# Government of the 15th Dáil

The 7th government of Ireland (2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957), commonly known as the Second inter-party government, was the government of Ireland formed after the 1954 general election to the 15th Dáil held on 18 May. It was a minority government of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Clann na Talmhan. Clann na Poblachta, which had been in the First inter-party government (1948–1951) with these parties, supported the government but did form part of it. It lasted for 2 years, 291 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 15th Dáil first met on 2 June 1954. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and former Taoiseach John A. Costello of Fine Gael were both proposed. The nomination of de Valera was defeated with 66 votes cast in favour and 78 against, while the nomination of Costello was approved by 79 to 66. Costello was appointed as Taoiseach by President Seán T. O'Kelly.
2 June 1954 Nomination of John A. Costello (FG) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Richard Mulcahy and seconded by William Norton Absolute majority: 74/147 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fine Gael (50), Labour Party (18), Clann na Talmhan (5), Clann na Poblachta (3), Independents (3) | 79 / 147 |
| No | Fianna Fáil (65), Independent (1) | 66 / 147 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1) | 2 / 147 |

## Members of the Government

The Ministers of the Government were proposed by the Taoiseach and approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Taoiseach | John A. Costello | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Tánaiste | William Norton | 1954–1957 | | Labour Party |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | William Norton | 1954–1957 | | Labour Party |
| Minister for Education | Richard Mulcahy | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Lands | Joseph Blowick | 1954–1957 | | Clann na Talmhan |
| Minister for Justice | James Everett | 1954–1957 | | Labour |
| Minister for Agriculture | James Dillon | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Defence | Seán Mac Eoin | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | Michael Keyes | 1954–1957 | | Labour |
| Minister for External Affairs | Liam Cosgrave | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Social Welfare | Brendan Corish | 1954–1957 | | Labour |
| Minister for Finance | Gerard Sweetman | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Local Government | Patrick O'Donnell | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Health | Tom O'Higgins | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Change 2 July 1956 Establishment of the Department of the Gaeltacht. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | Richard Mulcahy | 1956 | | Fine Gael |
| Changes 24 October 1956 Assignment of separate Minister for the Gaeltacht. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | Patrick Lindsay | 1956–1957 | | Fine Gael |

## Parliamentary Secretaries

On 3 June 1954, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
| Name | Office | Term | Party | Party |
| Denis J. O'Sullivan | Government Chief Whip | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Denis J. O'Sullivan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| John O'Donovan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Government | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Michael Donnellan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1954–1957 | | Clann na Talmhan |
| William Davin | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government | 1954–1956 | | Labour |
| Oliver J. Flanagan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Patrick Crotty | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce | 1954–1957 | | Fine Gael |
| Change 16 March 1956 Following the death of William Davin on 1 March 1956. |||||
| Name | Office | Term | Party | Party |
| Dan Spring | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government | 1956–1957 | | Labour |
| Changes 3 July 1956 Following the establishment of the Department of the Gaeltacht |||||
| Name | Office | Term | Party | Party |
| Patrick Lindsay | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht | Jul.–Oct. 1956 | | Fine Gael |
| Patrick Lindsay | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education | Jul.–Oct. 1956 | | Fine Gael |

## Foreign Policy

Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955.

## Dissolution of the Dáil

The government ended when the Clann na Poblachta withdrew its support in 1957. Fine Gael and Labour had also both lost seats in by-elections to Fianna Fáil the previous year. Costello sought a dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February 1957 which was granted by the president, leading to a general election on 9 March 1957.