The 4th Government of Ireland (9 June 1944 – 18 February 1948) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1944 general election to the 12th Dáil held on 30 May. It was a single-party Fianna Fáil government led by Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach. It lasted for . Fianna Fáil had been in office since the 1932 general election.
Nomination of Taoiseach The 12th Dáil first met on 9 June 1944. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was proposed. This motion was approved by 81 to 37. De Valera was appointed as Taoiseach by President Douglas Hyde.
9 June 1944Nomination of Éamon de Valera (FF) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Michael Kennedy and seconded by Timothy O'SullivanAbsolute majority: 70/138 Vote Parties Votes Yes Fianna Fáil (75), National Labour Party (3), Independents (3) No Fine Gael (29), Labour Party (7), Independent (1) Absent ofNot voting Clann na Talmhan (9), Independents (7), Fine Gael (1), Labour Party (1), National Labour Party (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)
Members of the government After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Éamon de Valera proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day.
Office NameTaoiseachÉamon de ValeraMinister for External AffairsTánaisteSeán T. O'KellyMinister for FinanceMinister for Industry and CommerceSeán LemassMinister for SuppliesMinister for Local Government and Public HealthSeán MacEnteeMinister for AgricultureJames RyanMinister for the Co-ordination of Defensive MeasuresFrank AikenMinister for EducationThomas DerrigMinister for JusticeGerald BolandMinister for DefenceOscar TraynorMinister for Posts and TelegraphsPatrick LittleMinister for LandsSeán MoylanChanges 19 June 1945 On the election of Seán T. O'Kelly as president of Ireland.Office NameTánaisteSeán LemassMinister for FinanceFrank AikenChanges 22 January 1947 On the creation of the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare.Office NameMinister for Local GovernmentSeán MacEnteeMinister for HealthJames RyanMinister for Social WelfareMinister for AgriculturePaddy Smith Note
Parliamentary Secretaries On 9 June, the Government appointed Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach. NameOfficeTermEamon KissaneGovernment Chief Whip1944–1948Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence1944–1948Paddy SmithParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance1944–1946Conn WardParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health; 1944–1946Seán O'GradyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce1944–1946Erskine H. ChildersParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health1944–1948Change 13 July 1946 Resignation of Conn Ward following the report of the Ward Tribunal.Changes 1 January 1947Paddy SmithParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for AgricultureJan. 1947Seán O'GradyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance1947–1948
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