Government of the 29th Dáil

The Government of the 29th Dáil or the 26th Government of Ireland (6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007) was the government of Ireland formed after the 2002 general election which had been held on 17 May 2002. It was led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, with Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney as Tánaiste. It was the first, and to date only, coalition government to be returned to government after an election; both parties increased their number of seats, and together secured a Dáil majority, where in the previous government they had governed together as a minority government dependent on the support of Independent TDs.

Government of the 29th Dáil
26th Government of Ireland
Date formed6 June 2002 (2002-06-06)
Date dissolved14 June 2007 (2007-06-14)
People and organisations
PresidentMary McAleese
TaoiseachBertie Ahern
Tánaiste
Total no. of members15
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition partyFine Gael
Opposition leaderEnda Kenny
History
Election(s)2002 general election
Legislature term(s)29th Dáil
22nd Seanad
Predecessor25th Government
Successor27th Government

The 26th Government lasted for 1834 days.

26th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 29th Dáil first met on 6 June. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, outgoing Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn, and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent were each proposed. Ahern received the nomination of the Dáil.[1] Ahern was then re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.[2]

6 June 2002
Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[1]
Motion proposed by Charlie McCreevy and seconded by Mary Harney
Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote Parties Votes
Y YesFianna Fáil (80), Progressive Democrats (8), Independent (5)
93 / 166
NoFine Gael (31), Labour Party (21), Green Party (6), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (4), Socialist Party (1)
68 / 166
Not votingIndependent (4), Ceann Comhairle (1)
5 / 166

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Bertie Ahern proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[3]

Office Name Term Party
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern 2002–2007 Fianna Fáil
Tánaiste Mary Harney 2002–2006 Progressive Democrats
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 2002–2004
Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence Michael Smith 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food[lower-alpha 1] Joe Walsh 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science Noel Dempsey 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources[lower-alpha 2] Dermot Ahern 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism[lower-alpha 3] John O'Donoghue 2002–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children Micheál Martin 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Transport[lower-alpha 4] Séamus Brennan 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell 2002–2007 Progressive Democrats
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government[lower-alpha 5] Martin Cullen 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[lower-alpha 6] Éamon Ó Cuív 2002–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social and Family Affairs[lower-alpha 7] Mary Coughlan 2002–2004 Fianna Fáil

Changes 29 September 2004

Following the nomination of Charlie McCreevy as European Commissioner and the retirement of Michael Smith and Joe Walsh.[11][12]

Office Name Term Party
Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney 2004–2007 Progressive Democrats
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche 2004–2007 Fianna Fáil

Changes 13 September 2006

Following the resignation of Mary Harney as leader of the Progressive Democrats and the election of Michael McDowell.[13]

Office Name Term Party
Tánaiste Michael McDowell 2006–2007 Progressive Democrats
Changes to departments
  1. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food on 19 June 2002.[4]
  2. The Department of Marine and Natural Resources was renamed the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 19 June 2002.[5]
  3. The Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation was renamed the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism on 19 June 2002.[6]
  4. The Department of Public Enterprise was renamed the Department of Transport on 19 June 2002.[7]
  5. The Department of Environment and Local Government was renamed the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 10 June 2003.[8]
  6. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands was renamed the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 19 June 2002.[9]
  7. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs was renamed the Department of Social and Family Affairs on 19 June 2002.[10]

Attorney General

Rory Brady SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[2][3]

Ministers of State

On 6 June 2002, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Mary Hanafin to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Dick Roche, the position of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for European Affairs.[2] On 18 June, the Taoiseach announced that the Government had appointed with effect from 19 June the other 15 Ministers of State and that the Government had also appointed Mary Hanafin to be Minister of State at the Department of Defence.[3]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Mary Hanafin Taoiseach
Defence		Government Chief Whip
Defence
Information society		 Fianna Fáil
Dick Roche Taoiseach
Foreign Affairs		 European Affairs Fianna Fáil
Tom Kitt Foreign Affairs Overseas Development and Human Rights Fianna Fáil
Síle de Valera Education and Science Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid Transport Road Traffic and Road Haulage Fianna Fáil
Frank Fahey Enterprise, Trade and Employment Labour Affairs Fianna Fáil
Noel Treacy Agriculture and Food Food and Horticulture Fianna Fáil
Willie O'Dea Justice, Equality and Law Reform Equality and Disability Issues Fianna Fáil
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Environment, Heritage and Local GovernmentEnvironmental Protection Fianna Fáil
Liam Aylward Agriculture and Food Animal Health and Welfare; and Customer Service Fianna Fáil
John Browne Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Marine Fianna Fáil
Michael Ahern Enterprise, Trade and Employment Trade and Commerce Fianna Fáil
Ivor Callely Health and Children Older People Fianna Fáil
Noel Ahern Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs		 Housing and Urban Renewal
Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs		 Fianna Fáil
Brian Lenihan Health and Children
Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Education and Science		Children Fianna Fáil
Tim O'Malley Health and Children Mental Health Services and Food Safety Progressive Democrats
Tom Parlon Finance Office of Public Works Progressive Democrats

Changes 29 September 2004

Following cabinet reshuffle.[12]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Tom Kitt Taoiseach
Defence		 Government Chief Whip Fianna Fáil
Frank Fahey Justice, Equality and Law Reform Equality and Disability Issues Fianna Fáil
Noel Treacy Taoiseach
Foreign Affairs		 European Affairs Fianna Fáil
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Marine Fianna Fáil
John Browne Agriculture and Food Forestry Fianna Fáil
Ivor Callely Transport Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority Fianna Fáil
Seán Power Health and Children Health Promotion Fianna Fáil
Batt O'Keeffe Environment, Heritage and Local Government Environmental Protection Fianna Fáil
Tony Killeen Enterprise, Trade and Employment Labour Affairs Fianna Fáil
Brendan Smith Agriculture and Food Food and Horticulture Fianna Fáil
Conor Lenihan Foreign Affairs Overseas Development and Human Rights Fianna Fáil

Changes 14 February 2006

Following the resignation of Ivor Callely on 8 December 2005.[14]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Mary Wallace Agriculture and Food Forestry Fianna Fáil
John Browne Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Marine Fianna Fáil
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Transport Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority Fianna Fáil

Changes 12 December 2006

Following the resignation of Síle de Valera on 8 December 2006.[15]

Name Department(s) Responsibility Party
Seán Haughey Education and Science Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage Fianna Fáil

Dissolution

On 29 April 2007, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 24 May.[16] The members of the 30th Dáil met on 14 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.

See also

References
  1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 6 June 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 6 June 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 18 June 2002". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  4. "Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  5. "Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  6. "Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  7. "Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  8. "Environment and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2003". Irish Statute Book. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  9. "Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  10. "Social, Community and Family Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002". Irish Statute Book. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  11. "Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Wednesday, 29 September 2004". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 30 September 2004". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  13. "Nomination of Tánaiste: Statement – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Wednesday, 27 September 2006". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  14. "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 14 February 2006". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 12 December 2006". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  16. "President dissolves Dáil, clears way for election". The Irish Times. 30 April 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
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