Government of the 27th Dáil 23rd Government of Ireland |
|
---|---|
Date formed | 12 January 1993 |
Date dissolved | 15 December 1994 |
People and organisations | |
Head of government | Albert Reynolds |
Deputy head of government |
Dick Spring Bertie Ahern |
Head of state | Mary Robinson |
Total no. of ministers | 16 |
Member parties |
Fianna Fáil Labour Party |
Status in legislature | Coalition |
Opposition leader | John Bruton (Fine Gael) |
History | |
Election(s) | 1992 general election |
Legislature term(s) | 27th Dáil |
Predecessor | 22nd Government |
Successor | 24th Government |
The 23rd Government of Ireland, the first government of the 27th Dáil, was a coalition of Fianna Fáil (with leader Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach) and the Labour Party (with leader Dick Spring as Tánaiste). It was the first time that these two parties were in government together, as traditionally Fine Gael was the coalition partner of the Labour Party. The 1992 general election had been held on 25 November 1992 and the 27th Dáil first met on 14 December 1992, while post-election negotiations between the parties were still ongoing. A new Taoiseach was not elected, and hence a new government not appointed, until 12 January 1993. The 27th Dáil lasted until 1997, but its first government fell in 1994 after the breakdown of relations between the two parties. It was succeeded by the 24th Government, a coalition of Labour with Fine Gael under John Bruton and Democratic Left under Proinsias De Rossa, with Spring remaining as Tánaiste under Bruton as Taoiseach. This is the only time an Irish government has fallen without precipitating a general election.
The Labour Party ministers resigned from the government on 17 November 1994.
No new members joined the Cabinet and their portfolios were reassigned to Fianna Fáil ministers