Government of the 22nd Dáil

The 17th government of Ireland (30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil. It was a minority coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach and lasted for days.

Nomination of Taoiseach
The 22nd Dáil first met on 30 June 1981. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald were both proposed. The nomination of Haughey was defeated with 79 votes in favour to 83 against, while the nomination of FitzGerald was carried with 81 in favour and 78 against. FitzGerald was appointed as Taoiseach by President Patrick Hillery.

Government ministers
After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Garret FitzGerald proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed by the president on the same day. {| class="wikitable" !Office !Name !Term !colspan="2"|Party
 * Taoiseach
 * Garret FitzGerald
 * 1981–1982
 * Tánaiste
 * rowspan=2|Michael O'Leary
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * Minister for Industry and Energy
 * Minister for Agriculture
 * Alan Dukes
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Defence
 * James Tully
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Education
 * John Boland
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for the Environment
 * Peter Barry
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Finance
 * John Bruton
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Fisheries and Forestry
 * Tom Fitzpatrick
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Foreign Affairs
 * John Kelly
 * 1981 (acting)
 * Minister for the Gaeltacht
 * Paddy O'Toole
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Health
 * rowspan=2|Eileen Desmond
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * Minister for Social Welfare
 * Minister for Justice
 * Jim Mitchell
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Labour
 * rowspan=2|Liam Kavanagh
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * Minister for the Public Service
 * Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
 * rowspan=2|Patrick Cooney
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * rowspan=2 style="background-color: " |
 * rowspan=2|Fine Gael
 * Minister for Transport
 * Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
 * John Kelly
 * 1981–1982
 * colspan="5"|
 * Minister for Health
 * rowspan=2|Eileen Desmond
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * Minister for Social Welfare
 * Minister for Justice
 * Jim Mitchell
 * 1981–1982
 * Minister for Labour
 * rowspan=2|Liam Kavanagh
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * Minister for the Public Service
 * Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
 * rowspan=2|Patrick Cooney
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * rowspan=2 style="background-color: " |
 * rowspan=2|Fine Gael
 * Minister for Transport
 * Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
 * John Kelly
 * 1981–1982
 * colspan="5"|
 * rowspan=2|Patrick Cooney
 * rowspan=2|1981–1982
 * rowspan=2 style="background-color: " |
 * rowspan=2|Fine Gael
 * Minister for Transport
 * Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
 * John Kelly
 * 1981–1982
 * colspan="5"|
 * 1981–1982
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|

Change 21 October 1981
Appointment of Sen. James Dooge, whose nomination had to await until after the election to Seanad Éireann. !Office !Name !Term !colspan="2"|Party
 * Minister for Foreign Affairs
 * James Dooge
 * 1981–1982
 * }
 * Notes
 * }
 * Notes

Attorney General
On 30 July 1981, Peter Sutherland SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Ministers of state
On 30 June 1981, the Government appointed Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach. {| class="wikitable" !Name !Department(s) !Responsibility !colspan=2|Party
 * rowspan=2|Gerry L'Estrange
 * Taoiseach
 * Government Chief Whip
 * Defence
 * Defence
 * Edward Collins
 * Industry and Energy
 * Oil and Minerals Exploration
 * Fergus O'Brien
 * Environment
 * Housing
 * Donal Creed
 * Health
 * Health
 * Mary Flaherty
 * Social Welfare
 * Poverty and the Family
 * Joseph Bermingham
 * Finance
 * Office of Public Works
 * Barry Desmond
 * Finance
 * Economic Planning
 * Michael Begley
 * Trade, Commerce and Tourism
 * Tourism
 * Michael Keating
 * Education
 * Youth and Sport
 * Dick Spring
 * Justice
 * Law Reform
 * Michael D'Arcy
 * Agriculture
 * Production and Marketing
 * Ted Nealon
 * Agriculture
 * Western Development
 * Jim O'Keeffe
 * Foreign Affairs
 * Overseas Development
 * colspan="5"|
 * Michael Keating
 * Education
 * Youth and Sport
 * Dick Spring
 * Justice
 * Law Reform
 * Michael D'Arcy
 * Agriculture
 * Production and Marketing
 * Ted Nealon
 * Agriculture
 * Western Development
 * Jim O'Keeffe
 * Foreign Affairs
 * Overseas Development
 * colspan="5"|
 * Ted Nealon
 * Agriculture
 * Western Development
 * Jim O'Keeffe
 * Foreign Affairs
 * Overseas Development
 * colspan="5"|
 * Foreign Affairs
 * Overseas Development
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|

Change 10 July 1981
Additional appointment !Name !Department(s) !Responsibility !colspan=2|Party
 * Paddy Harte
 * Posts and Telegraphs
 * Telecommunications
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|

Change 24 July 1981
Additional appointment !Name !Department(s) !Responsibility !colspan=2|Party
 * Mary Flaherty
 * Health
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|
 * colspan="5"|

Changes 11 November 1981
Reshuffle on grounds of health of L'Estrange. !Name !Department(s) !Responsibility !colspan=2|Party
 * rowspan=2|Fergus O'Brien
 * Taoiseach
 * Government Chief Whip
 * Defence
 * Defence
 * Donal Creed
 * Environment
 * Housing
 * Gerry L'Estrange
 * Health
 * Health
 * }
 * Gerry L'Estrange
 * Health
 * Health
 * }
 * Health
 * }
 * }

Budget
On 27 January 1982, the Minister for Finance John Bruton proposed the budget, which was rejected by the Dáil.

The Taoiseach sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president, leading to the February 1982 general election.