# Government of the 28th Dáil

The 25th government of Ireland (26 June 1997 – 6 June 2002) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1997 general election to the 28th Dáil held on 6 June 1997. It was a minority coalition government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. It lasted 4 years, 345 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 28th Dáil first met on 26 June 1997. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, both outgoing Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern were proposed. The vote on Bruton was defeated with 75 votes in favour to 87 against, while the vote on Ahern was approved by 85 to 78. Ahern was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.
26 June 1997 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by David Andrews and seconded by Mary O'Rourke Absolute majority: 84/166 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (77), Progressive Democrats (4), Independent (3), Sinn Féin (1) | 85 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (54), Labour Party (16), Democratic Left (4), Green Party (2), Independent (1), Socialist Party (1) | 78 / 166 |
| Not voting | Independent (2), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 3 / 166 |

## Government ministers

After his appointment 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 | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tánaiste | Mary Harney | 1997–2002 | | Progressive Democrats |
| Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Mary Harney | 1997–2002 | | Progressive Democrats |
| Minister for Marine and Natural Resources | Michael Woods | 1997–2000 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Ray Burke | 1997 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Public Enterprise | Mary O'Rourke | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Defence | David Andrews | 1997 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Agriculture and Food | Joe Walsh | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Finance | Charlie McCreevy | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Health and Children | Brian Cowen | 1997–2000 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for the Environment and Local Government | Noel Dempsey | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs | Dermot Ahern | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands | Síle de Valera | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform | John O'Donoghue | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Jim McDaid | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Education and Science | Micheál Martin | 1997–2000 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 8 October 1997 Following the resignation of Ray Burke after allegations of corrupt payments under investigation by the Flood Tribunal. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | David Andrews | 1997–2000 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Defence | Michael Smith | 1997–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 27 January 2000 Following the retirement from government of David Andrews. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for Education and Science | Michael Woods | 2000–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Brian Cowen | 2000–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Health and Children | Micheál Martin | 2000–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Marine and Natural Resources | Frank Fahey | 2000–2002 | | Fianna Fáil |

### Changes to Departments

* ↑ The Department of Enterprise and Employment was renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 8 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of the Marine was renamed the Department of Marine and Natural Resources on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of Transport, Energy and Communications was renamed the Department of Public Enterprise on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development on 27 September 1999.
* ↑ The Department of Health was renamed the Department of Health and Children on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of the Environment was renamed the Department of the Environment and Local Government on 22 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of Social Welfare was renamed the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht was renamed the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The functions of the Department of Equality and Law Reform were transferred to the Department of Justice on 8 July 1997. The Department of Justice was renamed the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 9 July.
* ↑ John O'Donoghue was appointed as Minister for Justice and Minister for Equality and Law Reform and served as head of both departments until the transfer of functions on 8 July.
* ↑ The Department of Tourism and Trade was renamed the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation on 12 July 1997.
* ↑ The Department of Education was renamed the Department of Education and Science on 1 October 1997.

## Attorney General

David Byrne SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. In 1999, he resigned on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 17 July 1999, Michael McDowell SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

## Ministers of state

Appointments 26 June 1997
The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach as ministers of state in attendance at cabinet meetings without a vote. :
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Séamus Brennan | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip | | Fianna Fáil |
| Bobby Molloy | Minister of State to the Government Environment and Local Government | Housing and urban renewal | | Progressive Democrats |
| Appointments 1 July 1997 The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Michael Smith and Liz O'Donnell. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Michael Smith | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Science and technology | | Fianna Fáil |
| Liz O'Donnell | Foreign Affairs | Overseas development assistance and human rights | | Progressive Democrats |
| Appointments 8 July 1997 The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 13 further ministers of state. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Noel Davern | Agriculture and Food | Livestock breeding and horticulture | | Fianna Fáil |
| Joe Jacob | Public Enterprise | Energy | | Fianna Fáil |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children | Children | | Fianna Fáil |
| Willie O'Dea | Education and Science | Adult education, youth affairs and school transport | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tom Kitt | Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Labour affairs, consumer rights and international trade | | Fianna Fáil |
| Chris Flood | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Local development and the National Drugs Strategy Team | | Fianna Fáil |
| Dan Wallace | Environment and Local Government | Environmental information and awareness and the Environmental Protection Agency | | Fianna Fáil |
| Ned O'Keeffe | Agriculture and Food | Food | | Fianna Fáil |
| Hugh Byrne | Marine and Natural Resources | Aquaculture and forestry | | Fianna Fáil |
| Mary Wallace | Justice, Equality and Law Reform | Equality and disabilities | | Fianna Fáil |
| Martin Cullen | Finance | Office of Public Works | | Fianna Fáil |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands | Gaeltacht and the islands | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tom Moffatt | Health and Children | Food safety and older people | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 9 October 1997 Following the appointment of Michael Smith as Minister for Defence on 8 October. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Noel Treacy | Education and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Science and technology | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 21 January 1998 Expansion of scope of Minister of State for Children. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Frank Fahey | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Children | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 1 February 2000 Following the resignation of Chris Flood and the appointment of Frank Fahey as Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Eoin Ryan | Tourism, Sport and Recreation | Local development | | Fianna Fáil |
| Mary Hanafin | Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science | Children | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 19 February 2001 Following the resignation of Ned O'Keeffe on 17 February. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Agriculture, Food and Rural Development | Rural development and the Western Development Commission | | Fianna Fáil |
| Mary Coughlan | Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands | Gaeltacht and the Islands | | Fianna Fáil |
| Changes 11 April 2002 Following the resignation of Bobby Molloy as a Minister of State on 10 April 2002. O'Donnell continued in her position as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Molloy's position as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government was not filled. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Liz O'Donnell | Minister of State to the Government | | | Progressive Democrats |

## Confidence in the government

After evidence given by Ahern at the Moriarty Tribunal, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was then debated on 30 June 2000 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach. It was approved by the Dáil.

## Dissolution

On 25 April 2002, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 17 May. The 29th Dáil met on 6 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.