Cumann na Gaedhael

1923 Election - Cumann na Gaedhael win majority - WT Cosgrave becomes our first - Ireland still called ‘’ - Dominion status (Anglo Irish Treaty)

Constitution(the laws of our country) ​ - Dail Eireann & Seanad Éireann formally set up - Women are given equal voting rights to men. ​ ​ - Governor General to represent the King (rule of the treaty) ​

Law & Order - Minister for Home Affairs (Justice) Kevin O’Higgins - An Garda Síochána set up 1923 - Public Safety Act 1923 -1924 - arrest and detain IRA members without trial - Reduced the size of the army and arrested the officers who went against this policy as they considered this a mutiny.

The Economy - Focus on Agriculture (ACC Bank set up - Agricultural Credit Corporation) - Reduced taxes to help export goods - THE SHANNON SCHEME - Hydroelectric Power Plant at Ardnacrusha, Co Clare - The ESB was set up - 13,000 more people employed in industry in 1930 than in 1922

Northern Ireland - 1924 Boundary Commission - Sean MacNeill threatened to resign - Seen as a failure, they did not reclaim counties lost to partition.

Foreign Affairs - Joined the League of Nations 1923 - 1931 Statute of Westminster (British Law) Ireland could change any laws Britain had passed without interference

Decline - Wall Street Crash 1929 means a global depression - Focus was on Agriculture more than Industry led to high unemployment. - Fianna Fail election campaign was better - focused on self-sufficiency

The First Coalition Government 1948-1951

The First coalition was made up of three parties

Fine Gael John A Costello Taoiseach

Labour leader was Tanaiste

Clann na Poblachta led by Sean Mc Bride, who was Minister for External Affairs

Economy

The Coalition Government established the following

● The IDA Industrial Development Authority: founded to promote Irish Industry ​ ​ ● A new Anglo Irish Agreement secured high prices for exported cattle and sheep. ● Brought electric power to the rural areas of Ireland. Helped modernise Agriculture.

Foreign Affairs

While on a state visit to Canada, Costello declared the 26 counties a republic. The ‘ Act was introduced in 1949’ and Ireland left the commonwealth. ​ ​

Health

TB Tuberculosis was a major killer that the Government successfully defeated by building a number of ​ special hospitals called sanatoria. With up to date equipment the disease was brought under control. Dr. ​ ​ ​ Noel Browne was the Minister for Health.

In 1951 Dr. Browne introduced The . The aim of this scheme was to provide ​ ​ free medical care for pregnant women and children up to the age of 16.This was opposed by the Catholic Church who said that health should be a matter for parents not the government. The Church felt that the scheme would pave the way for abortion and birth control. Some Doctors also opposed the bill fearing a loss of income.

As a result of controversy Dr. Browne resigned and the Coalition Government collapsed.

Failures of the Coalition Government ● Unemployment and emigration remained high. 500,000 emigrated in the 1950s. ● Industry remained underdeveloped. Little foreign investment. ● There was still a shortage of public housing

Fianna fail 1959-1966

The FF government of 1959-1966 was one of the most successful governments in the history of the Ireland. ​ ​

After a series of inter party governments Fianna fail returned to Government in 1959.Fianna Fail remained in office until 1973. sa DeValera had retired and Sean Lemass, became Taoiseach. Lemass was the last Taoiseach to have been ​ ​ involved in either the War of Independence or the Civil War. In 1959 De Valera was elected as President of the Irish Republic for the first of two terms. De Valera remained in office until 1973 and died in in 1975 at the age ​ of 93.

The main leaders in this government were Sean Lemass, Taoiseach, , Industry and Commerce, ​ Donogh O’ Malley, Education and , Finance.

Economy

Dr TK Whittaker. Secretary to the Department of Finance introduced the Programme for Economic Expansion. Under this plan. o A policy of was introduced o Foreign Industries were attracted by Grants and concessions. o Irish businesses were given grants to modernise their equipment.

Social Changes

1961: RadioTelifis Eireann was introduced and began public TV broadcasting. Programmes such as the Late Late Show, then presented by Gay Byrne beamed into Irish homes. Programmes such as this made more ​ open to and aware of world opinions. Taboo subjects in a conservative Ireland such as sex, contraception and the authority of the Church were openly discussed and questioned. For the first time Irish people saw the leaders of Church and State being questioned openly and this helped to change attitudes to authority. Television advertised new fashion trends, music, films, and lifestyles. In the face of TV, traditional Irish culture went into decline.

1966: The Minister for Education, Donogh O Malley introduced Free Secondary Education. Irelands first Comprenshive School was already opened since 1963. Free Education was responsible for many important ​ changes in Irish life. As the rate of Leaving Certificate participants rose, so too did the number of college places. As third level fees were later abolished and grants made available, more and more young people were gaining qualifications and opportunities that their parents and grandparents may not have had.

Foreign Policy

Lemass led Ireland into the . Irish Troops began to go on peacekeeping missions to Cyprus, ​ ​ Lebanon and the Congo. During the Lemass era Ireland applied for Membership of the EEC, but refused to join when the French objected to British membership. Britain was Irelands major trading partner.