Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State

The Vice-President of the Executive Council (Irish: Leas-Uachtarán na hArd-Chomhairle) was the deputy prime minister of the 1922–37 Irish Free State, and the second most senior member of the Executive Council (cabinet). Formally the Vice-President was appointed by the Governor-General on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, but by convention the Governor-General could not refuse to appoint a Vice-President who the President had selected.

Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State
ResidenceNo official residence
AppointerGovernor-General, upon the nomination of President
Formation6 December 1922
First holderKevin O'Higgins
Final holderSeán T. O'Kelly
Abolished29 December 1937
SuccessionTánaiste

The office of Vice President of the Executive Council was established with the establishment of the Free State in 1922.Under Article 53 of the Free State constitution the role of the Vice President was to "act for all purposes in the place of the President", until the appointment of a successor in the event of his death, resignation or "permanent incapacity", or until his return in the event of his "temporary absence". However, in practice the Vice President also held a second ministerial portfolio the duties of which he carried out when not called upon to become acting head of government. The Vice President could not be dismissed by the President. Rather, as was the case with all other ministers, the entire Executive Council had to be dismissed and reformed en bloc if a President wanted to dismiss the Vice President.

While the Ministry of Dáil Éireann (1919–22) did not initially have a provision for a deputy president, when President of Dáil Éireann Éamon de Valera travelled to the United States in June 1919, he requested by letter that Arthur Griffith be appointed as Deputy President in his absence.[1] De Valera resumed his position in the Dáil on 25 January 1921.[2] The Provisional Government of the Irish Free State (1922), did not have such a position. In 1937, when the new Constitution of Ireland came into force, the office of Vice-President of the Executive Council was replaced with that of Tánaiste.

List of officeholders
Name Picture Term of office Party Other ministerial offices held whilst in post
Kevin O'Higgins 6 December 1922 10 July 1927 Cumann na nGaedheal Minister for Justice (1922–27)
Ernest Blythe 14 July 1927 9 March 1932 Cumann na nGaedheal Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1927–32)
Seán T. O'Kelly 9 March 1932 29 December 1937 Fianna Fáil Minister for Local Government and Public Health (1932–37)
Position replaced by Tánaiste of Ireland in December 1937

See also

References
  1. "Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 17 June 1919: LETTER FROM PRESIDENT DE VALERA". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  2. "Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 25 January 1921: PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
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