Government of the 26th Dáil

The 26th Dáil of Ireland was elected at the 1989 general election on 15 June 1989 and first met on 12 July when the 21st Government of Ireland was appointed. The 26th Dáil lasted 1,259 days.

21st Government of Ireland

The 21st Government of Ireland (12 July 1989 – 11 February 1992) was formed by the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats parties.^[1] After the 1989 general election Fianna Fáil lost four seats, and Charles Haughey failed to achieve a majority when a vote for Taoiseach was taken in the Dáil. 27 days after the election had taken place the coalition government was formed. From January to June 1990 Ireland held the presidency of the European Community. The 1990 Presidential election was held on 7 November. Mary Robinson won the election, beating the Fianna Fáil candidate Brian Lenihan.

On 6 November 1991, Seán Power made a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, which failed.^[2]

In early 1992 Seán Doherty, who as Minister for Justice had taken the blame for the phone-tapping scandal of the early 1980s, went on RTÉ and claimed that Haughey had known and authorised it. Haughey denied this but the Progressive Democrats stated that they could no longer continue in government with Haughey as Taoiseach.^[3]

On 30 January 1992, Haughey resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil. He was succeeded by Albert Reynolds who formed the 22nd Government of Ireland.

Presidential election

After a challenge by John Wilson in September 1990 Fianna Fáil chose Lenihan as the party's candidate. The main opposition party, Fine Gael chose Austin Currie and the Labour Party chose the eventual winner Mary Robinson.

Acts of the Oireachtas passed

1989

• No. 18/1989 – Children Act, 1989
• No. 19/1989 – Prohibition of Incitement To Hatred Act, 1989
• No. 20/1989 – Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Act, 1989
• No. 21/1989 – Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1989
• No. 22/1989 – Video Recordings Act, 1989
• No. 23/1989 – Appropriation Act, 1989

Private Acts

• No. 1/1989 – Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation Act, 1989

1990

• No. 1/1990 – Bord Glas Act, 1990
• No. 2/1990 – Decimal Currency Act, 1990
• No. 3/1990 – Building Control Act, 1990
• No. 4/1990 – B & I Line Act, 1990
• No. 5/1990 – Social Welfare Act, 1990
• No. 6/1990 – Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 7/1990 – Dún Laoghaire Harbour Act, 1990
• No. 8/1990 – Horse Breeding Act, 1990
• No. 9/1990 – Larceny Act, 1990
• No. 10/1990 – Finance Act, 1990
• No. 11/1990 – Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1990
• No. 12/1990 – Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990
• No. 13/1990 – International Carriage of Goods by Road Act, 1990
• No. 14/1990 – Derelict Sites Act, 1990
• No. 15/1990 – Industrial Credit (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 16/1990 – Criminal Justice Act, 1990
• No. 17/1990 – Control of Clinical Trials and Drugs Act, 1990
• No. 18/1990 – National Treasury Management Agency Act, 1990
• No. 19/1990 – Industrial Relations Act, 1990
• No. 20/1990 – Shannon Navigation Act, 1990
• No. 21/1990 – Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 22/1990 – Turf Development Act, 1990
• No. 23/1990 – Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990
• No. 24/1990 – Broadcasting Act, 1990
• No. 25/1990 – Pensions Act, 1990
• No. 26/1990 – Insurance Act, 1990
• No. 27/1990 – Companies (Amendment) Act, 1990 – created the Examinership process
• No. 28/1990 – Teachers' Superannuation (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 29/1990 – International Development Association (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 30/1990 – Public Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 31/1990 – Fóir Teoranta (Dissolution) Act, 1990
• No. 32/1990 – Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 33/1990 – Companies Act, 1990
• No. 34/1990 – Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence) Act, 1990
• No. 35/1990 – Exchange Control (Continuance) Act, 1990
• No. 36/1990 – Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1990
• No. 37/1990 – Unit Trusts Act, 1990
• No. 38/1990 – Appropriation Act, 1990

1991

• No. 1/1991 – European Bank For Reconstruction and Development Act, 1991
• No. 2/1991 – Marine Institute Act, 1991
• No. 3/1991 – Sugar Act, 1991
• No. 4/1991 – Destructive Insects and Pests (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 5/1991 – Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991
• No. 6/1991 – Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991
• No. 7/1991 – Social Welfare Act, 1991
• No. 8/1991 – Contractual Obligations (Applicable Law) Act, 1991
• No. 9/1991 – Radiological Protection Act, 1991
• No. 10/1991 – Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 11/1991 – Local Government Act, 1991
• No. 12/1991 – Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991
• No. 13/1991 – Finance Act, 1991
• No. 14/1991 – Adoption Act, 1991
• No. 15/1991 – Health (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 16/1991 – University of Limerick (Dissolution of Thomond College) Act, 1991
• No. 17/1991 – Child Care Act, 1991
• No. 18/1991 – Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 19/1991 – Temple Bar Area Renewal and Development Act, 1991
• No. 20/1991 – Courts Act, 1991
• No. 21/1991 – Courts (No. 2) Act, 1991
• No. 22/1991 – Trade and Marketing Promotion Act, 1991
• No. 23/1991 – Courts (Supplemental Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 24/1991 – Competition Act, 1991
• No. 25/1991 – Payment of Wages Act, 1991
• No. 26/1991 – Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 27/1991 – Sea Pollution Act, 1991
• No. 28/1991 – Liability For Defective Products Act, 1991
• No. 29/1991 – B & I Line Act, 1991
• No. 30/1991 – Industrial Development (Amendment) Act, 1991
• No. 31/1991 – Criminal Damage Act, 1991
• No. 32/1991 – Appropriation Act, 1991

22nd Government of Ireland

The 22nd Government of Ireland (11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993) was formed by the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats parties with Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach following the resignation of Charles Haughey.^[1] Reynolds formed a controversial cabinet. He dismissed Ray Burke, Mary O'Rourke and Gerry Collins. Renolds promoted critics of Haughey like David Andrews, Séamus Brennan, and Charlie McCreevy into senior ministerial positions. Reynolds also promoted a number of younger TDs from rural constituencies like Noel Dempsey and Brian Cowen, to cabinet position. Bertie Ahern remained as Minister for Finance.

The 22nd Government had to deal with the X Case. The government took the position that abortion should be illegal except when the life of the mother was in danger. A referendum on abortion was held with the government position being defeated

A tribunal of enquiry into irregularities in the beef industry, referred to as the "Beef Tribunal", was established to examine the relationship between the Irish governments and the beef industry. However this revealed to the public a substantial conflict of opinion between the two party leaders. At the tribunal Desmond O'Malley severely criticised Reynolds, in his capacity as Minister for Industry and Commerce, for an export credit scheme. When Reynolds gave evidence he referred to O'Malley as "dishonest", the Progressive Democrats voted with a motion of no confidence and the government fell.

After the 1992 general election, the 23rd Government of Ireland was formed by a coalition between Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party.

Acts of the Oireachtas passed

1992

• No. 1/1992 – Patents Act, 1992
• No. 2/1992 – Merchant Shipping Act, 1992
• No. 3/1992 – Oireachtas (Allowances To Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 4/1992 – Land Bond Act, 1992
• No. 5/1992 – Social Welfare Act, 1992
• No. 6/1992 – Acc Bank Act, 1992
• No. 7/1992 – Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992
• No. 8/1992 – Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 9/1992 – Finance Act, 1992
• No. 10/1992 – Fishery Harbour Centres (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 11/1992 – Financial Transactions of Certain Companies and Other Bodies Act, 1992
• No. 12/1992 – Criminal Evidence Act, 1992
• No. 13/1992 – Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 14/1992 – Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1992
• No. 15/1992 – Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992
• No. 16/1992 – Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992
• No. 17/1992 – Foreshore (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 18/1992 – Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992
• No. 19/1992 – Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1992
• No. 20/1992 – Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 21/1992 – ICC Bank Act, 1992
• No. 22/1992 – Referendum (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1992
• No. 23/1992 – Electoral Act, 1992
• No. 24/1992 – European Communities (Amendment) Act, 1992
• No. 25/1992 – Irish Land Commission (Dissolution) Act, 1992
• No. 26/1992 – Appropriation Act, 1992
• No. 27/1992 – Financial Transfers Act, 1992
• No. 28/1992 – Finance (No. 2) Act, 1992
• No. 29/1992 – Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act, 1992

Private Acts

• No. 1/1992 – Limerick Markets Act, 1992

Constitutional Amendments

• Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1992
• Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1992
• Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1992

See also

• Members of the 26th Dáil
• Ministers of State of the 26th Dáil
• Members of the 19th Seanad
• Dáil Éireann
• Constitution of Ireland
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland

References