# Government of the 22nd Dáil

The 17th government of Ireland (30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil. It was a minority coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach and lasted for 252 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 22nd Dáil first met on 30 June 1981. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald were both proposed. The nomination of Haughey was defeated with 79 votes in favour to 83 against, while the nomination of FitzGerald was carried with 81 in favour and 78 against. FitzGerald was appointed as Taoiseach by President Patrick Hillery.
30 June 1981 Nomination of Garret FitzGerald (FG) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Oliver J. Flanagan and seconded by Ivan Yates Absolute majority: 84/166 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fine Gael (65), Labour Party (15), Jim Kemmy (1) | 81 / 166 |
| No | Fianna Fáil (78) | 78 / 166 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Socialist Labour Party (1), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1) | 5 / 166 |
| In prison | Anti H-Block (2) | 2 / 166 |

## Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Garret FitzGerald 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 | Garret FitzGerald | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Tánaiste | Michael O'Leary | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for Industry and Energy | Michael O'Leary | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for Agriculture | Alan Dukes | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Defence | James Tully | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for Education | John Boland | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for the Environment | Peter Barry | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Finance | John Bruton | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Fisheries and Forestry | Tom Fitzpatrick | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | John Kelly | 1981 (acting) | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | Paddy O'Toole | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Health | Eileen Desmond | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for Social Welfare | Eileen Desmond | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for Justice | Jim Mitchell | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Labour | Liam Kavanagh | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for the Public Service | Liam Kavanagh | 1981–1982 | | Labour |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | Patrick Cooney | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Transport | Patrick Cooney | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | John Kelly | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |
| Change 21 October 1981 Appointment of Sen. James Dooge, whose nomination had to await until after the election to Seanad Éireann. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | James Dooge | 1981–1982 | | Fine Gael |

### Notes

* ↑ On 21 August 1981, the Department of Energy was renamed as the Department of Industry and Energy.
* ↑ On 21 August 1981, the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism was renamed as the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism.

## Attorney General

On 30 July 1981, Peter Sutherland SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

## Ministers of state

On 30 June 1981, the Government appointed Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Gerry L'Estrange | Taoiseach | Government Chief Whip | | Fine Gael |
| Gerry L'Estrange | Defence | Defence | | Fine Gael |
| Edward Collins | Industry and Energy | Oil and Minerals Exploration | | Fine Gael |
| Fergus O'Brien | Environment | Housing | | Fine Gael |
| Donal Creed | Health | Health | | Fine Gael |
| Mary Flaherty | Social Welfare | Poverty and the Family | | Fine Gael |
| Joseph Bermingham | Finance | Office of Public Works | | Labour |
| Barry Desmond | Finance | Economic Planning | | Labour |
| Michael Begley | Trade, Commerce and Tourism | Tourism | | Fine Gael |
| Michael Keating | Education | Youth and Sport | | Fine Gael |
| Dick Spring | Justice | Law Reform | | Labour |
| Michael D'Arcy | Agriculture | Production and Marketing | | Fine Gael |
| Ted Nealon | Agriculture | Western Development | | Fine Gael |
| Jim O'Keeffe | Foreign Affairs | Overseas Development | | Fine Gael |
| Change 10 July 1981 Additional appointment |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Paddy Harte | Posts and Telegraphs | Telecommunications | | Fine Gael |
| Change 24 July 1981 Additional appointment |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Mary Flaherty | Health | | | Fine Gael |
| Changes 11 November 1981 Reshuffle on grounds of health of L'Estrange. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Fergus O'Brien | Taoiseach | Government Chief Whip | | Fine Gael |
| Fergus O'Brien | Defence | Defence | | Fine Gael |
| Donal Creed | Environment | Housing | | Fine Gael |
| Gerry L'Estrange | Health | Health | | Fine Gael |

## Budget

On 27 January 1982, the Minister for Finance John Bruton proposed the budget, which was rejected by the Dáil.
27 January 1982 Financial Resolutions, 1982 Absolute majority: 84/166 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Yes | Fine Gael (65), Labour Party (15), Socialist Labour Party (1) | 81 / 166 |
| N No | Fianna Fáil (78), Sinn Féin The Workers' Party (1), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Jim Kemmy (1), Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1) | 82 / 166 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1) | 1 / 166 |
| In prison | Anti H-Block (1) | 1 / 166 |
| Vacancy | 1 | 1 / 166 |
The Taoiseach sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president, leading to the February 1982 general election.