Government of the 19th Dáil


The Government of the 19th Dáil or the 13th Government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the general election held on 18 June 1969. It was formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 election. This was the first election it won with Jack Lynch as its leader.
The 13th Government lasted for 1,351 days.

13th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 19th Dáil first met on 2 July 1969. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Jack Lynch, the Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave, and the Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed. The nomination of Lynch was carried with 74 votes in favour to 66 against. Lynch was then re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Jack Lynch proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.

Change 8 May 1970

Mícheál Ó Móráin was in hospital and was asked to resign on 4 May 1970.
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Changes 9 May 1970

Due to the Arms Crisis, Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney were dismissed
on 6 May 1970 when they refused to resign.
Kevin Boland resigned from the government in protest at the dismissals.
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Changes 3 January 1973

Michael O'Kennedy was appointed to government on 14 December 1972.
In January 1973 Patrick Hillery was appointed the Irelands's first European Commissioner.
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Parliamentary Secretaries

On 9 July 1969, the Taoiseach announced the appointment by the Government of the Parliamentary Secretaries on his nomination.

Changes 8 May 1970

Following the appointment of Desmond O'Malley to the cabinet.
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Changes 9 May 1970

Changes following the outbreak of the Arms Crisis.
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Changes 3 January 1973

Change following the appointment of Michael O'Kennedy to the cabinet.
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Foreign Affairs

The government signed the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community on 22 January 1973. After a referendum held on 10 May, a constitutional amendment allowing Ireland to become a member of the European Communities was approved with the support of 83.1% of votes case. Ireland became a member on 1 January 1973, with the United Kingdom and Denmark.