Government of the 29th Dáil

The 26th government of Ireland (6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007) was the government of Ireland formed after the 2002 general election to the 29th Dáil which had been held on 17 May 2002. It was led by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, with Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney as Tánaiste. It was the first, and to date only, coalition government to be returned to government after an election; both parties increased their number of seats, and together secured a Dáil majority, where in the previous government they had governed together as a minority government dependent on the support of Independent TDs. It lasted for 1,835 days.

26th government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
Date formed	6 June 2002 (2002-06-06)
Date dissolved	14 June 2007 (2007-06-14)
People and organisations
President	Mary McAleese
Taoiseach	Bertie Ahern
Tánaiste	Mary Harney (2002–2006) Michael McDowell (2006–2007)
Total no. of members	15
Member parties	Fianna Fáil Progressive Democrats
Status in legislature	Coalition
Opposition party	Fine Gael
Opposition leader	Enda Kenny
History
Election	2002 general election
Legislature terms	29th Dáil 22nd Seanad
Predecessor	25th government
Successor	27th government

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 29th Dáil first met on 6 June 2002. In the debate on the nomination of Taoisech, outgoing Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn, and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent were each proposed. Ahern received the nomination of the Dáil.^[1] Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Mary McAleese.^[2]

6 June 2002 Nomination of Bertie Ahern (FF) as Taoiseach[1] Motion proposed by Charlie McCreevy and seconded by Mary Harney Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fianna Fáil (80), Progressive Democrats (8), Independent (5)	93 / 166
No	Fine Gael (31), Labour Party (21), Green Party (6), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (4), Socialist Party (1)	68 / 166
Not voting	Independent (4), Ceann Comhairle (1)	5 / 166

Government ministers

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Bertie Ahern proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.^[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.^[3]

Office	Name	Term	Party
Taoiseach	Bertie Ahern	2002–2007		Fianna Fáil
Tánaiste	Mary Harney	2002–2006		Progressive Democrats
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment		2002–2004
Minister for Finance	Charlie McCreevy	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence	Michael Smith	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food[a]	Joe Walsh	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs	Brian Cowen	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science	Noel Dempsey	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources[b]	Dermot Ahern	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism[c]	John O'Donoghue	2002–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Health and Children	Micheál Martin	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Transport[d]	Séamus Brennan	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform	Michael McDowell	2002–2007		Progressive Democrats
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government[e]	Martin Cullen	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs[f]	Éamon Ó Cuív	2002–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social and Family Affairs[g]	Mary Coughlan	2002–2004		Fianna Fáil
Changes 29 September 2004 Following the resignation of Charlie McCreevy on his nomination as European Commissioner and of Michael Smith and Joe Walsh.[11][12]
Office	Name	Term	Party
Minister for Health and Children	Mary Harney	2004–2007		Progressive Democrats
Minister for Finance	Brian Cowen	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Noel Dempsey	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Foreign Affairs	Dermot Ahern	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Micheál Martin	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Social and Family Affairs	Séamus Brennan	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Transport	Martin Cullen	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Agriculture and Food	Mary Coughlan	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Education and Science	Mary Hanafin	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for Defence	Willie O'Dea	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Dick Roche	2004–2007		Fianna Fáil
Changes 13 September 2006 Following the resignation of Mary Harney as leader of the Progressive Democrats and the election of Michael McDowell.[13][14]
Office	Name	Term	Party
Tánaiste	Michael McDowell	2006–2007		Progressive Democrats

Changes to departments

1. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food on 19 June 2002.^[4]
2. The Department of Marine and Natural Resources was renamed the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 19 June 2002.^[5]
3. The Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation was renamed the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism on 19 June 2002.^[6]
4. The Department of Public Enterprise was renamed the Department of Transport on 19 June 2002.^[7]
5. The Department of Environment and Local Government was renamed the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 10 June 2003.^[8]
6. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands was renamed the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 19 June 2002.^[9]
7. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs was renamed the Department of Social and Family Affairs on 19 June 2002.^[10]

Attorney General

Rory Brady SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[2][3]

Ministers of state

On 6 June 2002, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Mary Hanafin to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Dick Roche, the position of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for European Affairs.^[2] On 18 June, the Taoiseach announced that the government had appointed with effect from 19 June the other 15 Ministers of State and that the government had also appointed Mary Hanafin to be Minister of State at the Department of Defence.^[3]

Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Mary Hanafin (In attendance at cabinet)	Taoiseach Defence	Government Chief Whip Defence Information society		Fianna Fáil
Dick Roche	Taoiseach Foreign Affairs	European Affairs		Fianna Fáil
Brian Lenihan	Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science[15]	Children		Fianna Fáil
Tom Kitt	Foreign Affairs	Overseas Development and Human Rights		Fianna Fáil
Síle de Valera	Education and Science[16]	Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage		Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid	Transport	Road Traffic and Road Haulage		Fianna Fáil
Frank Fahey	Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Labour Affairs		Fianna Fáil
Noel Treacy	Agriculture and Food	Food and Horticulture		Fianna Fáil
Willie O'Dea	Justice, Equality and Law Reform	Equality and Disability Issues		Fianna Fáil
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher	Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Environmental Protection		Fianna Fáil
Liam Aylward	Agriculture and Food	Animal Health and Welfare; and Customer Service		Fianna Fáil
John Browne	Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Marine		Fianna Fáil
Michael Ahern	Enterprise, Trade and Employment[17]	Trade and Commerce		Fianna Fáil
Ivor Callely	Health and Children	Older People		Fianna Fáil
Noel Ahern	Environment, Heritage and Local Government Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs	Housing and Urban Renewal Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs		Fianna Fáil
Tim O'Malley	Health and Children	Mental Health Services and Food Safety		Progressive Democrats
Tom Parlon	Finance	Office of Public Works		Progressive Democrats
Changes 29 September 2004 Following the election to the European Parliament of Liam Aylward and the appointment to government of Mary Hanafin, Dick Roche and Willie O'Dea.[12]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Tom Kitt	Taoiseach Defence	Government Chief Whip		Fianna Fáil
Frank Fahey	Justice, Equality and Law Reform	Equality and Disability Issues		Fianna Fáil
Noel Treacy	Taoiseach Foreign Affairs	European Affairs		Fianna Fáil
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher	Communications, Marine and Natural Resources[18]	Marine		Fianna Fáil
John Browne	Agriculture and Food	Forestry		Fianna Fáil
Ivor Callely	Transport	Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority		Fianna Fáil
Seán Power	Health and Children[19]	Health Promotion		Fianna Fáil
Batt O'Keeffe	Environment, Heritage and Local Government	Environmental Protection		Fianna Fáil
Tony Killeen	Enterprise, Trade and Employment[20]	Labour Affairs		Fianna Fáil
Brendan Smith	Agriculture and Food	Food and Horticulture		Fianna Fáil
Changes 5 October 2004 Following the resignation of Jim McDaid.[21][22][23]
Conor Lenihan	Foreign Affairs	Overseas Development and Human Rights		Fianna Fáil
Change 7 December 2005 Redesignation of role.[24]
Brian Lenihan (In attendance at cabinet)[25]	Health and Children Justice, Equality and Law Reform Education and Science[26]	Office of the Minister for Children		Fianna Fáil
Changes 14 February 2006 Following the resignation of Ivor Callely on 8 December 2005.[27][28]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Mary Wallace	Agriculture and Food[29]	Forestry		Fianna Fáil
John Browne	Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	Marine[30]		Fianna Fáil
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher	Transport	Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority		Fianna Fáil
Changes 12 December 2006 Following the resignation of Síle de Valera on 8 December 2006.[31][32]
Name	Department(s)	Responsibility	Party
Seán Haughey	Education and Science[33]	Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage		Fianna Fáil

Dissolution

On 29 April 2007, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach, and a general election was held on 24 May.^[34] The 30th Dáil met on 14 June and Bertie Ahern was re-appointed as Taoiseach and formed a new government.

References

1. "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 June 2002. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
2. "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 June 2002. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
3. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 18 June 2002. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
4. Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 306 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
5. Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 307 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
6. Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 309 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
7. Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 305 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
8. Environment and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2003 (S.I. No. 233 of 2003). Signed on 10 June 2003. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
9. Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 308 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
10. Social, Community and Family Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 310 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 December 2019.
11. "Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 29 September 2004. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
12. "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 September 2004. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
13. "Nomination of the Tánaiste" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2006 (76): 920. 22 September 2006.
14. "Nomination of Tánaiste: Statement – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 September 2006. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
15. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 521 of 2005). Signed on 7 December 2004. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.
16. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 522 of 2005). Signed on 7 December 2004. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.
17. Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 51 of 2005). Signed on 18 October 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.; Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 51 of 2005). Signed on 6 February 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 October 2021.
18. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 82 of 2005). Signed on 22 February 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 346 of 2005). Signed on 6 July 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 549 of 2005). Signed on 7 September 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 4) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 569 of 2005). Signed on 20 September 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 5) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 843 of 2005). Signed on 20 December 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.
19. Health and Children (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 277 of 2005). Signed on 8 July 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.
20. Health and Children (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 316 of 2005). Signed on 28 June 2005. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2022.
21. "Responsibilities of Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
22. "Leaders' Questions – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
23. "Order of Business – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 October 2004. Retrieved 1 October 2021. Deputy Conor Lenihan's appointment as Minister of State became effective from yesterday following completion of the formalities of Deputy McDaid's resignation under the statute.
24. "Written Answers: Youth Services – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
25. Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act 1998 (Allowances and Allocations) (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 214 of 2006). Signed on 21 March 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 7 September 2021.
26. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 533 of 2006). Signed on 10 October 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 January 2022.
27. "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2006 (14): 171. 17 February 2006.
28. "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 February 2006. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
29. Agriculture and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 299 of 2006). Signed on 30 May 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 January 2022.
30. Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 82 of 2006). Signed on 21 February 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 January 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (No. 2) 2006 (S.I. No. 167 of 2006). Signed on 12 April 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 January 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (No. 3) 2006 (S.I. No. 353 of 2006). Signed on 4 July 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 January 2022.; Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (No. 4) 2006 (S.I. No. 543 of 2006). Signed on 24 October 2006. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 January 2022.
31. "Resignation of Minister of State / Appointment of Minister of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2006 (100): 1281. 15 December 2006.
32. "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
33. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 101 of 2007). Signed on 13 February 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 October 2021.
34. "President dissolves Dáil, clears way for election". The Irish Times. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

External links

• "Twenty Ninth Dáil". Government of Ireland. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2021.