on 23 June 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 68 votes in favour and 22 against. Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.
23 June 1927 Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council Motion proposed by James Murphy and seconded by Peadar Doyle Absolute majority: 77/153 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Cumann na nGaedheal (44), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (13) | 68 / 153 |
| No | Labour Party (22) | 22 / 153 |
| Absent or Not voting | National League (8), Cumann na nGaedheal (2), Independents (1), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 12 / 153 |
| Abstentionist | Fianna Fáil (44), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (2) | 51 / 153 |

## Members of the Executive Council

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the president and approved by the Dáil by a vote of 66 to 31. They were then appointed by the Governor General.
| Office | Name | Name |
| President of the Executive Council | | W. T. Cosgrave |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | | Kevin O'Higgins |
| Minister for External Affairs | | Kevin O'Higgins |
| Minister for Justice | | Kevin O'Higgins |
| Minister for Finance | | Ernest Blythe |
| Minister for Defence | | Desmond FitzGerald |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | | Patrick McGilligan |
| Minister for Education | | John M. O'Sullivan |
| Minister for Agriculture and Lands | | Patrick Hogan |
| Minister for Fisheries | | Fionán Lynch |
| Minister for Local Government and Public Health | | Richard Mulcahy |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | | J. J. Walsh |
| Changes 14 July 1927 Following the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins. |||
| Office | Name | Name |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | | Ernest Blythe |
| Minister for External Affairs | | W. T. Cosgrave (acting) |
| Minister for Justice | | W. T. Cosgrave (acting) |

## Parliamentary secretaries

The Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President. The first three were appointed on 24 June 1927.
| Name | Name | Office |
| | Eamonn Duggan | Government Chief Whip |
| | Eamonn Duggan | Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence |
| | Séamus Burke | Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance |
| | Martin Roddy | Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Fisheries |
| Appointment 18 August 1927 |||
| Name | Name | Office |
| | James FitzGerald-Kenney | Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Justice |

## Actions of the government

After the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins on 10 July 1927, the Executive Council proposed the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill. This legislation provided for the disqualification for five years of any member of the Oireachtas who did not take the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in Article 17 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State. After this legislation had passed both houses, the TDs elected for Fianna Fáil led by Éamon de Valera took the oath and entered the Dáil for the first time since the 1922 general election.

## Confidence in the government

On 16 August, Labour Party leader Thomas Johnson proposed a motion of no confidence in the Executive Council, which was defeated.
16 August 1927 Motion of no confidence in the Executive Council Motion proposed by Thomas Johnson (Lab) and seconded by Hugh Colohan (Lab) Absolute majority: 77/153 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Yes | Fianna Fáil (43), Labour Party (21), National League (6), Independent (1) | 71 / 153 |
| N No | Cumann na nGaedheal (45), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (15) | 71 / 153 |
| Absent | Labour Party (1), National League (1) | 2 / 153 |
| Vacant | 2 | 2 / 153 |
| Abstentionist | Sinn Féin (5), Independent (1) | 6 / 153 |
| Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes exercised his casting vote against the motion. |||

## Dissolution

On 24 August, Cumann na nGaedheal won two by-elections, and sought to capitalise on this success by calling a new general election seeking an increased mandated. The president sought a dissolution of the Dáil and a new election was held in September 1927.