Garret FitzGerald

Dr. Garret FitzGerald (Irish name: Gearóid MacGearailt) (born February 9, 1926) was the seventh Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving two terms in office; July 1981 to February 1982, and December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála in 1969. He previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1973 to 1977. FitzGerald was the leader of Fine Gael between 1977 and 1987. He is also the son of Desmond FitzGerald who was the first Minister for External Affairs of the new Irish state. At present FitzGerald is the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland. He is credited as being the most successful leader of the modern Fine Gael party.

FitzGerald's Second Government, December 1982-March 1987

• An Taoiseach: Garret FitzGerald
• An Tánaiste: Dick Spring
• Minister for Finance: Alan Dukes
• Minister for Foreign Affairs: Peter Barry
• Minister for Trade, Commerce & Tourism: Frank Cluskey
• Minister for Justice: Michael Noonan
• Minister for Industry & Energy: John Bruton
• Minister for Agriculture: Austin Deasy
• Minister for Defence: Patrick Cooney
• Minister for Education: Gemma Hussey
• Minister for the Environment: Dick Spring
• Minister for Labour: Liam Kavanagh
• Minister for Health: Barry Desmond
• Minister for Social Welfare: Barry Desmond
• Minister for the Public Service: John Boland
• Minister for Transport: Jim Mitchell
• Minister for Posts & Telegraphs: Jim Mitchell
• Minister for Fisheries & Forestry: Paddy O'Toole
• Minister for Gaeltacht: Paddy O'Toole

Changes

• December 8, 1983: Garret FitzGerald takes over the Trade, Commerce & Tourism portfolio on a temporary basis, following the resignation of Frank Cluskey.
• December 12, 1983: The Department of Industry & Energy changes its name to the Department of Energy. On the same day the Department of Trade, Commerce & Tourism changes its name to the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce & Tourism.
• December 13, 1983: A Cabinet re-shuffle takes place. Dick Spring becomes the new Minister for Energy, John Bruton is appointed Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce & Tourism, Liam Kavanagh becomes Minister for the Environment and Ruairi Quinn joins the Cabinet as Minister for Labour.
• January 2, 1984: The abolition of the Department of Transport, Posts & Telegraphs sees Jim Mitchell becoming the first Minister for Communications.
• February 14, 1986: A major Cabinet re-shuffle takes place. Liam Kavanagh becomes the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries & Forestry, Patrick Cooney is appointed Minister for Education, John Boland takes over as Minister for the Environment, Paddy O'Toole takes on two portfolios as Minister for Defence & the Gaeltacht, Alan Dukes moves to the position of Minister for Justice, Barry Desmond remains as Minister for Health but the Social Welfare portfolio now goes to Gemma Hussey, Michael Noonan becomes the new Minister for Industry & Commerce and Ruairi Quinn takes on the Public Service portfolio while remaining as Minister for Labour.
• February 19, 1986: The Department of Fisheries & Forestry changes its name to the Department of Tourism, Fisheries & Forestry. On the same day the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce & Tourism changes to the Department of to Industry and Commerce.
• January 20, 1987: The Labour Party members, Dick Spring, Barry Desmond, Liam Kavanagh and Ruairi Quinn, resign from the government. No new members join the Cabinet and their portfolios are redistributed as follows. Peter Barry takes over as Tánaiste, John Bruton takes over the Public Service portfolio, Paddy O'Toole receives the Tourism, Fisheries & forestry portfolio, John Boland takes over the Health portfolio, the Energy portfolio is added to Michael Noonan's brief and Gemma Hussey receives the Labour portfolio.