# Government of the 29th Dáil

The 26th government of Ireland (6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007) was the government of Ireland formed after the 2002 general election to the 29th Dáil which had been held on 17 May 2002. It was led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, with Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney as Tánaiste. It was the first, and to date only, coalition government to be returned to government after an election; both parties increased their number of seats, and together secured a Dáil majority, where in the previous government they had governed together as a minority government dependent on the support of Independent TDs. It lasted for 5 years, 8 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 29th Dáil first met on 6 June 2002. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, outgoing Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn, and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent were each proposed. Ahern received the nomination of the Dáil. Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.
6 June 2002 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Charlie McCreevy and seconded by Mary Harney Absolute majority: 84/166 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (80), Progressive Democrats (8), Independent (5) | 93 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (31), Labour Party (21), Green Party (6), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (4), Socialist Party (1) | 68 / 166 |
| Not voting | Independent (4), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 5 / 166 |

## Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Bertie Ahern proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern | 2002–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tánaiste | Mary Harney | 2002–2006 | | Progressive Democrats |
| Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Mary Harney | 2002–2004 | | Progressive Democrats |
| Minister for Finance | Charlie McCreevy | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Defence | Michael Smith | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Agriculture and Food | Joe Walsh | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Brian Cowen | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Education and Science | Noel Dempsey | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources | Dermot Ahern | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism | John O'Donoghue | 2002–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Health and Children | Micheál Martin | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Transport | Séamus Brennan | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Michael McDowell | 2002–2007 | | Progressive Democrats |
| Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Martin Cullen | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | Éamon Ó Cuív | 2002–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Social and Family Affairs | Mary Coughlan | 2002–2004 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 29 September 2004 Following the resignation of Charlie McCreevy on his nomination as European Commissioner and of Michael Smith and Joe Walsh. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for Health and Children | Mary Harney | 2004–2007 | | Progressive Democrats |
| Minister for Finance | Brian Cowen | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources | Noel Dempsey | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Dermot Ahern | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Micheál Martin | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Social and Family Affairs | Séamus Brennan | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Transport | Martin Cullen | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Agriculture and Food | Mary Coughlan | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Education and Science | Mary Hanafin | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Defence | Willie O'Dea | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Dick Roche | 2004–2007 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 13 September 2006 Following the resignation of Mary Harney as leader of the Progressive Democrats and the election of Michael McDowell. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Tánaiste | Michael McDowell | 2006–2007 | | Progressive Democrats |

### Changes to departments

* ↑ The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food on 19 June 2002.
* ↑ The Department of Marine and Natural Resources was renamed the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 19 June 2002.
* ↑ The Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation was renamed the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism on 19 June 2002.
* ↑ The Department of Public Enterprise was renamed the Department of Transport on 19 June 2002.
* ↑ The Department of Environment and Local Government was renamed the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 10 June 2003.
* ↑ The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands was renamed the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 19 June 2002.
* ↑ The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs was renamed the Department of Social and Family Affairs on 19 June 2002.

## Attorney General

Rory Brady SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

## Ministers of state

On 6 June 2002, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Mary Hanafin to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Dick Roche, the position of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for European Affairs. On 18 June, the Taoiseach announced that the government had appointed with effect from 19 June the other 15 Ministers of State and that the government had also appointed Mary Hanafin to be Minister of State at the Department of Defence.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Mary Hanafin (In attendance at cabinet) | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip Defence Information society | | Fianna Fáil |
| Dick Roche | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs | European Affairs | | Fianna Fáil |
| Brian Lenihan | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Children | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tom Kitt | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development and Human Rights | | Fianna Fáil |
| Síle de Valera | Education and Science | Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage | | Fianna Fáil |
| Jim McDaid | Transport | Road Traffic and Road Haulage | | Fianna Fáil |
| Frank Fahey | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Labour Affairs | | Fianna Fáil |
| Noel Treacy | Agriculture and Food | Food and Horticulture | | Fianna Fáil |
| Willie O'Dea | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality and Disability Issues | | Fianna Fáil |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Environmental Protection | | Fianna Fáil |
| Liam Aylward | Agriculture and Food | Animal Health and Welfare; and Customer Service | | Fianna Fáil |
| John Browne | Communications, Marine and Natural Resources | Marine | | Fianna Fáil |
| Michael Ahern | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Trade and Commerce | | Fianna Fáil |
| Ivor Callely | Health and Children | Older People | | Fianna Fáil |
| Noel Ahern | Environment, Heritage and Local Government Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | Housing and Urban Renewal Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tim O'Malley | Health and Children | Mental Health Services and Food Safety | | Progressive Democrats |
| Tom Parlon | Finance | Office of Public Works | | Progressive Democrats |
| Changes 29 September 2004 Following the election to the European Parliament of Liam Aylward and the appointment to government of Mary Hanafin, Dick Roche and Willie O'Dea. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Tom Kitt | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip | | Fianna Fáil |
| Frank Fahey | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality and Disability Issues | | Fianna Fáil |
| Noel Treacy | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs | European Affairs | | Fianna Fáil |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | Communications, Marine and Natural Resources | Marine | | Fianna Fáil |
| John Browne | Agriculture and Food | Forestry | | Fianna Fáil |
| Ivor Callely | Transport | Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority | | Fianna Fáil |
| Seán Power | Health and Children | Health Promotion | | Fianna Fáil |
| Batt O'Keeffe | Environment, Heritage and Local Government | Environmental Protection | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tony Killeen | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Labour Affairs | | Fianna Fáil |
| Brendan Smith | Agriculture and Food | Food and Horticulture | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 5 October 2004 Following the resignation of Jim McDaid. |||||
| Conor Lenihan | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development and Human Rights | | Fianna Fáil |
| Change 7 December 2005 Redesignation of role. |||||
| Brian Lenihan (In attendance at cabinet) | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Office of the Minister for Children | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 14 February 2006 Following the resignation of Ivor Callely on 8 December 2005. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Mary Wallace | Agriculture and Food | Forestry | | Fianna Fáil |
| John Browne | Communications, Marine and Natural Resources | Marine | | Fianna Fáil |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | Transport | Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 12 December 2006 Following the resignation of Síle de Valera on 8 December 2006. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Seán Haughey | Education and Science | Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage | | Fianna Fáil |

## Dissolution

On 29 April 2007, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 24 May. The 30th Dáil met on 14 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.