The 3rd Dáil was elected at the 1922 general election on 16 June and met on 9 September. On its formation, it was a Constituent Assembly in a Provisional Parliament. From 6 December 1922, Dáil Éireann was one of two houses of the Oireachtas in the Irish Free State, sitting with the First Seanad constituted as the 1922 Seanad. Members of the Dáil are known as TDs. The 3rd Dáil was dissolved by Governor-General Tim Healy on 9 August 1923, at the request of the President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave. The 3rd Dáil lasted days.
Composition of the 3rd Dáil
- 2nd provisional government, 1st Executive Council
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
!colspan=2|Party
!June 1922
!Aug. 1923
!class"unsortable"|Change
|-
| style="background-color: " |
|style="background-color:#DAEFF2" | Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty)
|style="background-color:#DAEFF2" align="center"| 58
|
|style="background-color:#DAEFF2" align="center"|
|-
|
|align="center"| 36
|align="center"| 30
|align="center"| 6
|-
| style="background-color: " |
|Labour
|align="center"| 17
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| 1
|-
|
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"|
|-
|
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"|
|-
|
|
|align="center"| 51
|align="center"| 51
|-
|
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| 1
|-
|
|
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 1
|-
|
|
|align="center"| 12
|align="center"| 12
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
! colspan="3" align="center" | 128
|}
Opposed to the Free State, the Anti-Treaty TDs did not take their seats. This made a functional majority of only 46 seats and left Labour as the main opposition party.
Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin formed a Dáil ministry when the 3rd Dáil met on 9 September 1922. On 6 December 1922, the Irish Free State came into being, and on that date, Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin formed the 1st executive council of the Irish Free State, led by W. T. Cosgrave as President of the Executive Council. It formed the Cumann na nGaedheal party in April 1923.
Graphical representation
This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 3rd Dáil from June 1922. This was not an official seating plan.
290px
- Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) is shown on the right.
- Sinn Féin (Anti-Treaty) is shown on the left, though they did not take their seats.
Ceann Comhairle
On 9 September 1922, Michael Hayes (SF) was proposed by Ernest Blythe (SF) and seconded by Patrick Hogan (SF) for the position of Ceann Comhairle, and was approved without a vote. Pádraic Ó Máille (SF) was proposed by Piaras Béaslaí (SF) and seconded by Liam de Róiste (SF) for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and also approved without a vote.
On 6 December 1922, when the Dáil first met under the new constitution, Hayes was proposed by W. T. Cosgrave (SF) and seconded by Thomas Johnson (Lab) for the position of Ceann Comhairle, and was approved without a vote. Ó Máille was proposed as Leas-Cheann Comhairle by George Nicolls (SF) and seconded by Seán McGarry (SF), and also approved without a vote.
Oath
The Ceann Comhairle administered the Oath of Allegiance as required under Article 17 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922. Thomas Johnson, leader of the Labour Party, read a statement on behalf of the party's representatives explaining the context of their taking the oath.
TDs by constituency
The list of the 128 TDs elected is given in alphabetical order by Dáil constituency.
Changes
No by-elections were held for vacancies during the 3rd Dáil.