Government of the 17th Dáil

The 10th government of Ireland (11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1961 general election to the 17th Dáil held on 4 October 1961. It was a minority government formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 election. It was the first election it had won since Seán Lemass had succeeded Éamon de Valera as leader. It lasted for .

Nomination of Taoiseach The 17th Dáil first met on 11 October 1961. 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 68 against. Lemass was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.

11 October 1961Nomination of Seán Lemass (FF) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Seán MacEntee and seconded by James RyanAbsolute majority: 73/144VotePartiesVotes Yes Fianna Fáil (70), Independents (2) No Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (15), Clann na Talmhan (2), National Progressive Democrats (2), Clann na Poblachta (1), Independent (1) Not voting Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (3)

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 12 October 1961.

OfficeNameTermTaoiseachSeán Lemass1961–1965TánaisteSeán MacEntee1961–1965Minister for HealthMinister for AgriculturePaddy Smith1961–1964Minister for DefenceGerald Bartley1961–1965Minister for EducationPatrick Hillery1961–1965Minister for FinanceJames Ryan1961–1965Minister for External AffairsFrank Aiken1961–1965Minister for the GaeltachtMícheál Ó Móráin1961–1965Minister for LandsMinister for Industry and CommerceJack Lynch1961–1965Minister for JusticeCharles Haughey1961–1964Minister for Local GovernmentNeil Blaney1961–1965Minister for Posts and TelegraphsMichael Hilliard1961–1965Minister for Social WelfareKevin Boland1961–1965Minister for Transport and PowerErskine H. Childers1961–1965Changes 8 October 1964 Paddy Smith resigned in disagreement at the government's response to certain farming issues.OfficeNameTermMinister for AgricultureCharles Haughey1964–1965Minister for JusticeSeán Lemass(acting)Changes 3 November 1964 Appointment of new member of the government in place of Smith.OfficeNameTermMinister for JusticeBrian Lenihan1964–1965

Parliamentary Secretaries On 12 October 1961, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach. NameOfficeTermJoseph BrennanGovernment Chief WhipParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence1961–1965Donogh O'MalleyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance1961–1965Brian LenihanParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for JusticeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands; ; 1961–1964Change 21 October 1964 Appointment of Brian Lenihan to government.NameOfficeTermGeorge ColleyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands1964–1965

Confidence in the government On 30 October 1963, Brendan Corish, leader of the Labour Party, proposed a motion of no confidence in the government after its introduction of the turnover tax. This motion was amended by the government as a motion of confidence, and approved by a vote of 73 to 69.;

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