The 19th government of Ireland (14 December 1982 – 10 March 1987) was the government of Ireland formed after the November 1982 general election to the 24th Dáil. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach and lasted for 1,548 days.

The 24th Dáil first met on 14 December 1982. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, the Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Charles Haughey, and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald were both proposed.^[1] The nomination of Haughey was defeated with 77 votes in favour to 88 against, while the nomination of FitzGerald was carried with 85 in favour and 79 against. FitzGerald was then appointed as Taoiseach by president Patrick Hillery.^[2]

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14 December 1982 Nomination of Garret FitzGerald (FG) as Taoiseach[3] Motion proposed by Kieran Crotty and seconded by Nora Owen Absolute majority: 84/166
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Fine Gael (69), Labour Party (16)	85 / 166
No	Fianna Fáil (75), Workers' Party (2), Independent Fianna Fáil (1), Independent (1)	79 / 166
Not voting	Ceann Comhairle (1), Independent (1)	2 / 166

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After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Garret FitzGerald proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.^[2] They were appointed by the president on the same day.^[4]

Notes

On 14 December 1982, Peter Sutherland SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[2][4] He resigned as Attorney General on 12 December 1984 on his nomination as European Commissioner. On 13 December 1984, John Rogers SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[16]

On 14 December 1982, the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Seán Barrett to the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip.^[2] On 16 December 1982, the Government appointed the other Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.^[17]

After the February 1986 reshuffle, including the failure of FitzGerald to move Barry Desmond from the Department of Health and having misinformed the Dáil about the resignation of ministers of state who were subsequently sacked, Charles Haughey sought to move a motion of no confidence in the government. This was debated as a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach, proposed by Tánaiste Dick Spring.^[32] The motion of confidence was carried on 21 February 1986 by a vote of 82 to 77.^[33]

In June 1986, Joseph Bermingham had resigned from the Labour Party, leaving the coalition parties in a minority.^[34] In October 1986, moved a motion of no confidence in the government. This was debated as a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the government, proposed by Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald.^[35] The motion of confidence was carried on 23 October 1986 by a vote of 83 to 81.^[36] Bermingham voted with the government; Seán Treacy, who had resigned from Labour in February 1985, voted with the opposition.

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The "republican crusade" flagged by Garret Fitzgerald when he was previously in government in 1981 was progressed with some changes in policy on Northern Ireland and social issues.