# Government of the 19th Dáil

The 13th government of Ireland (2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1969 general election to the 19th Dáil held on 18 June 1969. It was formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 general election. This was the first election it won with Jack Lynch as its leader. It lasted for 3 years, 255 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 19th Dáil first met on 2 July 1969. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Jack Lynch, the Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave, and the Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed. The nomination of Lynch was carried with 74 votes in favour to 66 against. Lynch was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.
2 July 1969 Nomination of Jack Lynch (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Frank Aiken and seconded by Johnny Geoghegan Absolute majority: 73/144 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (73), Independent (1) | 74 / 144 |
| No | Fine Gael (49), Labour Party (17) | 66 / 144 |
| Absent or Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Fianna Fáil (1), Fine Gael (1) | 3 / 144 |
| Vacancy | 1 | 1 / 144 |

## Members of the government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch 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 | Name | Term |
| Taoiseach | | Jack Lynch | 1969–1973 |
| Tánaiste | | Erskine H. Childers | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Health | | Erskine H. Childers | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Agriculture | | Neil Blaney | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for Defence | | Jim Gibbons | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for Education | | Pádraig Faulkner | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Finance | | Charles Haughey | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for External Affairs | | Patrick Hillery | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | | George Colley | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | | George Colley | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for Justice | | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for Labour | | Joseph Brennan | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Lands | | Seán Flanagan | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Local Government | | Kevin Boland | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for Social Welfare | | Kevin Boland | 1969–1970 |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | | Patrick Lalor | 1969–1973 |
| Minister for Transport and Power | | Brian Lenihan | 1969–1973 |
| Change 7 May 1970 Mícheál Ó Móráin was in hospital and was asked to resign on 4 May 1970. ||||
| Office | Name | Name | Term |
| Minister for Justice | | Desmond O'Malley | 1970–1973 |
| Changes 9 May 1970 Due to the Arms Crisis, Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney were dismissed on 6 May 1970 when they refused to resign. Kevin Boland resigned from the government. ||||
| Office | Name | Name | Term |
| Minister for Agriculture | | Jim Gibbons | 1970–1973 |
| Minister for Defence | | Jerry Cronin | 1970–1973 |
| Minister for Finance | | George Colley | 1970–1973 |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | | Patrick Lalor | 1970–1973 |
| Minister for Local Government | | Bobby Molloy | 1970–1973 |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | | Gerry Collins | 1970–1973 |
| Minister for Social Welfare | | Joseph Brennan | 1970–1973 |
| Changes 3 January 1973 Michael O'Kennedy was appointed to government on 14 December 1972. In January 1973 Patrick Hillery was appointed as Irelands's first European Commissioner. ||||
| Office | Name | Name | Term |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | | Brian Lenihan | 1973 |
| Minister for Transport and Power | | Michael O'Kennedy | 1973 |

### Note

* ↑ The Department of External Affairs was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs on 3 March 1971.

## Parliamentary Secretaries

On 9 July 1969, the Taoiseach announced the appointment by the Government of the Parliamentary Secretaries on his nomination.
| Name | Name | Office |
| | Desmond O'Malley | Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence |
| | Paudge Brennan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government |
| | Johnny Geoghegan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare |
| | Noel Lemass | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance |
| | Jerry Cronin | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries |
| | Bobby Molloy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education |
| | Gerry Collins | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht |
| Changes 8 May 1970 Following the appointment of Desmond O'Malley to government. |||
| Name | Name | Office |
| | David Andrews | Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence |
| Changes 9 May 1970 Following the resignation of Paudge Brennan on 8 May and the appointment of Jerry Cronin, Bobby Molloy and Gerry Collins to government on 9 May. |||
| Name | Name | Office |
| | Liam Cunningham | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government |
| | Jackie Fahey | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries |
| | Michael F. Kitt | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Gaeltacht |
| | Michael O'Kennedy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education |
| Changes 3 January 1973 Following the appointment of Michael O'Kennedy to government. |||
| Name | Name | Office |
| | Jim Tunney | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education |

## Arms Crisis

Following the dismissal of ministers, a motion of confidence in the government was proposed by Jack Lynch. It was approved on a vote of 72 to 64.
After the trial, Lynch placed a further motion of confidence in the government, in response to an opposition motion. This was approved on a vote of 74 to 67.

## Foreign affairs

The government signed the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community on 22 January 1972. After a referendum held on 10 May, a constitutional amendment allowing Ireland to become a member of the European Communities was approved with the support of 83.1% of votes cast. Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom became members of the EEC on 1 January 1973.