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Government of the 15th Dáil

7th government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
Date formed	2 June 1954
Date dissolved	20 March 1957
People and organisations
President	Seán T. O'Kelly
Taoiseach	John A. Costello
Tánaiste	William Norton
Total no. of members	13 (14 from 1956)
Member parties	Fine Gael Labour Party Clann na Talmhan
Status in legislature	Coalition
Opposition party	Fianna Fáil
Opposition leader	Éamon de Valera
History
Election	1954 general election
Legislature terms	15th Dáil 8th Seanad
Predecessor	6th government
Successor	8th government

The 7th government of Ireland (2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957), commonly known as the Second inter-party government, was the government of Ireland formed after the 1954 general election to the 15th Dáil held on 18 May. It was a minority governmentofFine Gael, the Labour Party and Clann na Talmhan. Clann na Poblachta, which had been in the First inter-party government (1948–1951) with these parties, supported the government but did form part of it. It lasted for 1,023 days.

The 15th Dáil first met on 2 June 1954. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and former Taoiseach John A. CostelloofFine Gael were both proposed. The nomination of de Valera was defeated with 66 votes cast in favour and 78 against, while the nomination of Costello was approved by 79 to 66.^[1] Costello was appointed as Taoiseach by President Seán T. O'Kelly.^[2]

2 June 1954 Nomination of John A. Costello (FG) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Richard Mulcahy and seconded by William Norton Absolute majority: 74/147
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fine Gael (50), Labour Party (18), Clann na Talmhan (5), Clann na Poblachta (3), Independents (3)	79 / 147
No	Fianna Fáil (65), Independent (1)	66 / 147
Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1)	2 / 147

The Ministers of the Government were proposed by the Taoiseach and approved by the Dáil.^[4] They were appointed by the president on the same day.^[5]

On 3 June 1954, the Government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[5]

Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955.

The government ended when the Clann na Poblachta withdrew its support in 1957. Fine Gael and Labour had also both lost seats in by-elections to Fianna Fáil the previous year. Costello sought a dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February 1957 which was granted by the president, leading to a general election on 9 March 1957.