Government of the 1st Dáil#2nd Ministry

{{Short description|Revolutionary government of the Irish Republic 1919 to 1921}}

The government of the 1st Dáil was the executive of the unilaterally declared Irish Republic. At the 1918 Westminster election, candidates for Sinn Féin stood on an abstentionist platform, declaring that they would not remain in the Parliament of the United Kingdom but instead form a unicameral, revolutionary parliament for Ireland called Dáil Éireann.

The first meeting of the First Dáil was held on 21 January 1919 in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin and made a Declaration of Independence. It also approved the Dáil Constitution. Under Article 2 of this Constitution, there would be a ministry of Dáil Éireann led by a President, with five Secretaries leading government departments. There were two ministries of Dáil Éireann during the First Dáil. The 1st ministry (22 January to 1 April 1919) was led by Cathal Brugha and lasted for 69 days; it was formed when a large number of those elected for Sinn Féin were in prison. The 2nd ministry (1 April 1919 to 26 August 1921) was led by Éamon de Valera, leader of Sinn Féin, and lasted for 878 days.

1st ministry

{{Infobox government cabinet

|cabinet_name = Government of the 1st Dáil
{{small|1st ministry}}

|cabinet_number =

|jurisdiction =

|incumbent =

|image = Cathalbrugha.JPG

|image_size = 90

|caption =

|date_formed = 22 January 1919

|date_dissolved = 1 April 1919

|government_head = Cathal Brugha

|government_head_title = President of Dáil Éireann

|deputy_government_head =

|state_head =

|current_number =

|former_members_number =

|total_number = 4

|political_party = Sinn Féin

|legislature_status = Government

|opposition_cabinet =

|opposition_party =

|opposition_leader =

|election = 1918 general election

|last_election =

|legislature_term = 1st Dáil

|previous =

|successor = 2nd ministry

}}

The 1st ministry was a temporary cabinet headed by Cathal Brugha, because Éamon de Valera, the leader of Sinn Féin, was in prison at the time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-01-22/7/|title=DAIL MINISTRY – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 22 January 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=19 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019110414/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-01-22/7/|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable"
Office !colspan="2"\| Name
President of Dáil Éireann \|style="background-color: {{party color\|Sinn Féin}}" \| \|Cathal Brugha
Minister for Finance \|style="background-color: {{party color\|Sinn Féin}}" \| \|Eoin MacNeill
Minister for Home Affairs \|style="background-color: {{party color\|Sinn Féin}}" \| \|Michael Collins
Minister for Foreign Affairs \|style="background-color: {{party color\|Sinn Féin}}" \| \|Count Plunkett
Minister for National Defence \|style="background-color: {{party color\|Sinn Féin}}" \| \|Richard Mulcahy

class="wikitable"

Office

!colspan="2"| Name

President of Dáil Éireann

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Cathal Brugha

Minister for Finance

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Eoin MacNeill

Minister for Home Affairs

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Michael Collins

Minister for Foreign Affairs

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Count Plunkett

Minister for National Defence

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Richard Mulcahy

2nd ministry

{{Infobox government cabinet

|cabinet_name = Government of the 1st Dáil
{{small|2nd Ministry}}

|cabinet_number =

|jurisdiction =

|incumbent =

|image = Éamon de Valera 03.jpg

|image_size = 100

|caption =

|date_formed = 1 April 1919

|date_dissolved = 26 August 1921

|government_head = Éamon de Valera

|government_head_title = President of Dáil Éireann

|deputy_government_head_title = Deputy President

|deputy_government_head = Arthur Griffith {{small|(from June 1919)}}

|state_head =

|current_number =

|former_members_number =

|total_number = 12 {{small|(inc. 4 non-members of the cabinet)}}

|political_party = Sinn Féin

|legislature_status = Government

|opposition_cabinet =

|opposition_party =

|opposition_leader =

|election =

|last_election =

|legislature_term = 1st Dáil

|previous = 1st ministry

|successor = 3rd ministry

}}

On 1 April 1919, the 1st ministry resigned.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-01/25/|title=RESIGNATION OF MINISTRY – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 1 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140234/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-01/25/|url-status=live}} On a motion proposed by Cathal Brugha and seconded by Pádraic Ó Máille, Éamon de Valera was declared elected as President of Dáil Éireann ({{lang|ga|Príomh Aire}}).{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-01/26/|title=ELECTION OF PRESIDENT OF DÁIL – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 1 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140240/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-01/26/|url-status=live}} The Constitution was amended to allow for up to nine members of the ministry, as well as the President.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-01/23/|title=AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION - AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 2 (b) – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 1 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140229/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-01/23/|url-status=live}} The following day, he formed the 2nd ministry. Countess Markievicz became the first Irish female Cabinet minister. She served until 26 August 1921, and the next woman appointed to cabinet was Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who was appointed as Minister for the Gaeltacht in 1979.

De Valera travelled to the United States in June 1919, and by letter requested that Arthur Griffith be appointed as Deputy President in his absence and that Ernest Blythe take a place at cabinet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/2/|title=LETTER FROM PRESIDENT DE VALERA – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 17 June 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140236/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/2/|url-status=live}} De Valera resumed his position in the Dáil on 25 January 1921.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-01-25/2/|title=PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 25 January 1921|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140233/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-01-25/2/|url-status=live}}

{| class="wikitable"

!Office

!colspan="2"| Name

|President of Dáil Éireann

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Éamon de Valera

|Secretary for Home Affairs{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/3/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Home Affairs – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140231/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/3/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Arthur Griffith

|Secretary for Defence{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/4/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Defence – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140231/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/4/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Cathal Brugha

|Secretary for Foreign Affairs{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/5/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Foreign Affairs – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140230/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/5/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Count Plunkett

|Secretary for Labour{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/6/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Labour – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140229/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/6/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Constance Markievicz

|Secretary for Industries{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/7/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Industries – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140247/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/7/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Eoin MacNeill

|Secretary for Finance{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/8/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Finance – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140238/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/8/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Michael Collins

|Secretary for Local Government{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/9/|title=NOMINATION OF MINISTRY. - Secretary for Local Government – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140231/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/9/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|W. T. Cosgrave

|colspan="3"|

=Ministers not in cabinet=

!Office

!colspan="2"| Name

|Director of Propaganda{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/10/|title=HEADS OF DEPARTMENT – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 April 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140242/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-04-02/10/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Laurence Ginnell

|Director of Agriculture

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Robert Barton

|colspan="3"|

=Changes on 17 June 1919=

!Office

!colspan="2"| Name

|Deputy President{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/3/|title=APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY PRESIDENT – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 17 June 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140229/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/3/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Arthur Griffith

|Director of Trade and Commerce{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/4/|title=INCLUSION IN THE MINISTRY OF THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE AND COMMERCE – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 17 June 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140245/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/4/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Ernest Blythe

|Substitute Director of Propaganda{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/14/|title=APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE-DIRECTOR OF PROPAGANDA – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 17 June 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140228/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-06-17/14/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Desmond FitzGerald

|colspan="3"|

=Changes on 27 October 1919=

On the arrest of Ernest Blythe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-10-27/19/|title=APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE DIRECTOR OF TRADE AND COMMERCE – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Monday, 27 October 1919|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140236/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1919-10-27/19/|url-status=live}}

!Office

!colspan="2"| Name

|Substitute Director of Trade and Commerce

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Joseph McGuinness

|colspan="3"|

=Changes on 29 June 1920=

Appointment of new ministries and substitute ministries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1920-06-29/16/|title=RATIFICATION OF MINISTERS – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 29 June 1920|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140251/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1920-06-29/16/|url-status=live}}

!Office

!colspan="2"| Name

|Minister for Irish

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|John J. O'Kelly

|Acting Minister at the Ministry of Home Affairs

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Austin Stack

|Substitute Minister for Local Government

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Kevin O'Higgins

|Substitute Minister for Agriculture

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Art O'Connor

|Director of Fisheries

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Seán Etchingham

|colspan="3"|

=Change on 17 September 1920=

!Office

!colspan="2"| Name

|Assistant Minister for Irish{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1920-09-17/30/|title=RATIFICATION OF ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR IRISH – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Friday, 17 September 1920|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831140232/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1920-09-17/30/|url-status=live}}

|style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|Frank Fahy

=Resignation of ministry=

In May 1921, the Dáil passed a resolution declaring that elections to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland would be used as the election for the Second Dáil.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-05-10/26/|title=PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. - ELECTIONS – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 10 May 1921|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805195618/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-05-10/26/|url-status=live}}

The members of the 2nd Dáil first met on 16 August 1921.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-16/1/|title=Prelude – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Tuesday, 16 August 1921|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094242/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-16/1/|url-status=live}} The outgoing ministry did not resign immediately. On 26 August 1921, Éamon de Valera resigned as president.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/2/|title=RESIGNATION OF MINISTRY – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Friday, 26 August 1921|access-date=31 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831094244/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26/2/|url-status=live}} De Valera was then re-elected, taking the new title of President of the Republic, and formed the 3rd ministry of Dáil Éireann.