The 7th government of Ireland (2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957), commonly known as the second inter-party government, was the government of Ireland formed after the 1954 general election to the 15th Dáil held on 18 May. It was a minority government of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Clann na Talmhan. Clann na Poblachta, which had been in the First inter-party government (1948–1951) with these parties, supported the government but did not form part of it. It lasted for .
Nomination of Taoiseach The 15th Dáil first met on 2 June 1954. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and former Taoiseach John A. Costello of Fine Gael were both proposed. The nomination of de Valera was defeated with 66 votes cast in favour and 78 against, while the nomination of Costello was approved by 79 to 66. Costello was appointed as Taoiseach by President Seán T. O'Kelly.
2 June 1954Nomination of John A. Costello (FG) as TaoiseachMotion proposed by Richard Mulcahy and seconded by William NortonAbsolute majority: 74/147 Vote Parties Votes Yes Fine Gael (50), Labour Party (18), Clann na Talmhan (5), Clann na Poblachta (3), Independents (3) No Fianna Fáil (65), Independent (1) Not voting Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1)
Members of the Government The Ministers of the Government were proposed by the Taoiseach and approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day. OfficeNameTermPartyTaoiseachJohn A. Costello1954–1957 TánaisteWilliam Norton1954–1957Labour PartyMinister for Industry and CommerceMinister for EducationRichard Mulcahy1954–1957 Minister for LandsJoseph Blowick1954–1957 Minister for JusticeJames Everett1954–1957 Minister for AgricultureJames Dillon1954–1957 Minister for DefenceSeán Mac Eoin1954–1957 Minister for Posts and TelegraphsMichael Keyes1954–1957 Minister for External AffairsLiam Cosgrave1954–1957 Minister for Social WelfareBrendan Corish1954–1957 Minister for FinanceGerard Sweetman1954–1957 Minister for Local GovernmentPatrick O'Donnell1954–1957 Minister for HealthTom O'Higgins1954–1957 Change 2 July 1956 Establishment of the Department of the Gaeltacht.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for the GaeltachtRichard Mulcahy1956 Changes 24 October 1956 Assignment of separate Minister for the Gaeltacht.OfficeNameTermPartyMinister for the GaeltachtPatrick Lindsay1956–1957
Parliamentary Secretaries On 3 June 1954, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach. NameOfficeTermPartyDenis J. O'SullivanGovernment Chief Whip1954–1957 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for DefenceJohn O'DonovanParliamentary Secretary to the Government1954–1957 Michael DonnellanParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance1954–1957 William DavinParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government1954–1956 Oliver J. FlanaganParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture1954–1957 Patrick CrottyParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce1954–1957 Change 16 March 1956 Following the death of William Davin on 1 March 1956.Name OfficeTermPartyDan SpringParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government1956–1957 Changes 3 July 1956 Following the establishment of the Department of the GaeltachtName OfficeTermPartyPatrick LindsayParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the GaeltachtJul.–Oct. 1956 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education
Foreign Policy Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955.
Dissolution of the Dáil The government ended when the Clann na Poblachta withdrew its support in 1957. Fine Gael and Labour had also both lost seats in by-elections to Fianna Fáil the previous year. Costello sought a dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February 1957 which was granted by the president, leading to a general election on 9 March 1957.
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