# Government of the 20th Dáil

The 14th government of Ireland (14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1973 general election to the 20th Dáil held on 28 February 1973. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, known as the National Coalition, led by Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach with Brendan Corish as Tánaiste. It was the first time either of the parties had been in government since the second inter-party government (1954–1957), when they were in coalition with Clann na Talmhan. It lasted for 4 years, 113 days. The government was widely referred to as the "cabinet of all the talents".

## Nomination of Taoiseach

The 20th Dáil first met on 14 March 1973. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Jack Lynch, and Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave were both proposed. The nomination of Lynch was defeated with 69 votes in favour to 73 against, while the nomination of Cosgrave was carried with 72 in favour and 70 against. Cosgrave was appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.
14 March 1973 Nomination of Liam Cosgrave (FG) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Brendan Corish and seconded by Maurice E. Dockrell Absolute majority: 73/144 :
| Vote | Parties | Votes |
| Y Yes | Fine Gael (54), Labour Party (18) | 72 / 144 |
| No | Fianna Fáil (69), Independent Fianna Fáil (1) | 70 / 144 |
| Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1) | 2 / 144 |

## Members of the government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Liam Cosgrave 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 | Liam Cosgrave | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Tánaiste | Brendan Corish | 1973–1977 | | Labour Party |
| Minister for Health | Brendan Corish | 1973–1977 | | Labour Party |
| Minister for Social Welfare | Brendan Corish | 1973–1977 | | Labour Party |
| Minister for Agriculture | Mark Clinton | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Defence | Paddy Donegan | 1973–1976 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Education | Richard Burke | 1973–1976 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Finance | Richie Ryan | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Garret FitzGerald | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | Tom O'Donnell | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | Justin Keating | 1973–1977 | | Labour |
| Minister for Justice | Patrick Cooney | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Labour | Michael O'Leary | 1973–1977 | | Labour |
| Minister for Lands | Tom Fitzpatrick | 1973–1976 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Local Government | James Tully | 1973–1977 | | Labour |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | Conor Cruise O'Brien | 1973–1977 | | Labour |
| Minister for Transport and Power | Peter Barry | 1973–1976 | | Fine Gael |
| Change 1 November 1973 Assignment of new department to Minister for Finance Richie Ryan. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for the Public Service | Richie Ryan | 1973–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Changes 2 December 1976 Following the resignation of Richard Burke on his nomination as European Commissioner. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for Education | Peter Barry | 1976–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Transport and Power | Tom Fitzpatrick | 1976–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Lands | Paddy Donegan | 1976–1977 | | Fine Gael |
| Minister for Defence | Liam Cosgrave | (acting) | | Fine Gael |
| Changes 16 December 1976 Reassignment of the Department of Defence. |||||
| Office | Name | Term | Party | Party |
| Minister for Defence | Oliver J. Flanagan | 1976–1977 | | Fine Gael |

### Changes to departments

* ↑ The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries was renamed as the Department of Agriculture on 9 February 1977.
* ↑ The Department of Lands was renamed as the Department of Fisheries on 9 February 1977.

## Attorney General

On 14 March 1973, Declan Costello SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. On 19 May 1977, Costello resigned as Attorney General on his nomination by the government for appointment as a judge of the High Court and John M. Kelly SC was appointed as Attorney General.

## Parliamentary Secretaries

On 14 March 1973, the government appointed parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
| Name | Office | Party | Party |
| John M. Kelly | Government Chief Whip | | Fine Gael |
| John M. Kelly | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | | Fine Gael |
| Michael Pat Murphy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | | Labour |
| Richard Barry | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health | | Fine Gael |
| Henry Kenny | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | | Fine Gael |
| Frank Cluskey | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare | | Labour |
| Michael Begley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government | | Fine Gael |
| John Bruton | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education | | Fine Gael |
| John Bruton | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce | | Fine Gael |
| Changes 30 September 1975 Following the death of Henry Kenny. ||||
| Name | Office | Party | Party |
| Michael Begley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | | Fine Gael |
| Oliver J. Flanagan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government | | Fine Gael |
| Changes 17 December 1976 Following the appointment of Oliver J. Flanagan as Minister for Defence. ||||
| Name | Office | Party | Party |
| Patrick J. Reynolds | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government | | Fine Gael |
| Patrick J. Reynolds | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Public Service | | Fine Gael |
| Change 9 February 1977 Transfer of functions between departments. ||||
| Michael Pat Murphy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture | | Labour |
| Michael Pat Murphy | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries | | Labour |

## Actions of the government

The National Coalition restricted the power of the National Council for Educational Awards. This forced the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and Thomond College of Education, Limerick to apply to the National University of Ireland for the conferring of degrees and diplomas. It removed the requirement that Irish be passed to obtain a Leaving Certificate; it also reformed the civil service by removing the requirement of knowledge in Irish and the mandatory retirement on marriage that many women faced during their civil service careers.
A free travel scheme was also introduced covering bus and rail services for all blind persons over the age of 21.
In response to the assassination of the British Ambassador to Ireland Christopher Ewart-Biggs by the Provisional IRA on 21 July, Cosgrave introduced a motion to declare a national emergency under Article 28.3.3° of the Constitution of Ireland created by an armed conflict. This was approved by the Dáil on 1 September by a vote of 70 to 65. This was followed by the introduction of the Emergency Powers Bill 1976.
President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh referred the Emergency Powers Bill to the Supreme Court. Minister of Defence Paddy Donegan described the president as a "thundering disgrace" for this decision. The Minister apologised and privately offered to resign. Cosgrave refused to accept his resignation. On 21 October, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion in the Dáil calling on the minister to resign, which was defeated. Ó Dálaigh viewed the refusal to remove the minister as an affront to his office by the government and resigned on 22 October 1976. The following week, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion of no confidence in the government. This was countered by a motion of confidence in the government proposed by Cosgrave, which was carried on a vote of 73 to 67.