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The Vice-President of the Executive Council (Irish: Leas-Uachtarán na hArd-Chomhairle) was the deputy head of government of the 1922–1937 Irish Free State, and the second most senior member of the Executive Council (cabinet). Formally the Vice-President was appointed by the Governor-General on the "nomination" of the President of the Executive Council, but by convention the Governor General could not refuse to appoint a Vice-President who the President had selected.

Under Article 53 of the Free State constitution the role of the Vice President was to "act for all purposes in the place of the President", until the appointment of a successor in the event of his death, resignation or "permanent incapacity", or until his return in the event of his "temporary absence". However in practice the Vice President also held a second ministerial portfolio the duties of which he carried out when not called upon to become acting head of government. The Vice President could not be dismissed by the President. Rather, as was the case with all other cabinet ministers, for him to be removed from office the entire cabinet had to be dismissed and reformed en bloc.

The office of Vice President of the Executive Council was established with the establishment of the Free State in 1922. Neither of the two administrations that preceded the Free State, the Ministry of the Irish Republic and the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland, included an office corresponding to deputy prime minister. In 1937, when the new Constitution of Ireland came into force, the office of Vice-President of the Executive Council was replaced with that of Tánaiste.

[edit] List of office-holders

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Other ministerial offices held whilst in post
	Kevin O'Higgins		6 December 1922	10 July 1927	Cumann na nGaedhael	Minister for Justice (1922–27)
	Ernest Blythe		14 July 1927	9 March 1932	Cumann na nGaedhael	Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1927–32)
	Seán T. O'Kelly		9 March 1932	29 December 1937	Fianna Fáil	Minister for Local Government and Public Health (1932–37)
Position replaced by Tánaiste of Ireland in December 1937

[edit] See also

• History of the Republic of Ireland

v • d • e Irish Free State Saorstát Éireann Anglo-Irish Treaty · Provisional Government · Constitution of the Irish Free State · Statute of Westminster · Great Seal of the Irish Free State · Monarchy in the Irish Free State Executive King · Governor-General · President of the Executive Council · Vice-President of the Executive Council · Executive Council · Extern Minister · Ministers and Secretaries Act · His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State Legislative Oireachtas of the Irish Free State (made up of the King, Dáil Éireann & Seanad Éireann) · Royal Assent · Ceann Comhairle · Cathaoirleach · Oath of Allegiance · Governor-General's Address to the Oireachtas Judiciary Supreme Court · High Court · Chief Justice · Courts of Justice Act 1924 General elections 1922 · 1923 · 1927 (June) · 1927 (Sept) · 1932 · 1933 · 1937 See also External Relations Act · Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act · Constitution (Amendment No. 27) Act