Ferdi Ferdi Ferdi Ferdi 2

Ross McGuire

Treat of the successes and failures of the first interparty government.
(1945-1951)

Introduction
1. The Republic of Ireland Act 1948
2. Foreign Affairs successes
3. The Economy
4. The eradication of Tuberculosis
5. The Welfare State
6. The Mother and Child Scheme failures
Conclusion –Break-up of the Coalition

After 1948, Fianna Fáil had been in power for 16 years and was once again returned as the largest single party in the Dáil. However, a consensus formed amongst the opposition parties, that it was time for change. Thus, Robert Mulcahy of Fine Gael called all the parties together to form Ireland’s first coalition government. “It did seem unlikely that parties covering the whole ideological range could reconcile their differences to form a government.” (Joseph Lee) Despite their divergent ideology, the interparty government remained in power for three years. It was most successful in the area of the economy and domestic affairs; however, it was brought down by the fragile nature of its mosaic structure.

Although Bunreacht na hEireann provided for a dictionary republic in the south of Ireland, Costello and Sean MacBride – leader of Clann na Poblachta – felt that it was time for Ireland to become a full republic. While at a Commonwealth meeting in Canada, Costello confirmed a story in the Irish Independent that Ireland was to break all ties with the Commonwealth that De Valera had left in the External Relations Act of 1936. The according legislation was passed through the Oireachtas shortly after. The British reacted by immediately passing the Ireland Act, which recognised the Republic, and allowed for Northern Ireland to remain a part of Britain for as long as Stormont desired. However, Unionists reacted heavily, becoming further entrenched in their opposition to the Republic. Thus, the act successful defined Ireland as a completely independent state, at the expense of the six northeastern counties.

During the tenure of the first interparty government, Ireland enjoyed a high position in diplomatic circles, mostly due to Sean MacBride’s efforts as Foreign Minister. In 1949, Ireland was invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation along with many other Western European countries. MacBride successfully defended Irish neutrality by diplomatically refusing the invitation to join, consolidating Ireland's position as an independent state. Furthermore, by making clear the government’s opposition to the advance of Communism, Ireland's position with the USA greatly improved. Although the Irish offer of an alliance with the US was refused in 1950, the state did benefit hugely from the Marshal Aid plan. Ireland was also among the founding members of both the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation in 1948, and the Council of Europe in 1949. Thus the interparty government achieved a great improvement in Ireland's standing in global affairs.

The coalition’s handling of the economy was also – in general – successful. The 1949 publication of “Ireland's Long-Term Recovery Program” set out a series of economic targets for 1953, and heralded the beginning of Ireland's recovery after the War. Economic development was greatly helped by Patrick McGilligan’s (Finance Minister) introduction establishment of semi-state bodies such as the Irish Development Authority, Córas Trachtála and the Central Statistics Office. James Dillon, the Minister for Agriculture, brought in the Land Rehabilitation Program that aimed to cultivate 4 million acres of idle land. Although the program succeeded it did waste significant funds that could have been spent on infrastructure (£40 million). The Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement 1948 tied Irish Agricultural prices with those in Britain, which was an economic unsound; while it provided stability, it also kept prices artificially low, hindering economic development until Ireland's accession to the EEC in 1973.

The establishment of the Welfare State in Britain inspired some Irish politicians to expand social services in Ireland during the period 1948 to 1951. T J Murphy began a housing program that resulted in 12,000 new houses being built per annum by 1951, resulting in 50,000 new jobs. Many rural houses were also provided with sewage, water and electrical services, improving the quality of life of the population. Finally, the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 provided for unemployment assistance. Despite these valiant efforts to create a Welfare State in Ireland, the interparty government failed bring full social assistance to Ireland. In addition, unemployment and immigration remained high, and the devaluing of Sterling in 1949 and the bank strike in 1950 did little to help the situation.

The improved provision of health care was the greatest success of the interparty government. Noel Browne’s (Minister for Health) major achievement was the eradication of Tuberculosis during the term of the government, especially considering that it killed between 3 and 4 thousand people every year in the State. Browne spent £30 million to build new hospitals with the money coming from the hospital sweepstakes. A mass screening process was established using e-rays to detect TB. Treatment was given for free for sufferers, and the BCG vaccination was given to those for free to those who did not. This plan was an unmitigated success, as it removed TB from Ireland, as well as significantly improving health infrastructure in Ireland.

Despite this initial success, Noel Browne’s efforts to provided healthcare for mothers and children for free under the Mother and Child Scheme, without any means testing, was a dramatic failure and greatly contributed to the demise of the interparty government. The plan was opposed by many sectors of Irish life: the Catholic Church opposed the plan on the basis that it interfered with family matters, which were protected by the constitution; the Irish Medical Association protested against the lack of means testing, which they feared would make them servants of the state; and the Cabinet was opposed to it. “Once the hierarchy had made it clear the vital questions of faith and morals were involved, the resistance of the government crumbled.” (FSL Lyons)

The interparty government was a success in the areas of foreign affairs, the economy and the eradication of TB. However, its inability to deal with a series of political crises showed its weakness, which was its greatest failure. The Mother and Child Scheme split Clann na Poblachta (due to both Browne and Hartnet’s resignations); the Battle for Baltinglass caused a political scandal and the resignation of another Minister; and the continued high rates of unemployment and emigration (24,000 per annum) eventually tested Costello to his limits. The interparty government’s greatest achievement was not its policies, but rather the fact that it offered a credible alternative to Fianna Fáil, shaking its complacency. Despite this tremendous success it was weakened by internal divides, which meant that it was a times crippled by its own fragmented structure.

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