Fourth Ministry of the Irish Republic

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The Fourth Ministry was the Ministry of the Irish Republic that held office in 1922 from 10 January to 9 September. Following the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 7 January President Eamon de Valera resigned in protest and the Third Ministry fell. The Fourth Ministry, headed by Arthur Griffith, and composed solely of members of the pro-Treaty faction of Sinn Féin, was elected the following day. Six non-cabinet ministers were appointed on the 11th.

Under the terms of the Treaty another cabinet, the Provisional Government, was also established just six days later, under the chairmanship of Michael Collins. The Fourth Ministry therefore held office in parallel with the First Provisional Government. In August Griffith died of natural causes and Collins was killed in action, however the remaining members of the Ministry remained in office until, on 9 September, the Third Dáil elected a new Ministry under W.T. Cosgrave. Cosgrave took this opportunity to merge the Ministry and the Provisional Government into a single administration, the Second Provisional Government. Henceforth the country was governed by only one cabinet.

[edit] Members

Office Name Notes
President of the Republic Arthur Griffith 10 January22 August
Minister for Finance Michael Collins 10 January22 August
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Gavan Duffy
Arthur Griffith
Michael Hayes
10 January25 July
26 July12 August
21 August9 September
Minister for Home Affairs Eamonn Duggan
Minister for Defence Richard Mulcahy
Minister for Local Government W.T. Cosgrave
Minister for Economic Affairs Kevin O'Higgins

[edit] Ministers not in cabinet

Office Name
Minister for Education Michael Hayes
Minister for Trade Ernest Blythe
Minister for Agriculture Patrick Hogan
Minister for Labour Joseph McGrath
Minister for Publicity Desmond FitzGerald
Director of Belfast Boycott Michael Staines

[edit] Assistant Ministers

Office Name Notes
Asst. Minister for Local Government Lorcan Robbins 11 January9 September
Asst. Minister for Home Affairs George Nicholls 17 January9 September
Asst. Minister for Education Francis Fahy Until 3 February
{Appointment date unknown)


Preceded by
Third Ministry
Irish cabinets
1922
Succeeded by
2nd Provisional Government