| Cabinet Name: | 4th government of Ireland |
| Cabinet Type: | Government |
| Jurisdiction: | Ireland |
| Date Formed: | 9 June 1944 |
| Date Dissolved: | 18 February 1948 |
| Government Head Title: | Taoiseach |
| Government Head: | Éamon de Valera |
| Deputy Government Head Title: | Tánaiste |
| State Head Title: | President |
| Political Party: | Fianna Fáil |
| Legislature Status: | Majority Government |
| Opposition Party: | Fine Gael |
| Opposition Leader: | Richard Mulcahy |
| Previous: | 3rd government |
| Successor: | 5th government |
The 4th Government of Ireland (9 June 1944 – 18 February 1948) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1944 general election to the 12th Dáil held on 30 May. It was a single-party Fianna Fáil government led by Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach. It lasted for days.Fianna Fáil had been in office since the 1932 general election.
The 12th Dáil first met on 9 June 1944. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was proposed. This motion was approved by 81 to 37.[1] De Valera was appointed as Taoiseach by President Douglas Hyde.[2]
| 9 June 1944 Nomination of Éamon de Valera (FF) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Michael Kennedy and seconded by Timothy O'Sullivan Absolute majority: 70/138 | |||||
| width=80px | Vote | width=425px | Parties | width=80px align="center" | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Fianna Fáil (75), National Labour Party (3), Independents (3) | ||||
| No | Fine Gael (29), Labour Party (7), Independent (1) | ||||
| Absent of Not voting | Clann na Talmhan (9), Independents (7), Fine Gael (1), Labour Party (1), National Labour Party (1), Ceann Comhairle (1) | ||||
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Éamon de Valera proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.[5]
On 9 June, the Government appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[10]
| Name | Office | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eamon Kissane | Government Chief Whip | 1944–1948 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1944–1948 | |||
| Paddy Smith | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1944–1946 | ||
| Conn Ward | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health[11] | 1944–1946 | ||
| Seán O'Grady | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce | 1944–1946 | ||
| Erskine H. Childers | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health | 1944–1948 | ||
Change 13 July 1946Resignation of Conn Ward following the report of the Ward Tribunal.[12] | ||||
Changes 1 January 1947 | ||||
| Paddy Smith | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture | Jan. 1947 | ||
| Seán O'Grady | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1947–1948 | ||