Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State |
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Great Seal of the Irish Free State
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| Residence | No official residence |
| Appointer | Governor-General, upon the nomination of President |
| Formation | 6 December 1922 |
| First holder | Kevin O'Higgins |
| Final holder | Seán T. O'Kelly |
| Abolished | 29 December 1937 |
| Succession | Tánaiste |
The Vice-President of the Executive Council (which in Irish is Leas-Uachtarán na hArd-Chomhairle) was like a deputy prime minister in the Irish Free State. This was the second most important job in the Executive Council, which is similar to a government's cabinet.
The Governor-General officially appointed the Vice-President. But this person was always chosen by the President of the Executive Council. It was a special rule, called a constitutional convention, that the Governor-General had to agree to the President's choice.
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What Was the Vice-President's Job?
The job of Vice-President of the Executive Council started when the Irish Free State was created in 1922. The main role, according to the Free State constitution, was to "act for all purposes in the place of the President."
When the Vice-President Stepped In
This meant if the President died, resigned, or was unable to do their job, the Vice-President would take over. They would act as President until a new one was chosen. They also stepped in if the President was away for a short time.
More Than Just a Stand-In
In real life, the Vice-President usually had another important job too. They were also a minister in charge of a government department. So, they had their own duties to do when they weren't acting as the head of the government.
The President couldn't just fire the Vice-President on their own. If the President wanted to remove the Vice-President, the whole Executive Council (the entire cabinet) had to be dismissed. Then, a new council would be formed.
A Look Back at the Role
Before the Irish Free State, there was a government called the Ministry of Dáil Éireann (from 1919 to 1922). This government didn't originally have a deputy leader.
How the Deputy Role Began
However, in June 1919, when President of Dáil Éireann Éamon de Valera went to the United States, he asked for someone to be appointed as Deputy President. Arthur Griffith was chosen for this role while de Valera was away. De Valera returned to his position in January 1921.
The Provisional Government of the Irish Free State in 1922 did not have a similar position.
The Role Changes to Tánaiste
In 1937, a new set of rules for the country, called the Constitution of Ireland, came into effect. This new constitution changed the name and role of the Vice-President of the Executive Council. It was replaced with the job of Tánaiste, which is still used today.
People Who Held the Job
Here are the people who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council:
| Name | Picture | Time in Office | Political Party | Other Government Jobs Held | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin O'Higgins |  |
6 December 1922 | 10 July 1927 | Cumann na nGaedheal | Minister for Justice (1922–1927) | ||
| Ernest Blythe |  |
14 July 1927 | 9 March 1932 | Cumann na nGaedheal | Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1927–1932) | ||
| Seán T. O'Kelly |  |
9 March 1932 | 29 December 1937 | Fianna Fáil | Minister for Local Government and Public Health (1932–1937) | ||
| This job was replaced by the Tánaiste of Ireland in December 1937. | |||||||
See Also
