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21st Dáil
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Overview
Legislative body	Dáil Éireann
Jurisdiction	Ireland
Meeting place	Leinster House
Term	5 July 1977 – 21 May 1981
Election	1977 general election
Government	15th government of Ireland (1977–1979) 16th government of Ireland (1979–1981)
Members	148
Ceann Comhairle	Pádraig Faulkner — Joseph Brennan until 13 July 1980
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey — Jack Lynch until 11 December 1979
Tánaiste	George Colley
Chief Whip	Seán Moore — Michael Woods until 11 December 1979 — Patrick Lalor until 1 July 1979
Leader of the Opposition	Garret FitzGerald
Sessions
1st 5 July 1977 – 6 July 1977 2nd 12 October 1977 – 29 June 1978 3rd 11 October 1978 – 18 July 1979 4th 17 October 1979 – 26 June 1980 5th 15 October 1980 – 21 May 1981

The 21st Dáil was elected at the 1977 general election on 16 June 1977 and met on 5 July 1977. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs. It sat with the 14th Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas.

The 21st Dáil saw a change of Taoiseach from Jack Lynch to Charles Haughey. On 21 May 1981, President Patrick Hillery dissolved the Dáil on the request of Taoiseach Charles Haughey. The 21st Dáil lasted 1,417 days.

Composition of the 21st Dáil

Party		July 1977	May 1981	Change
●	Fianna Fáil	84	81	3
	Fine Gael	43	45	2
	Labour	17	16	1
	Independent	4	4
	Ceann Comhairle	—	1	1
	Vacant	—	1	1
Total		166

In July 1977, Fianna Fáil, denoted with a bullet (●), formed the 15th government of Ireland, a majority government, led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach. In December 1979, Charles Haughey succeeded as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach, forming the 16th government of Ireland.

Graphical representation

This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 21st Dáil from July 1977. This was not the official seating plan.

Ceann Comhairle

On the meeting of the Dáil, Joseph Brennan (FF) was proposed by Jack Lynch (FF) and seconded by George Colley (FF) for the position of Ceann Comhairle. Seán Treacy (Lab) was proposed by Garret FitzGerald (FG) and seconded by Joseph Bermingham (Lab) for the position. Brennan was elected by a vote of 84 to 60.

Brennan died on 13 July 1980. On 15 October 1980, Pádraig Faulkner (FF) was appointed Ceann Comhairle on a temporary basis. On 16 October 1980, Faulkner was proposed by Jack Lynch for the position on a permanent basis, and was elected without a vote.

TDs by constituency

The list of the 148 TDs elected is given in alphabetical order by Dáil constituency.

1. Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil.

Changes

On 11 February 1981, a motion to move the writ for the vacancy in Tipperary North was rejected on a vote of 40 to 66.

References

1. ^ "Election of Ceann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 300 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 5 July 1977. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
2. "Death of Ceann Comhairle: Expression of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 323 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 October 1980. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
3. "Office of Ceann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 323 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 October 1980. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
4. ^ "Office of Ceann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 323 No. 2". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 October 1980. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
5. "TDs & Senators (21st Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
6. "Resignation of Member – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 326 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 January 1981. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
7. "Issue of Writ: Motion – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Vol. 326 No. 8". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 February 1981. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2022.

External links

• Houses of the Oireachtas: Debates: 21st Dáil

• Members of the 21st Dáil
• 21st Dáil
• Lists of Teachtaí Dála by term