File 11 - Dissolution of Dáil Éireann

140pp

Material relating to the dissolution of Dáil Éireann [lower House of Irish Parliament] and role of the President of Ireland in that process. Includes memo from Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, referring to and enclosing material from file which he had sought from the National Archives in November 1990, relating to 1937 (photocopies) and another which included a brief guiding note on the matter from 1989, 27/01/1992; photocopy of article by former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in the Irish Times noting Mary Robinson (MR) as President would be correct to refuse to dissolve the Dáil on Mr Haughey's request (then Taoiseach), 25/01/1992; minutes including notation, of meeting with Mr Frank Clarke, SC [Senior Counsel], in relation to advice on dissolution of the Dáil, 14/11/1994; typed memo on 22 telephone calls received by Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] mainly offering support to MR on her decision and requesting she try to see if General Election could be avoided, 14-15/11/1994; draft statements based on accepting or refusing to dissolve Dáil; typed document "Request for Advice" which relates to seeking of advice on legal issues relating to President exercising her discretionary power to refuse a dissolution; background material on the Irish constitution including chapter on "Summoning and Dissolving Dáil Éireann".

[Archivist's note: The 26th Dáil was dissolved by President Mary Robinson on 5 November 1992, at the request of the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who replaced Mr Charles Haughey as Taoiseach on 11/02/1992. The 27th Dáil saw a change of Taoiseach from Albert Reynolds to John Bruton in December 1994, the only time there was a new Taoiseach with a change in the party composition of the government during a Dáil term. The 27th Dáil was dissolved by President Mary Robinson on 15 May 1997, at the request of the Taoiseach, John Bruton.]

Ref: P143/4/14/11

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09/07/2024
06/11/2024