Government of the 29th Dáil explained

Cabinet Name:	26th government of Ireland
Cabinet Type:	Government
Jurisdiction:	Ireland
Government Head Title:	Taoiseach
Government Head:	Bertie Ahern
Deputy Government Head Title:	Tánaiste
State Head Title:	President
State Head:	Mary McAleese
Total Number:	15
Legislature Status:	Coalition
Opposition Party:	Fine Gael
Opposition Leader:	Enda Kenny
Election:	2002 general election
Previous:	25th government
Successor:	27th government

The 26th government of Ireland (6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007) was the government of Ireland formed after the 2002 general election to the 29th Dáil 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. It lasted for days.

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 29th Dáil first met on 6 June 2002. 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 re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.^[2]

6 June 2002 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Charlie McCreevy and seconded by Mary Harney Absolute majority: 84/166
width=80px	Vote	width=620px	Parties	width=80px	Votes
Yes	Fianna Fáil (80), Progressive Democrats (8), Independent (5)
No	Fine Gael (31), Labour Party (21), Green Party (6), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (4), Socialist Party (1)
Not voting	Independent (4), Ceann Comhairle (1)

Government ministers

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
Tánaiste	Mary Harney	2002–2006
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment		2002–2004
Minister for Finance	Charlie McCreevy	2002–2004
Minister for Defence	Michael Smith	2002–2004
Minister for Agriculture and Food	Joe Walsh	2002–2004
Minister for Foreign Affairs	Brian Cowen	2002–2004
Minister for Education and Science	Noel Dempsey	2002–2004
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Dermot Ahern	2002–2004
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism	John O'Donoghue	2002–2007
Minister for Health and Children	Micheál Martin	2002–2004
Minister for Transport	Séamus Brennan	2002–2004
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform	Michael McDowell	2002–2007
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Martin Cullen	2002–2004
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs	Éamon Ó Cuív	2002–2007
Minister for Social and Family Affairs	Mary Coughlan	2002–2004
Changes 29 September 2004 Following the resignation of Charlie McCreevy on his nomination as European Commissioner and of Michael Smith and Joe Walsh.^[4] ^[5]
Office	Name	Term	Party
Minister for Health and Children	Mary Harney	2004–2007
Minister for Finance	Brian Cowen	2004–2007
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Noel Dempsey	2004–2007
Minister for Foreign Affairs	Dermot Ahern	2004–2007
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Micheál Martin	2004–2007
Minister for Social and Family Affairs	Séamus Brennan	2004–2007
Minister for Transport	Martin Cullen	2004–2007
Minister for Agriculture and Food	Mary Coughlan	2004–2007
Minister for Education and Science	Mary Hanafin	2004–2007
Minister for Defence	Willie O'Dea	2004–2007
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Dick Roche	2004–2007
Changes 13 September 2006 Following the resignation of Mary Harney as leader of the Progressive Democrats and the election of Michael McDowell.^[6] ^[7]
Office	Name	Term	Party
Tánaiste	Michael McDowell	2006–2007

Changes to departments

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
Dick Roche	Taoiseach Foreign Affairs	European Affairs
Brian Lenihan	Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science^[8]	Children
Tom Kitt	Foreign Affairs	Overseas Development and Human Rights
Síle de Valera	Education and Science^[9]	Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage
Jim McDaid	Transport	Road Traffic and Road Haulage
Frank Fahey	Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Labour Affairs
Noel Treacy	Agriculture and Food	Food and Horticulture
Willie O'Dea	Justice, Equality and Law Reform	Equality and Disability Issues
	Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Environmental Protection
Liam Aylward	Agriculture and Food	Animal Health and Welfare; and Customer Service
John Browne	Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Marine
Michael Ahern	Enterprise, Trade and Employment^[10]	Trade and Commerce
Ivor Callely	Health and Children	Older People
Noel Ahern	Environment, Heritage and Local Government Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs	Housing and Urban Renewal Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs
Tim O'Malley	Health and Children	Mental Health Services and Food Safety
Tom Parlon	Finance	Office of Public Works
Changes 29 September 2004 Following the election to the European Parliament of Liam Aylward and the appointment to government of Mary Hanafin, Dick Roche and Willie O'Dea.
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Tom Kitt	Taoiseach Defence	Government Chief Whip
Frank Fahey	Justice, Equality and Law Reform	Equality and Disability Issues
Noel Treacy	Taoiseach Foreign Affairs	European Affairs
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher	Communications, Marine and Natural Resources^[11]	Marine
John Browne	Agriculture and Food	Forestry
Ivor Callely	Transport	Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority
Seán Power	Health and Children^[12]	Health Promotion
Batt O'Keeffe	Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Environmental Protection
Tony Killeen	Enterprise, Trade and Employment^[13]	Labour Affairs
Brendan Smith	Agriculture and Food	Food and Horticulture
Changes 5 October 2004 Following the resignation of Jim McDaid.^[14] ^[15] ^[16]
Conor Lenihan	Foreign Affairs	Overseas Development and Human Rights
Change 7 December 2005 Redesignation of role.^[17]
Brian Lenihan ^[18]	Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science^[19]	Office of the Minister for Children
Changes 14 February 2006 Following the resignation of Ivor Callely on 8 December 2005.^[20] ^[21]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Mary Wallace	Agriculture and Food^[22]	Forestry
John Browne	Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Marine^[23]
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher	Transport	Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority
Changes 12 December 2006 Following the resignation of Síle de Valera on 8 December 2006.^[24] ^[25]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Seán Haughey	Education and Science^[26]	Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage

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.^[27] The 30th Dáil met on 14 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.

External links

• Web site: Twenty Ninth Dáil . Government of Ireland . 1 October 2021 . 7 December 2018.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 6 June 2002. 15 August 2019. Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190815091810/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-06-06/4/. live.
2. Web site: Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 6 June 2002. 15 August 2019. Houses of the Oireachtas. 31 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201031143115/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-06-06/6/. live.
3. Web site: Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 18 June 2002. 11 January 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas. 28 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211333/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-06-18/12/. live.
4. Web site: Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 29 September 2004. 15 August 2019. Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190815091816/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2004-09-29/6/. live.
5. Web site: Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 30 September 2004. 2 November 2019. Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112213241/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2004-09-30/3/. live.
6. Nomination of the Tánaiste . . 22 September 2006 . 2006 . 76 . 920.
7. Web site: Nomination of Tánaiste: Statement – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 27 September 2006. 15 August 2019. Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190815091810/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2006-09-27/18/. live.
8. 2005. si. 521. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2005. 7 December 2004. 8 April 2022.
9. 2005. si. 522. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2005. 7 December 2004. 8 April 2022.
10. 2005. si. 51. Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2005. 18 October 2005. 8 April 2022.

    2005. si. 51. Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007. 6 February 2007. 10 October 2021.

11. 2005. si. 82. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005. 22 February 2005. 8 April 2022.

    2005. si. 346. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2005. 6 July 2005. 8 April 2022. ; 2005. si. 549. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2005. 7 September 2005. 8 April 2022. ; 2005. si. 569. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 4) Order 2005. 20 September 2005. 8 April 2022. ; 2005. si. 843. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 5) Order 2005. 20 December 2005. 8 April 2022.

12. 2005. si. 277. Health and Children (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005. 8 July 2005. 8 April 2022.
13. 2005. si. 316. Health and Children (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005. 28 June 2005. 8 April 2022.
14. Web site: Responsibilities of Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 5 October 2004. 1 October 2021. Houses of the Oireachtas.
15. Web site: Leaders' Questions – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 5 October 2004. 1 October 2021. Houses of the Oireachtas.
16. Web site: Order of Business – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). Deputy Conor Lenihan's appointment as Minister of State became effective from yesterday following completion of the formalities of Deputy McDaid's resignation under the statute.. 6 October 2004. 1 October 2021. Houses of the Oireachtas.
17. Web site: Written Answers: Youth Services – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 4 April 2006. 11 March 2022. Houses of the Oireachtas.
18. 2006. si. 214. Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act 1998 (Allowances and Allocations) (Amendment) Order 2006. 21 March 2006. 7 September 2021.
19. 2006. si. 533. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006. 10 October 2006. 10 January 2022.
20. Appointment of Ministers of State . Iris Oifigiúil . 17 February 2006 . 2006 . 14 . 171.
21. Web site: Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 14 February 2006. 14 July 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas. 28 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210418/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2006-02-14/2/. live.
22. 2006. si. 299. Agriculture and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006. 30 May 2006. 10 January 2022.
23. 2006. si. 82. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006. 21 February 2006. 10 January 2022.

    2006. si. 167. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (No. 2) 2006. 12 April 2006. 10 January 2022. ; 2006. si. 353. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (No. 3) 2006. 4 July 2006. 10 January 2022. ; 2006. si. 543. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (No. 4) 2006. 24 October 2006. 10 January 2022.

24. Resignation of Minister of State / Appointment of Minister of State . Iris Oifigiúil . 15 December 2006 . 2006 . 100 . 1281.
25. Web site: Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil). 12 December 2006. 14 July 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102115630/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2006-12-12/2/. live.
26. 2007. si. 101. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007. 13 February 2007. 1 October 2021.
27. Web site: President dissolves Dáil, clears way for election. The Irish Times. 30 April 2007. 22 March 2020. 23 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923041211/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/president-dissolves-d%C3%A1il-clears-way-for-election-1.1295613. live.