Government of the 18th Dáil


There were two Governments of the 18th Dáil, which was elected at the general election held on 7 April 1965. The 11th Government of Ireland was led by Sean Lemass as Taoiseach, while the 12th Government of Ireland was led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach. Both were single-party Fianna Fáil governments, which had been in government since the 1957 election.
The 11th Government lasted for 568 days and the 12th Government lasted for 965 days.

11th Government of Ireland

Nomination of Taoiseach

The members of the 18th Dáil first met on 21 April 1965. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Seán Lemass, Fine Gael leader James Dillon, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed. The nomination of Lemass was carried with 72 votes in favour and 67 votes against. Lemass was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.

Members of the Government

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

Changes 13 July 1966

Seán Flanagan was appointed to government on 6 July 1966.
A reshuffle took place after the establishment of the Department of Labour
under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1966 on 13 July 1966.
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Parliamentary Secretaries

On 21 April 1965, the Government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Resignation

Seán Lemass resigned as Fianna Fáil leader and Jack Lynch won the leadership election to succeed him on 9 November 1966. On the following day, Lemass resigned as Taoiseach.

12th Government of Ireland

The 12th Government was formed by Jack Lynch after the resignation of Seán Lemass.

Nomination of Taoiseach

On 10 November 1966, in the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Jack Lynch, Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed. The nomination of Lynch was carried with 71 votes in favour and 64 votes against. Lynch was then appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.

Members of the Government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Seán Lemass proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil on 16 November 1966. They were appointed by the president on the same day.

Changes 26 March 1968

Following the death of Donogh O'Malley on 10 March 1968.
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Parliamentary Secretaries

On 16 November 1966, the Government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Constitutional referendums

The government proposed the Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1968, which would have allowed for divergence in the ratio of population to representation across Dáil constituencies, and the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1968, which would have altered the electoral system from proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote to first past the post. They were put to referendums on 16 October 1968, and both were defeated by a margin of 39.2% to 60.8% of votes cast. It was the second time a Fianna Fáil government had proposed to introduce FPTP, with a previous referendum defeated in 1959.