Fianna Fail In Power Leaving Cert History

Would Transition be peaceful? FF went into the Dáil with guns in their pockets. However Cosgrave had instructed the army and the Garda to accept their new masters. Dev did not sack public servants that had been loyal to C na G.

The IRA and the ACA Dev released IRA prisoners and lifted the article 2A ban. He gave pensions to anti-treaty IRA. Some were recruited into a special Garda force under Eamon Broy (‘Broy’s Harriers’) IRA began to break up C na G meetings. The Army Comrades Association was set up to protect these meetings. When O Duffy was forced to resign as Garda Commissioner, he became its leader.

The Blueshirts O Duffy changed the name to the National Guard. Blue shirts, Fascist salute, emphasis on sport. Membership was restricted to people of Irish birth or Irish parents. Not overtly anti-Semitic. Departments to be replaced by ‘vocational groups’ 1933 O Duffy announced a parade outside Leinster house. The IRA would try to attack it and riots would ensue. Dev banned the march and O Duffy obeyed the law.

The IRA was armed and Dev had ordered all TDs to hand in their guns. The other parties feared this was a start of a dictatorship. They decided to combine. C na G, the National Guard and the National Centre Party became Fine Gael in 1933. O Duffy was the leader. ‘Broy’s harriers’began to arrest Blueshirts for even the most minor offences. Farmers were refusing to pay rates because of falling prices. Broy’s harriers seized their animals. Blueshirts got into fights with these Gardaí. O Duffy encouraged farmers not to pay rates (illegal) O Duffy began to talk about invading the North. These embarrassed other Fine Gael leaders and they replaced O Duffy with Cosgrave.

Dev and the IRA Pensions, releasing them from jail and dismantling the treaty won many IRA over. Hardliners continued to cause trouble. There were several murders in 1935 and 1936. 1936 Dev banned them. Democracy was safe.

Confirming Democracy: Bunreacht na hÉireann Dev had removed the Oath and the Governor general and the Senate. It was time for a new constitution. It is largely Dev’s own work. Main points: Eire or Ireland instead of free state. Articles 2 and 3 laid claim to Northern Ireland. President: head of state (therefore a republic, though not in name); 7 years; mainly ceremonial; refer bills to Supreme court. Oireachtas: Dáil Éireann (5 years PR). Seanad (selected by local authorities, the taoiseach and the NUI. Taoiseach, tánaiste and cabinet. Civil rights enshrined. Freedom of religion but ‘special position of the Catholic Church’. Under pressure from Archbishop McQuaid to do more. The ban on divorce. Seemed to try to reduce the status of women by suggesting that their position in the home was of paramount importance.

Bunreacht na hÉireann In spite of opposition of women’s groups the constitution was passed with a small majority. Douglas Hyde became president. Assessment of Dev’s Constitution: For the time, largely liberal and democratic with exception of divorce, women and the Catholic Church. Did not use the word ‘republic’ to leave the way open for an end to partition. Yet, articles 2 and 3 satisfied republicans. Too much detail, unnecessary for a constitution, caused controversy.

Why did Ireland’ new democracy succeed while it was failing elsewhere? Under Britain we had got used to elections and parliament It was what the leaders had fought for With the North gone there was no significant minority to cause conflict. Good standard of education needed for civil service and legal system was in place