21st Dáil
| 21st Dáil | |||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||
| Legislative body | Dáil Éireann | ||||||||||
| Jurisdiction | Ireland | ||||||||||
| Meeting place | Leinster House | ||||||||||
| Term | 5 July 1977 – 21 May 1981 | ||||||||||
| Election | 1977 general election | ||||||||||
| Government |
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| Members | 148 | ||||||||||
| Ceann Comhairle | Pádraig Faulkner — Joseph Brennan until 13 July 1980 | ||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey — Jack Lynch until 11 December 1979 | ||||||||||
| Tánaiste | George Colley | ||||||||||
| Chief Whip | Seán Moore — Michael Woods until 11 December 1979 — Patrick Lalor until 1 July 1979 | ||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | Garret FitzGerald | ||||||||||
| Sessions | |||||||||||
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The 21st Dáil was elected at the 1977 general election on 16 June 1977 and met on 5 July 1977. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs. It sat with the 14th Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas.
The 21st Dáil saw a change of Taoiseach from Jack Lynch to Charles Haughey. On 21 May 1981, President Patrick Hillery dissolved the Dáil on the request of Taoiseach Charles Haughey. The 21st Dáil lasted 3 years, 320 days.
Composition of the 21st Dáil
[edit]| Party | June 1977 | May 1981 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 84 | 81 |  3 | |
| Fine Gael | 43 | 45 |  2 | |
| Labour | 17 | 16 | 1 | |
| Independent Fianna Fáil | 1 | 1 |  | |
| Independent | 3 | 3 | | |
| Ceann Comhairle | N/a | 1 | 1 | |
| Vacant | N/a | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 148 | |||
In July 1977, Fianna Fáil formed the 15th government of Ireland, a majority government, led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach. In December 1979, Charles Haughey succeeded as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach, forming the 16th government of Ireland.
Graphical representation
[edit]This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 21st Dáil from July 1977. This was not the official seating plan.
Ceann Comhairle
[edit]On the meeting of the Dáil, Joseph Brennan (FF) was proposed by Jack Lynch (FF) and seconded by George Colley (FF) for the position of Ceann Comhairle. Seán Treacy (Lab) was proposed by Garret FitzGerald (FG) and seconded by Joseph Bermingham (Lab) for the position. Brennan was elected by a vote of 84 to 60.[1]
Brennan died on 13 July 1980.[2] On 15 October 1980, Pádraig Faulkner (FF) was appointed Ceann Comhairle on a temporary basis.[3] On 16 October 1980, Faulkner was proposed by Jack Lynch for the position on a permanent basis, and was elected without a vote.[4]
TDs by constituency
[edit]The list of the 148 TDs elected is given in alphabetical order by Dáil constituency.[5]