Confidence motions in Dáil Éireann

If a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach or Government of Ireland is passed by Dáil Éireann, or a motion of confidence is defeated, then the Constitution requires both the Taoiseach and the Government to resign.^[1] After this, either a replacement Taoiseach is elected by the Dáil, or the Dáil is dissolved and a general election is held. Motions have twice brought down the government, in each case resulting in an election: in November 1982 and again in November 1992.^[2]

Ensuing dissolutions

In the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy, the minimum support necessary for a cabinet government to continue in office is confidence and supply from the responsible chamber, which in Ireland is the Dáil. Whereas in some jurisdictions the convention is for a prime minister who has lost confidence or supply to call an election, in Ireland he may be unable to do so. The post-1937 Constitution gives the President discretion to refuse to dissolve the Dáil when requested by a Taoiseach who has lost confidence.^[3][4] More often, the Taoiseach has dissolved the Dáil in the face of the imminent threat of losing a confidence motion: in September 1927,^{[n 1]} 1938, 1944, 1951, 1957, and 1987.^[5][6] The 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State required an Executive Council which had lost the Dáil's confidence to have its approval for a dissolution;^[4][7] W. T. Cosgrave circumvented this in September 1927 by calling an election while the Dáil was adjourned.^[4]

As well as the November 1982 and November 1992 instances of loss of confidence, there has been one occasion when the Irish government fell due to loss of supply in the Dáil. That was in January 1982, when Jim Kemmy withdrew support for the minority Government of the 22nd Dáil by opposing a budget resolution to introduce VAT on children's shoes.^{[8][9][d 1]} President Patrick Hillery acceded to Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald's request for a dissolution, resulting in a general election in February 1982. Brian Lenihan, Snr unsuccessfully tried to persuade the President to refuse a dissolution and allow Fianna Fáil to try to form a new government; an action which caused controversy when he ran in the 1990 presidential election.^[10] In 1994, when Labour left the coalition it had formed with Fianna Fáil in 1992, there was neither a confidence motion nor a request for a dissolution. Instead, negotiations led to a new coalition of Fine Gael, Labour, and Democratic Left. Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Albert Reynolds did not attempt to forestall this by requesting a dissolution, because he believed President Mary Robinson would have refused.^[5][11]

There have also been occasions when Seanad Éireann voted on a confidence motion;^[12][13] even if the government had lost the motion, it would not have fallen.

Procedure for motions

The standing orders of the Dáil have no special provisions for confidence motions, which are treated like any other motion.^[6] Most motions of no confidence in Ireland have been tabled by an opposition party when the government's majority is secure but it is dealing with scandals, embarrassments, or poor election results. The opposition has no prospect of winning the vote, but can inflict symbolic damage in the debate.^[2][6] The practice in such cases is for the government to replace the opposition motion of no confidence with its own motion of confidence; either by an amendment to the original motion replacing its entire wording, or by using its control of the legislative agenda to pre-empt the usual order of business with a new motion.^[14][15]

List of motions

Date	Govt No.	Govt parties	Proposer	Govt majority (votes)	Motion	Context
19270816 16 August 1927[d 2]	03 3rd Free State	Cumann na nGaedheal	Labour Thomas Johnston	0 (72–71[n 2])	That the Executive Council has ceased to retain the support of the majority in Dáil Eireann	Fianna Fáil had just ended its abstentionism, so that the Cumann na nGaedheal government no longer had a Dáil working majority.[4][16] Fianna Fáil had agreed to support a minority government of Labour and the National League Party.[4][16] However, two National League TDs failed to support the motion: Vincent Rice defected to Cumann na nGaedheal, and John Jinks was mysteriously absent.[4][16][17] W. T. Cosgrave secured a Dáil adjournment, then dissolved the Dáil before it had a chance to table another confidence motion.[4] Cumann na nGaedheal returned stronger after the ensuing election and formed the next government.[4]
19530702 30 June–2 July 1953[d 3][d 4][d 5]	06 6th	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Éamon de Valera	2 (73–71[d 5])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Government had just lost two by-elections[d 3]
19581030 29–30 October 1958[d 6][d 7]	08 8th	Fianna Fáil	Labour William Norton	17 (54–71[d 7])	That, in view of the continued high level of unemployment and emigration and the failure of the Government to fulfil the promises made at the last general election that they would deal effectively with these problems, the Dáil has no confidence in the Government.	Economy: unemployment and emigration
19631030 30 October 1963[d 8]	10th	Fianna Fáil	Labour Brendan Corish	4 (73–69[d 8])	That in view of the widespread public opposition to the turnover tax, the Dáil is of opinion that the Government have lost the confidence of the people, and, therefore, considers that they should resign forthwith.	Introduction of turnover tax in the 1963 budget.[d 8]
19660708 8 July 1966[d 9][d 10]	11th	Fianna Fáil	Labour Brendan Corish	16 (50–66[d 10])	That Dáil Éireann bearing in mind the present economic situation, the lack of progress in creating new employment and in reducing unemployment and emigration, together with the crisis in the provision of finance for housing, has no confidence in the present Government.	There was no debate on the motion itself; the adjournment debate for the summer recess was held immediately beforehand and served in effect as the debate on the Labour and Fine Gael confidence motions.[d 9][d 10]
19660708 8 July 1966[d 9][d 10]	11th	Fianna Fáil	Fine Gael Liam Cosgrave	12 (54–66[d 10])	That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in the present Government.	Motion put to a vote immediately after the preceding Labour motion.[d 10]
19681107 5–7 November 1968[d 11][d 12][d 13]	12th	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Jack Lynch	8 (68–60[d 13])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government and approves the Government's financial proposals	Rejection at referendum of the government's proposals to change the electoral system and favour rural constituencies.[d 11]
19700514 13–14 May 1970[d 14][d 15][d 16]	13th	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Jack Lynch	8 (72–64[d 16])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Arms Crisis[d 14]
19701104 29 October–4 November 1970[d 17][d 18][d 19]	13th	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Jack Lynch	7 (74–67[d 19])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in An Taoiseach and the other Members of the Government	Arms Trial. Jack Lynch said "it was my prerogative as Leader of the Government Party to put down a positive motion in the face of motions of no confidence tabled by the Opposition".[d 17]
19741029 23–29 October 1974[d 20][d 21][d 22]	14th	Fine Gael–Labour	Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave	5 (70–65[d 22])	That Dáil Éireann affirms its confidence in the Government.	First oil shock recession. Jack Lynch said, "The purpose of this debate, as initiated by our motion of no confidence in the Government, was to highlight the rapid deterioration in the economy and in the Government's total and abject failure to come to grips with the situation."[d 20]
19761028 28 October 1976[d 23][d 24]	14th	Fine Gael–Labour	Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave	6 (73–67[d 24])	That Dáil Éireann affirms its confidence in the Government	Resignation of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh precipitated by criticism from minister Paddy Donegan.[d 23]
19790529 29–30 May 1979[d 25][d 26]	15th	Fianna Fáil	Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Brian Lenihan, Snr	21 (67–46[n 3])	That Dáil Éireann expresses its satisfaction at the Government's management of the economy[d 26]	Second oil shock recession.[d 25] Original motion by Labour Frank Cluskey:[d 25] That Dáil Éireann gravely concerned about the serious economic mismanagement of the country by the Government declares that this House and the people of Ireland have no confidence in the Government
19820701 1 July 1982[d 27][d 28]	18th	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Charles Haughey	7 (84–77[d 28])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Haughey had survived attempts to remove him as party leader,[d 27] and opposed an EEC boycott of Argentina during the Falklands War.[d 27][18] The government's deficit was criticised by the European Commission.[d 27]
19821104 3–4 November 1982[d 29][d 30]	18th	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Charles Haughey	−2 (80–82[d 30])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Haughey had survived further attempts to remove him as party leader.[d 29] After GUBU and other scandals, the Workers' Party withdrew its support. Defeat led to the Irish general election, November 1982.
19860221 20–21 February 1986[d 31][d 32][d 33]	19th	Fine Gael–Labour	Tánaiste Dick Spring	5 (82–77[d 33])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government	Garret FitzGerald accused of misleading the Dáil in relation to a botched reshuffle, by stating Donal Creed and Michael D'Arcy had resigned when, according to Charles Haughey, they had been sacked.[d 31]
19861023 22–23 October 1986[d 34][d 35][d 36]	19th	Fine Gael–Labour	Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald	2 (83–81[d 36])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government	Economy: unemployment, taxation, and emigration.[d 34]
19901031 31 October 1990[d 37][d 38]	21st	Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats	Taoiseach Charles Haughey	3 (83–80[d 38])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Dismissal of Brian Lenihan, Snr during the 1990 presidential election.[d 37]
19911018 16–18 October 1991[d 39][d 40][d 41]	21st	Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats	Taoiseach Charles Haughey	3 (84–81[d 41])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Alleged "Golden Circle" of businessmen favoured by Fianna Fáil.[d 39]
19921105 5 November 1992[d 42][d 43]	22nd	Fianna Fáil	Taoiseach Albert Reynolds	−11 (77–88[d 43])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government	The PDs had just left the coalition, after Reynolds had accused leader Dessie O'Malley of being "reckless, irresponsible and dishonest" in his evidence to the Beef Tribunal.[d 42][19] Defeat led to the Irish general election, 1992.
19931028 28 October 1993[d 44][d 45]	23rd	Fianna Fáil–Labour	Taoiseach Albert Reynolds	39 (94–55[d 45])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Amount of European Structural Funds allocated to Ireland was £7.2bn, as opposed to the £8.2bn announced previously.[d 44]
19941117 16–17 November 1994[d 46][d 47]	23rd	Fianna Fáil–Labour	Taoiseach Albert Reynolds	0 Withdrawn when the government collapsed[d 47]		During a controversy over the Attorney General's office delay extraditing paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, Reynolds appointed Attorney General Harry Whelehan to the High Court. After the confidence motion was tabled, Labour left the coalition.[20]
19961113 12–13 November 1996[d 48][d 49][d 50]	24th	Fine Gael–Labour–Democratic Left	Taoiseach John Bruton	9 (79–70[d 50])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Judge Dominic Lynch not informed of his de-listing and continued to hear cases.[d 48][21]
20000630 30 June 2000[d 51]	25th	Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats	Taoiseach Bertie Ahern	9 (79–70[d 51])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Bertie Ahern's evidence to the Moriarty Tribunal about his handling of Fianna Fáil finances.[d 51][22] Original no-confidence motion proposed by Labour.[22]
20070926 26 September 2007[d 52]	27th	Fianna Fáil–Greens–Progressive Democrats	Taoiseach Bertie Ahern	5 (81–76[d 52])	That Dáil Éireann: affirms confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government; recognises the enormous contribution made by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD, to Irish public life including his many achievements in: patient and skilful leadership of the peace process which has resulted in a restoration of democratic institutions in Northern Ireland and a new era in North/South and Anglo-Irish relations; implementing a policy framework which has produced sustained strong economic and employment growth which is the envy of Europe, and has laid the foundations for continuing prosperity into future generations; sustaining and renewing the vital social partnership model, including the negotiation of a 10-year Framework Agreement to deepen stability and confidence; providing record increases in investment in infrastructure and vital public services while providing prudently for future needs within a sustainable fiscal framework; ensuring Ireland's interests are protected and that we play a leadership role in the evolution of Europe through his strong record of achievement as a senior member of the European Council; prioritising climate change and securing a sustainable energy future for the country by working with partners in Government to reach our key environmental targets; and renewing policies and institutions to cater for the needs of a new and more diverse Ireland, while affirming and supporting the values and structures which are at the heart of community life, through his support for the cultural, sporting and religious and community organisations that make up civil society; recalls that the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments was established by resolution of Dáil Éireann and appointed by Instrument of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government on 4 November 1997; affirms its confidence in the Mahon Tribunal; understands that the Quarryvale module of the tribunal has not run its course and that a substantial number of witnesses are still scheduled to give evidence; believes that members of the Oireachtas should not seek to predetermine the tribunal's report on the matters which it has asked the tribunal to investigate; maintains that it is the role of the members of the tribunal to make an objective assessment of the completed evidence and to make findings if necessary; commends the Government for refusing to be distracted from its agenda of taking Ireland forward with positive and inclusive policies; reaffirms that the Programme for Government is a five-year programme and that the parties in Government will do their utmost to honour these commitments; and rejects the politically opportunistic motion of no confidence put forward by the Fine Gael Party.	Bertie Ahern's testimony to the Mahon Tribunal ("Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments").[d 52]
20090610 9–10 June 2009[d 53][d 54]	27th	Fianna Fáil–Greens–Independent[n 4]	Taoiseach Brian Cowen	6 (85–79[d 54])	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government	Poor result for government parties in the previous week's local and European elections.[d 53] The original motion proposed was:[23] That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in the Government
20100615 15 June 2010[d 55]	27th	Fianna Fáil–Greens–Independent	Taoiseach Brian Cowen	5 (82–77[d 55])	That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government	Publication of official reports on the 2008 Irish banking crisis, which were critical of government decisions.[d 55][24] The original Fine Gael motion was:[25] That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in An Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen
20121211 11–12 December 2012[d 56]	29th	Fine Gael–Labour	Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin	37 (88–51[d 57])	That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Government as it deals with the current economic crisis in as fair a manner as possible, while prioritising economic recovery and job creation	Handling of the post-2008 Irish economic downturn. The original no-confidence motion, proposed by Sinn Féin, and amended into a confidence-motion by the government, was:[d 58][26] That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in the Fine Gael and Labour coalition Government; who have failed to fulfill their obligations to make political decisions and choices which benefit the citizens of this State.
20141209 9 December 2014[d 59]	29th	Fine Gael–Labour	Taoiseach Enda Kenny	31 (86–55[d 60] )	That Dáil Éireann reaffirms i[t]s confidence in the Taoiseach and in the Government.	Irish Water metering and charges.[27] The original Sinn Féin no-confidence motion was scheduled for the following day, the same time as a Sinn-Féin-backed anti-water-charges protest rally outside Leinster House.[27] It read:[28][d 61] That Dáil Éireann: notes that the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, has failed to listen to the citizens of this State, including the widespread public opposition to domestic water charges and to Irish Water; has no confidence in the Taoiseach; and calls on the Taoiseach to resign and to request the President to dissolve the Dáil and call a general election.
20150922 22 September 2015[29]	29th	Fine Gael–Labour	Taoiseach Enda Kenny[d 62]	42 (94–52)[d 63]	That Dáil Éireann welcomes the publication of the Interim Report of the Fennelly Commission and notes its conclusions and reaffirms its confidence in the Taoiseach, in the Attorney General and in the Government.[d 62]	Fennelly Commission's interim report on the resignation of Martin Callinan.[29] The government motion replaced two opposition motions:[29][30] from Fianna Fáil: "That Dáil Éireann, arising from the contents and the conclusions of the Interim Report of the Fennelly Commission, does not have confidence in An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD." from Sinn Féin: "That Dáil Éireann: notes that: following the recent publication of the Fennelly Commission Report that the deliberate actions of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in instructing former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Mr. Brian Purcell, to visit the home of former Garda Commissioner Mr. Martin Callinan resulted in the Commissioner's effective sacking from his post; and the Attorney General Máire Whelan SC failed to adequately discharge her responsibilities in the public interest by failing to communicate information to relevant parties including the former Minister for Justice and the former Garda Commissioner; and declares that Dáil Éireann has no confidence in both the Attorney General and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and calls on the Attorney General and An Taoiseach to resign forthwith."

Footnotes

1. The Dáil adjourned in August but was not dissolved until September.^[4]
2. On the casting vote of Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes.^{[d 2]}
3. Vote on the amendment; the amended motion passed without a division.^{[d 26]}
4. Mary Harney remained a cabinet minister after the dissolution of the Progressive Democrats.

Sources

• Mitchell, Paul (19 January 2006). "Ireland: 'O What a Tangled Web...'—Delegation, Accountability, and Executive Power". In Strøm, Kaare; Müller, Wolfgang C.; Bergman, Torbjörn. Delegation and Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies. Oxford University Press. pp. 418–444. doi:10.1093/019829784X.003.0013. ISBN 9780199291601. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
• Constitution of Ireland, 1937–2013
• Dáil debates 1919–present

References

Dáil debates

1. "Financial Resolutions, 1982. – Financial Statement, Budget, 1982". 27 January 1982. p. 23, cc.329–330.
   "Financial Resolutions, 1982: Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise— Beer". 27 January 1982. p. 25, cc.412–414.
   "Proclamation". 9 March 1982. p. 2, cc.3–4.
2. "Public business: No confidence motion". 16 August 1927. p. 5.
3. "Vote of Confidence—Motion by Taoiseach". 30 June 1953. p. 19.
4. "Motion of Confidence (Resumed)". 1 July 1953. p. 4.
   "Motion of Confidence (Resumed)". 1 July 1953. p. 21.
   "Motion of Confidence (Resumed)". 2 July 1953. p. 4.
   
5. "Motion of Confidence (Resumed)". 2 July 1953. p. 25.
6. "Unemployment and Emigration: Motion of No Confidence". 29 October 1958. p. 61.
   "Unemployment and Emigration: Motion of No Confidence (Resumed)". 30 October 1958. p. 4.
7. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 30 October 1958. p. 34.
8. "Turnover Tax – Motion of No Confidence". 30 October 1963. p. 54.
9. "Adjournment (Summer Recess)". 8 July 1966. p. 5.
10. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 8 July 1966. p. 6.
11. "Confidence in Government". 5 November 1968. p. 36.
12. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 6 November 1968. p. 40.
13. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 7 November 1968. p. 109.
14. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 13 May 1970. p. 56.
15. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 14 May 1970. p. 5.
16. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 14 May 1970. p. 5.
17. "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion". 29 October 1970. p. 4.
18. "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (Resumed)". 3 November 1970. p. 49.
    "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (Resumed)". 4 November 1970. p. 49.
19. "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (Resumed)". 4 November 1970. p. 52.
20. "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed)". 23 October 1974. p. 32.
21. "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed)". 24 October 1974. p. 4.
    "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed)". 24 October 1974. p. 22.
22. "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed)". 29 October 1974. p. 28.
23. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 28 October 1976. p. 4.
24. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 28 October 1976. p. 19.
25. "Private Members' Business – Confidence in Government: Motion". 29 May 1979. p. 31.
26. "Private Members' Business – Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 30 May 1979. p. 43.
27. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 1 July 1982. p. 4.
28. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 1 July 1982. p. 6.
29. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 3 November 1982. p. 4.
30. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 4 November 1982. p. 4.
31. "Confidence in Government: Motion.". 20 February 1986.
32. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 20 February 1986.
33. "Confidence in Government: Motion: (Resumed)". 21 February 1986. p. 4.
34. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 22 October 1986. p. 17.
35. "Confidence in Government: Motion: (Resumed". 23 October 1986. p. 7.
36. "Confidence in Government: Motion: (Resumed". 23 October 1986. p. 22.
37. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 31 October 1990. p. 5.
38. "Confidence in Government: Motion: (Resumed". 31 October 1990. p. 16.
39. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 16 October 1991. p. 5.
40. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 16 October 1991. p. 16.
    "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 17 October 1991. p. 6.
    "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 17 October 1991. p. 21.
41. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 18 October 1991. p. 4.
42. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 5 November 1992. p. 15. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
43. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 5 November 1992. p. 17.
44. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 28 October 1993. p. 4.
45. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 28 October 1993. p. 18.
46. "Confidence in Government: Motion.". 16 November 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
47. "Withdrawal of Motion of Confidence". 17 November 1994. p. 4.
48. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 12 November 1996. p. 13.
49. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 13 November 1996. p. 4.
50. "Confidence in Government: Motion (Resumed)". 13 November 1996. p. 12.
51. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 30 June 2000. p. 3.
52. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 26 September 2007. p. 17.
53. "Confidence in Government: Motion". 9 June 2009. p. 11.
54. "Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed)". 10 June 2009. p. 4.
55. "Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion". 15 June 2010. p. 7.
56. "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Private Members)". 11 December 2012. pp. 67–77.
    "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) (Private Members)". 12 December 2012. pp. 51–61.
57. "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) (Private Members) (Continued)". 12 December 2012. p. 60.
58. "Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]". 12 December 2012. p. 51. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
59. "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion". 9 December 2014. pp. 9–33.
60. "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (Continued)". 9 December 2014. p. 33.
61. "Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion". 9 December 2014. p. 9.
62. "Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion". 22 September 2015. p. 9. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
63. "Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (Continued)". 22 September 2015. p. 32. Retrieved 22 September 2015.

Other

1. Constitution of Ireland Article 28 §§10–11
2. MacCarthaigh, Muiris (1 January 2005). Accountability in Irish Parliamentary Politics. Institute of Public Administration. p. 132, fn.84. ISBN 9781904541318. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
3. Constitution of Ireland Article 13.2.2°
4. McCullagh, David (9 September 2011). John A. Costello The Reluctant Taoiseach: A Biography of John A. Costello. Gill & Macmillan. pp. 73–75. ISBN 9780717151639. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
5. Coakley, John; Gallagher, Michael (2010). Politics in the Republic of Ireland. Taylor & Francis. p. 206. ISBN 9780415476713. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
6. Mitchell 2006, p.430
7. "Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922, Schedule 1". Irish Statute Book. Article 53. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
8. Keogh, Dermot (26 August 2010). "Ch.16: Ireland, 1972–84". In J. R. Hill. Ireland, 1921–84. A New History of Ireland. Volume VII. Oxford University Press. p. 709. ISBN 9780191615597. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
9. "1982: VAT on Children's Shoes". RTÉ Archives: Memorable Budgets. RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
10. "Explore Documents: Áras an Uachtaráin telephone log, 27 January 1982". History Hub. UCD School of History & Archives. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
11. Strøm, Kaare; Stephen M. Swindle (September 2002). "Strategic Parliamentary Dissolution" (PDF). The American Political Science Review. 96 (3): 580–581, fn.5.
12. "Confidence in the Taoiseach: Motion". Seanad Éireann debates. Oireachtas. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
13. "Confidence in Government: Motion". Seanad Éireann debates. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
14. Mitchell 2006, p.433 Table 13.1 fn.b
15. "Dáil to spend three hours debating motion of no confidence". Irish Examiner. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
16. Ó Beacháin, Donnacha (2010). "'Slightly Constitutional' Politics: Fianna Fáil's Tortuous Entry to the Irish Parliament, 1926-7". Parliamentary History. 29 (3): 376–394. doi:10.1111/j.1750-0206.2010.00212.x. ISSN 0264-2824.
17. Gaughan, J. Anthony (1980). Thomas Johnson, 1872–1963: first leader of the Labour Party in Dáil Éireann. Kingdom Books. p. 317. ISBN 9780950601533.
18. Fanning, Ronan (30 December 2012). "Haughey's Brit bashing on Falklands cost us dear". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
19. Dwyer, T. Ryle (12 September 2009). "Taoiseach who went from top of the world to rock bottom in one week". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
20. Oireachtas Sub Committee on Legislation and Security (1995). Inquiry into the Events of 11 to 15 November 1994. Government publications. Pn.1478. Dublin. pp. 12–15. ISBN 0-7076-1583-6. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
21. Brophy, Karl (13 April 2002). "Same story, different script as plot thickens and political whodunnit thriller unfolds". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
22. "Ahern gives Moriarty evidence as Dáil prepares for no-confidence debate". RTÉ.ie. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
23. "Notice of Motion". Motions. Oireachtas. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
24. "Dáil to debate confidence motion on Tuesday". RTÉ.ie. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
25. "Dáil Éireann Notice of Motion". Oireachtas. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
26. "Notices of Motions" (PDF). Motions. Oireachtas. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
27. Doherty, Pearse (4 December 2014). "Sinn Féin to table motion of no confidence in An Taoiseach". Sinn Féin. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
    O'Regan, Michael (5 December 2014). "Independent TD criticises Sinn Féin's motion of no confidence". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
    
28. "Notice of Motion" (PDF). Dáil motions. Oireachtas. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
29. Collins, Stephen (22 September 2015). "Kenny to defend role in Callinan exit controversy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
30. "Dáil Éireann Order paper" (PDF). Oireachtas. 22 September 2015. pp. 1597 Nos 209, 210. Retrieved 22 September 2015.