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John A. Costello
John Aloysius Costello (20 June, 1891 - 5 January, 1976), a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney-General of Ireland from 1926-1932 and Taoiseach from 1948-1951 and 1954-1957.
| Rank: | 2nd Taoiseach | |
| First Term: | February 18 1948 - June 13 1951 | |
| Second Term: | June 2 1954 - March 20 1957 | |
| Predecessor: | Eamon de Valera | |
| Successor: | Eamon de Valera | |
| Date of Birth: | 20 June 1891 | |
| Place of Birth: | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Date of Death: | 5 January 1976 | |
| Place of Death: | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Profession: | Lawyer | |
| Political Party: | Fine Gael | |
| Contents |
Early Life
Costello was born on 20 June 1891 in Dublin. He graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in modern languages and law. In 1914 he was called to the bar and became a barrister. In 1922 he joined the staff of the Attorney-General and in 1926 he was appointed the Attorney-General by the Cumann na nGaedhael government. He also represented the Irish Free State at Imperial Conferences and League of Nations meetings.
Election to Dáil Éireann
In 1933 Costello was elected to Dáil Éireann for the very first time. In 1948 he was asked to become Taoiseach in the first Inter-Party government. Richard Mulcahy, the leader of Fine Gael, was seen as an unacceptable choice for Taoiseach. Costello was seen as the one person who could unite the different elements that were to make up the new government. This government oversaw two significant events: the decalaration of the Republic and the Mother and Child Scheme. At a press conference in Canada on 7 September 1948 Costello announced that the Irish Free State was about to leave the Commonwealth. On 18 April 1949 (Easter Monday) the Republic of Ireland came into existence. In 1950 the Minister for Health, Noel Browne, tried to introduce a scheme which would provide free health care for children up to the age of sixteen. The Mother and Child Scheme was opposed by the Catholic Bishops and the Irish doctors and Browne resigned as minister. The episode damaged the government and in May 1951 Costello requested that the Dáil be dissolved and an election was called.
Taoiseach Again
In May 1954 Fianna Fáil lost power and Costello returned as Taoiseach and head of another Inter-Party government. The government had a comfortable majority in the Dáil, but an outbreak of militant activity by the IRA de-stabilised the government. Clann na Poblachta and Fianna Fáil tabled motions of no confidence in Costello's leadership. Rather than face defeat he asked the President to dissolve the Dáil again. In 1957 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Costello returned to the bar and retired to the backbenches of Dáil Éireann. Costello received many honorary degrees from universities in the United States and eleswhere. In March 1975 Costello was made a freeman of the city of Dublin.
John A. Costello died on 5 January 1976.
First Government, February 1948 - June 1951
- An Taoiseach: John A. Costello
- An Tánaiste: William Norton
- Minister for Finance: Patrick McGilligan
- Minister for External Affairs: Seán MacBride
- Minister for Justice: Seán MacEoin
- Minister for Industry & Commerce: Daniel Morrissey
- Minister for Agriculture: James Dillon
- Minister for Defence: Thomas F. O'Higgins
- Minister for Education: Richard Mulcahy
- Minister for Health: Noel Browne
- Minister for Posts & Telegraphs: James Everett
- Minister for Local Government: Timothy J. Murphy
- Minister for Lands: Joseph Blowick
- Minister for Social Welfare: William Norton
Changes
- May 3, 1949: William Norton becomes the Minister for Local Government on a temporary basis, following the death of Timothy J. Murphy.
- May 11, 1949: Michael Keyes joins the government as Minister for Local Government.
- March 7, 1951: Daniel Morrissey becomes the new Minister for Justice. Seán MacEoin takes over as Minister for Justice. Thomas F. O'Higgins becomes the new Minister for Industry & Commerce.
- April 11, 1951: Noel Browne resigns as Minister for Health.
- April 12, 1951: John A. Costello takes over as Minister for Health.
Second Government, June 1954 - March 1957
- An Taoiseach: John A. Costello
- An Tánaiste: William Norton
- Minister for Finance: Gerard Sweetman
- Minister for External Affairs: Liam Cosgrave
- Minister for Justice: James Everett
- Minister for Industry & Commerce: William Norton
- Minister for Agriculture: James Dillon
- Minister for Defence: Seán MacEoin
- Minister for Education & the Gaeltacht: Richard Mulcahy
- Minister for Health: Tom O'Higgins
- Minister for Posts & Telegraphs: Michael Keyes
- Minister for Local Government: Patrick O'Donnell
- Minister for Lands: Joseph Blowick
- Minister for Social Welfare: Brendan Corish
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