24th Government of Ireland


The 24th Government of Ireland was the 2nd Government of the 27th Dáil. Known as the Rainbow Coalition, it was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left. The Labour Party had been part of the 23rd Government with Fianna Fáil, formed after the 1992 general election, but left in November 1994 following a number of scandals, particularly those which emerged from the Beef Tribunal and the alleged mishandling of the prosecution of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth. After Albert Reynolds was replaced as Fianna Fáil leader by Bertie Ahern, there was speculation that Labour would rejoin Fianna Fáil in government, but instead it formed a government with two parties which had been in opposition. By-election gains since 1992 meant the three parties had enough TDs between them for an overall majority. It is the only time to date that a new government was formed within the same Dáil term composed of different parties.
The 24th Government lasted 924 days.

Nomination of Taoiseach

In the Dáil debate on the nomination for Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader John Bruton were proposed. Ahern was defeated by 67 votes to 94, while Bruton was approved. Bruton was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary Robinson.

Members of the Government

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

Changes 23 May 1995

Hugh Coveney was demoted to a junior ministry in 1995 after allegations of improper contact with businessmen.

Changes 30 November 1996

Michael Lowry resigned following reports of improper payments from businessman Ben Dunne.

Changes 3 December 1996

Appointment to fill the vacancy.

Attorney General

was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of State

On 15 December 1994, Seán Barrett, TD to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. Also on the same day Pat Rabbitte, TD was appointed to the position of Minister of State to the Government. This was the first time a Minister of State other than the Chief Whip attended cabinet. On 20 December 1994, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Changes 27 January 1995

Following the increase in the number of Ministers of State permitted from 15 to 17 in the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1995.
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Changes 10 February 1995

Resignation of Phil Hogan after details of the budget were leaked.
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Changes 24 May 1995

Following the appointment of Seán Barrett to government.
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Constitutional referendums

The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Equality and Law Reform Mervyn Taylor and approved in a referendum on 24 November 1995. It removed the prohibition on divorce, replacing it terms allowing a court to dissolve a marriage, including a requirement to have been separated for four of the previous five years. It was followed by Family Law Act 1996.
The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed by Minister for Justice Nora Owen and approved in a referendum on 28 November 1996. It allowed a court to refuse bail to someone convicted of a serious offence when reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. It was followed by the Bail Act 1997.

Dissolution

On 15 May 1997, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 6 June. When the members of the 28th Dáil met on 26 June, Bertie Ahern was nominated and appointed as Taoiseach and formed a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition government.