# 23rd government of Ireland

The 23rd government of Ireland (12 January 1993 – 15 December 1994) was the government formed following the 1992 general election to the 27th Dáil held on 25 November 1992. It was a coalition of Fianna Fáil, with leader Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach, and the Labour Party, with leader Dick Spring as Tánaiste. It was the first time that these two parties were in government together; on each previous occasion Labour was in government, it was a junior coalition party with Fine Gael. The government lasted for 1 year, 309 days from its appointment until its resignation on 17 November 1994, and continued to carry out its duties for a further 28 days until the appointment of its successor, giving a total of 1 year, 337 days.
The 27th Dáil lasted until 1997, but the first government fell in 1994 after the breakdown of relations between the two parties. It was succeeded in December 1994 by the 24th government, a coalition of Fine Gael, with leader John Bruton as Taoiseach, Labour, with Dick Spring serving again as Tánaiste, and Democratic Left, led by Proinsias De Rossa. This was the only time a government with a new coalition of parties was formed within a single Dáil term.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 27th Dáil first met on 14 December 1992. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Labour Party leader Dick Spring were each proposed. None of these proposals were passed by the Dáil: Reynolds received 68 votes in favour with 94 against, Bruton received 55 in favour to 107 against, and Spring received 39 in favour to 122 against. Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach and continued in a caretaker capacity.
On 12 January 1993, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton were again proposed for the nomination of the Dáil for the position of Taoiseach, and on this occasion, the nomination of Reynolds was successful by 102 votes to 60. Reynolds was appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.
12 January 1993 Nomination of Albert Reynolds (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and seconded by Dick Spring Absolute majority: 84/166 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (68), Labour Party (33), Independent Fianna Fáil (1) | 102 / 166 |
| No | Fine Gael (45), Progressive Democrats (10), Democratic Left (4), Green Party (1) | 60 / 166 |
| Not voting | Independent (3), Ceann Comhairle (1) | 4 / 166 |

## Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Albert Reynolds 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 |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Tánaiste | Dick Spring | 1993–1994 | Labour Party |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Dick Spring | 1993–1994 | Labour Party |
| Minister for Finance | Bertie Ahern | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Social Welfare | Michael Woods | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Justice | Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Enterprise and Employment | Ruairi Quinn | 1993–1994 | Labour |
| Minister for the Environment | Michael Smith | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Defence | David Andrews | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for the Marine | David Andrews | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry | Joe Walsh | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Tourism and Trade | Charlie McCreevy | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications | Brian Cowen | 1993–1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Equality and Law Reform | Mervyn Taylor | 1993–1994 | Labour |
| Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | Michael D. Higgins | 1993–1994 | Labour |
| Minister for Health | Brendan Howlin | 1993–1994 | Labour |
| Minister for Education | Niamh Bhreathnach | 1993–1994 | Labour |
| Changes 17 November 1994 The Labour Party ministers resigned from government on 17 November 1994. Albert Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach and continued to serve in a caretaker capacity. |||||
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Albert Reynolds | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Tánaiste | Bertie Ahern | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | Bertie Ahern | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Health | Michael Woods | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Equality and Law Reform | Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Education | Michael Smith | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |
| Minister for Enterprise and Employment | Charlie McCreevy | 1994 | Fianna Fáil |

### Notes

* ↑ The Department of Industry and Commerce was renamed as the Department of Enterprise and Employment on 20 January 1993.
* ↑ The Department of Agriculture and Food was renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry on 21 January 1993.
* ↑ The Department of Energy was renamed as the Department of Tourism and Trade on 22 January 1993.
* ↑ McCreevy had initially been appointed as Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications and was re-assigned after the transfer of departmental function.
* ↑ The Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications was renamed as the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications on 22 January 1993.
* ↑ Cowen had initially been appointed as Minister for Energy and was re-assigned after the transfer of departmental functions.
* ↑ The Department of Labour was renamed as the Department of Equality and Law Reform on 21 January 1993.
* ↑ The Department of the Gaeltacht was renamed as the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht on 21 January 1993.

## Attorney General

On 12 January 1993 Harry Whelehan SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. He resigned as Attorney General on 11 November 1994 on his nomination as President of the High Court (a position he would serve in for only two days). On 11 November 1994, Eoghan Fitzsimons SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

## Ministers of state

Apppointment on 12 January 1993
The government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Noel Dempsey as Government Chief Whip. He sat at cabinet in this role. :
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Noel Dempsey | Taoiseach Defence | Government Chief Whip | | Fianna Fáil |
| Apppointments on 14 January 1993 On 14 January 1993, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State. This included an additional responsibility for Dempsey. |||||
| Name | Department(s) | Responsibility | Party | Party |
| Noel Dempsey | Finance | Office of Public Works | | Fianna Fáil |
| Tom Kitt | Taoiseach Foreign Affairs | European Affairs and Overseas development assistance | | Fianna Fáil |
| Noel Treacy | Taoiseach Finance Transport, Energy and Communications | Energy | | Fianna Fáil |
| Mary O'Rourke | Enterprise and Employment | Labour affairs | | Fianna Fáil |
| Séamus Brennan | Enterprise and Employment | Commerce and technology | | Fianna Fáil |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | Gaeltacht | | Fianna Fáil |
| Eithne FitzGerald | Finance Office of the Tánaiste | National Development Plan | | Labour |
| Liam Aylward | Education | Youth and sport | | Fianna Fáil |
| Liam Hyland | Agriculture, Food and Forestry | Forestry and rural development | | Fianna Fáil |
| Brian O'Shea | Agriculture, Food and Forestry | Food and horticulture | | Labour |
| Willie O'Dea | Justice Health | | | Fianna Fáil |
| John Browne | Environment | Environmental protection | | Fianna Fáil |
| Emmet Stagg | Environment | Housing and urban renewal | | Labour |
| Gerry O'Sullivan | Marine | Port development, safety and inland fisheries | | Labour |
| Joan Burton | Social Welfare | Poverty, including EC Poverty Plans and the integration of the tax and social welfare codes | | Labour |
| Change on 15 June 1994 Resignation of Pat "the Cope" Gallagher as minister of state on his election to the European Parliament. |||||
| Change on 5 August 1994 Death of Gerry O'Sullivan. |||||
| Change on 17 November 1994 The ministers of state from the Labour Party resigned on 17 November 1994. |||||

## Confidence in the government

After the sum of European Structural and Investment Funds allocated to Ireland was lower than previously announced, a motion of no confidence was proposed in the government. This was then debated on 28 October 1993 as a motion of confidence in the government, proposed by the Taoiseach. It was approved by a vote of 94 to 55.

### Resignation of government

In November 1994, the Attorney General, Harry Whelehan was nominated by the government as President of the High Court. It emerged that he had failed to expedite the extradition of Fr Brendan Smyth to Northern Ireland for sexual offences committed against children. The appointment of Whelehan to the court despite this led to a motion of no confidence in the government. Reynolds responded on 16 November by proposing a motion reaffirming the confidence of the Dáil in the Taoiseach and the Government.
On the following day, 17 November, Labour withdrew from the government and Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach. The motion of confidence in the government was withdrawn. Reynolds and the Fianna Fáil ministers continued to carry on their duties until their successors were appointed on 15 December.