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2nd government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
Date formed	30 June 1938
Date dissolved	1 July 1943
People and organisations
President	Douglas Hyde
Taoiseach	Éamon de Valera
Tánaiste	Seán T. O'Kelly
Total no. of members	10 (1938–1939) 12 (1939–1943)
Member party	Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature	Majority Government
Opposition party	Fine Gael
Opposition leader	W. T. Cosgrave
History
Election	1938 general election
Legislature terms	10th Dáil 3rd Seanad
Predecessor	1st government
Successor	3rd government

The 2nd government of Ireland (30 June 1938 – 1 July 1943) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1938 general election to the 10th Dáil held on 17 June. It was a single-party Fianna Fáil government led by Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach. Fianna Fáil had been in office since the 1932 general election. It lasted for 1,828 days.

Nomination of Taoiseach

The 10th Dáil first met on 30 June 1938. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was proposed. The motion was approved by 75 to 45. De Valera was appointed as Taoiseach by President Douglas Hyde. This occurred five days after the inauguration of Hyde as the first President of Ireland on 25 June.

30 June 1938 Nomination of Éamon de Valera (FF) as Taoiseach Motion proposed by Gerald Bartley and seconded by Bernard Maguire Absolute majority: 70/138
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fianna Fáil (74), Independent (1)	75 / 138
No	Fine Gael (44), Independent (1)	45 / 138
Absent or Not voting	Labour Party (9), Fianna Fáil (2), Fine Gael (1), Independents (5), Ceann Comhairle (1)	19 / 138

Members of the government

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Éamon de Valera proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil. They were appointed to office by the president.

Parliamentary secretaries

On 30 June 1938, the Government appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Constitutional amendments

During the first three years of the term of office of the first President of Ireland, the Oireachtas could pass amendments to the Constitution of Ireland without a referendum. This period lasted from 25 June 1938 to 24 June 1941. The First Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was introduced and signed into law on 2 September 1939, allowing the Oireachtas to resolve that a state of emergency exists when an armed conflict exists outside of the state. The Emergency was declared on the same day, and the emergency powers lapsed on 2 September 1946. The Second Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was signed into law on 30 May 1941 and was an omnibus amendment with 40 separate changes across the text of the Constitution. Both amendments were proposed by the Taoiseach.

References

1. "Election of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 June 1938. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
2. "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 June 1938. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
3. "Election of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil) – Thursday, 30 June 1938". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
4. "Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 June 1938. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
5. "Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. – Changes in the Ministry – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 September 1939. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
6. "Nomination of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 September 1939. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
7. "Appointment of Minister – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 28 September 1939. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
8. "History of Government – Tenth Dáil – Parliamentary Secretaries". Government of Ireland. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
9. Turf (Use and Development) Act 1936 (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1941 (S.R.O. No. 298 of 1941). Signed on 17 June 1941. Statutory Rules and Orders of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.

• Governments of Ireland
• 1938 establishments in Ireland
• 1943 disestablishments in Ireland
• Cabinets established in 1938
• Cabinets disestablished in 1943
• 10th Dáil