The 1992 general election was held on 25 November 1992. The 23rdGovernment of Ireland, the first government of the 27th Dáil, was a coalition of Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party. It was the first time that these two parties were in government together; on each previous occasion Labour was in government, it was a junior coalition party with Fine Gael. 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 serving again as Tánaiste under Bruton as Taoiseach. This was the only time a new government with a different party composition was formed within a single Dáil term.
Nomination of Taoiseach
The members of the 27th Dáil first met on 14 December 1992. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Fine Gael leader John Bruton and Labour Party leaderDick Spring were each proposed. None of these proposals were passed by the Dáil: Reynolds received 68 votes in favour with 94 against, Bruton received 55 in favour to 107 against, and Spring received 39 in favour to 122 against. Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach and continued in a caretaker capacity. On 12 January 1993, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton were again proposed for the nomination of the Dáil for the position of Taoiseach, and on this occasion, the nomination of Reynolds was successful by 102 votes to 60. Reynolds was then appointed as Taoiseach by PresidentMary Robinson.
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Albert Reynolds proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
The Labour Party ministers resigned from government on 17 November 1994. Albert Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach on 18 November and continued to serve in a caretaker capacity.
On 12 January 1993Harry WhelehanSC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach. He resigned as Attorney General on 11 November 1994 on his nomination as President of the High Court. On 11 November 1994, Eoghan Fitzsimons SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
On 12 January 1993, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Noel Dempsey to the post of Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip. On 14 January 1993, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed the other Ministers of State.
Change on 17 November 1994
The Ministers of State from the Labour Party resigned on 17 November 1994.
