3rd executive council of the Irish Free State
Executive Council of the Irish Free State
Date formed	23 June 1927
Date dissolved	11 October 1927
People and organisations
King	George V
Governor-General	Tim Healy
President of the Executive Council	W. T. Cosgrave
Vice-President of the Executive Council	Kevin O'Higgins (Jun.–Jul. 1927) Ernest Blythe (Jul.–Oct. 1927)
Total no. of members	10
Member party	Cumann na nGaedheal
Status in legislature	Minority Government
Opposition parties	Labour Party Fianna Fáil
Opposition leaders	Thomas Johnson (Jun.–Aug. 1927) (Lab) Éamon de Valera (Aug.–Oct. 1927) (FF)
History
Election	June 1927 general election
Legislature terms	5th Dáil 1st Seanad (1925–1928)
Predecessor	2nd executive council
Successor	4th executive council

The 3rd executive council of the Irish Free State (23 June 1927 – 11 October 1927) was formed after the June 1927 general election to the 5th Dáil held on 9 June 1927. It was led by W. T. Cosgrave, leader of Cumann na nGaedheal, as President of the Executive Council, who had led the government since August 1922. It lasted 110 days.

The 5th Dáil first met on 23 June 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 68 votes in favour and 22 against.^[1] Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.^[2]

23 June 1927 Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council[3] Motion proposed by James Murphy and seconded by Peadar Doyle Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Y Yes	Cumann na nGaedheal (44), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (13)	68 / 153
No	Labour Party (22)	22 / 153
Absent or Not voting	National League (8), Cumann na nGaedheal (2), Independents (1), Ceann Comhairle (1)	12 / 153
Abstentionist	Fianna Fáil (44), Sinn Féin (5), Independent (2)	51 / 153

The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the president and approved by the Dáil by a vote of 66 to 31.^[2] They were then appointed by the Governor General.^[4]

The Executive Council appointed Parliamentary secretaries on the nomination of the President. The first three were appointed on 24 June 1927.^[8]

After the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins on 10 July 1927, the Executive Council proposed the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill.^[9] This legislation provided for the disqualification for five years of any member of the Oireachtas who did not take the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in Article 17 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State. After this legislation had passed both houses, the TDs elected for Fianna Fáil led by Éamon de Valera took the oath and entered the Dáil for the first time since the 1922 general election.^[10]

On 16 August, Labour Party leader Thomas Johnson proposed a motion of no confidence in the Executive Council, which was defeated.^[11]

16 August 1927 Motion of no confidence in the Executive Council[12] Motion proposed by Thomas Johnson (Lab) and seconded by Hugh Colohan (Lab) Absolute majority: 77/153
Vote	Parties	Votes
Yes	Fianna Fáil (43), Labour Party (21), National League (6), Independent (1)	71 / 153
N No	Cumann na nGaedheal (45), Farmers' Party (11), Independents (15)	71 / 153
Absent	Labour Party (1), National League (1)	2 / 153
Vacant	2	2 / 153
Abstentionist	Sinn Féin (5), Independent (1)	6 / 153
Ceann Comhairle Michael Hayes exercised his casting vote against the motion.

On 24 August, Cumann na nGaedheal won two by-elections, and sought to capitalise on this success by calling a new general election seeking an increased mandated. The president sought a dissolution of the Dáil and a new election was held in September 1927.