There were two governments of the 21st Dáil, which was elected at the 1977 general election on 16 June 1977. Both were single-party majority Fianna Fáil governments. The 15th government of Ireland (5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979) was led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach and lasted for 890 days. The 16th government of Ireland (11 December 1979 – 30 June 1981) was led by Charles Haughey and lasted for 568 days.
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[4]
Ministers of State (1 January 1978 – 11 December 1979)
Following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act 1977, the post of Parliamentary Secretary was abolished and replaced by a new post of Minister of State.[13] A maximum of 10 Ministers of State could be appointed.[14] On 14 December 1977, Taoiseach Jack Lynch announced that the existing Parliamentary Secretaries would be appointed as Ministers of State in their respective departments with effect from 1 January 1978, and the appointment of three TDs as additional Ministers of State who would also take office on that date.[15]
On 29 May 1979, Frank Cluskey proposed a motion of no confidence in the government, citing the "serious economic mismanagement of the country by the Government". Brian Lenihan, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, proposed an amendment to the motion expressing "satisfaction at the Government's management of the economy".[24] On the following day, the amendment was carried by a vote of 67 to 46.[25]
Resignation
Shortly after the loss by Fianna Fáil of two by-elections in Cork on 7 November 1979, Jack Lynch resigned as Fianna Fáil leader. Charles Haughey won the leadership election held on 7 December 1979. Lynch resigned as Taoiseach on 11 December 1979.[26]
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Charles Haughey proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil on 12 December.[29] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[30]
^Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977 (No. 27 of 1977). Enacted on 6 December 1977. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 14 August 2019.
^Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977 (Appointed Day) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 377 of 1977). Signed on 9 December 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 February 2020.
^Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1978 (S.I. No. 195 of 1978). Signed on 18 February 1978. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 7 April 2020.
^Industry and Commerce (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 306 of 1977). Signed on 23 September 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 7 April 2020.
^Transport and Power (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 295 of 1977). Signed on 13 September 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 7 January 2021.
^An tOrdú Poist agus Telegrafa (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) 1977 (S.I. No. 274 of 1977). Signed on 16 August 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 August 2022 2020.
^Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, s. 6: Repeals (No. 28 of 1977, s. 6). Enacted on 6 December 1977. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 20 April 2020.
^Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, s. 1: Appointment of Ministers of State (No. 28 of 1977, s. 1). Enacted on 6 December 1977. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 20 April 2020.
^Air-Raid Precautions (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 385 of 1977). Signed on 20 December 1977. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2020.
^Posts and Telegraphs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1978 (S.I. No. 3 of 1978). Signed on 3 January 1978. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2020.
^Air-Raid Precautions (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1979 (S.I. No. 278 of 1979). Signed on 10 August 1979. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2020.
^Tourism and Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 11 of 1980). Signed on 15 January 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 August 2019.
^Economic Planning and Development (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 1 of 1980). Signed on 2 January 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 February 2020.
^Economic Planning and Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 12 of 1980). Signed on 15 January 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 August 2019.
^Industry, Commerce and Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 10 of 1980). Signed on 15 January 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 August 2019.
^An tOrdú umRéamhchúram in Aghaidh Aer-Ruathar (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) 1980 (S.I. No. 27 of 1980). Signed on 25 January 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 January 2021.
^Air-Raid Precautions (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 373 of 1980). Signed on 9 December 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 December 2020.
^An tOrdú Talmhaíochta (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) (Uimh. 2) 1980 (S.I. No. 80 of 1980). Signed on 19 March 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 January 2021.
^An tOrdú Poist agus Telegrafa (Feidhmeanna Aire a Tharmligean) 1980 (S.I. No. 20 of 1980). Signed on 22 January 1980. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 January 2021.
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