# Government of the 17th Dáil

The 10th government of Ireland (11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1961 general election to the 17th Dáil held on 4 October 1961. It was a minority government formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 election. It was the first election it had won since Seán Lemass had succeeded Éamon de Valera as leader. It lasted for 3 years, 192 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 17th Dáil first met on 11 October 1961. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Seán Lemass, Fine Gael leader James Dillon, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed. The nomination of Lemass was carried with 72 votes in favour and 68 against. Lemass was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.
11 October 1961 Nomination of Seán Lemass (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Seán MacEntee and seconded by James Ryan Absolute majority: 73/144 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (70), Independents (2) | 72 / 144 |
| No | Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (15), Clann na Talmhan (2), National Progressive Democrats (2), Clann na Poblachta (1), Independent (1) | 68 / 144 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (3) | 4 / 144 |

## Members of the government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Seán Lemass proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on 12 October 1961.
| Office | Name | Name | Term |
| Taoiseach | | Seán Lemass | 1961–1965 |
| Tánaiste | | Seán MacEntee | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Health | | Seán MacEntee | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Agriculture | | Paddy Smith | 1961–1964 |
| Minister for Defence | | Gerald Bartley | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Education | | Patrick Hillery | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Finance | | James Ryan | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for External Affairs | | Frank Aiken | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Lands | | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | | Jack Lynch | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Justice | | Charles Haughey | 1961–1964 |
| Minister for Local Government | | Neil Blaney | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | | Michael Hilliard | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Social Welfare | | Kevin Boland | 1961–1965 |
| Minister for Transport and Power | | Erskine H. Childers | 1961–1965 |
| Changes 8 October 1964 Paddy Smith resigned in disagreement at the government's response to certain farming issues. ||||
| Office | Name | Name | Term |
| Minister for Agriculture | | Charles Haughey | 1964–1965 |
| Minister for Justice | | Seán Lemass | (acting) |
| Changes 3 November 1964 Appointment of new member of the government in place of Smith. ||||
| Office | Name | Name | Term |
| Minister for Justice | | Brian Lenihan | 1964–1965 |

## Parliamentary Secretaries

On 12 October 1961, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
| Name | Name | Office | Term |
| | Joseph Brennan | Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1961–1965 |
| | Donogh O'Malley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1961–1965 |
| | Brian Lenihan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands | 1961–1964 |
| Change 21 October 1964 Appointment of Brian Lenihan to government. ||||
| Name | Name | Office | Term |
| | George Colley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands | 1964–1965 |

## Confidence in the government

On 30 October 1963, Brendan Corish, leader of the Labour Party, proposed a motion of no confidence in the government after its introduction of the turnover tax. This motion was amended by the government as a motion of confidence, and approved by a vote of 73 to 69.