Government of the 25th Dáil

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The 20th government of Ireland lasted from 10 March 1987 to 12 July 1989. It was led by Taoiseach Charles Haughey of Fianna Fáil. It was a minority government with limited support from Fine Gael in a arrangement known as the Tallaght Strategy. The president was Patrick Hillery and the Tánaiste was Brian Lenihan. The government had 15 ministers.

Key aims and actions
- Fianna Fáil ran the government with budget cuts across departments and changes to taxation. It passed three Finance Acts (1987, 1988 and 1989) to reform public finances.
- The government proposed the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Dublin and helped organise the 1,000-year anniversary of Dublin.

Starting and structure
- The 25th Dáil first met on 10 March 1987. In the vote for Taoiseach, Charles Haughey was elected with the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle after other candidates were defeated.
- Haughey formed the government and it was approved by the Dáil that day. John L. Murray was appointed Attorney General, and several Ministers of State were appointed on 10 March and 12 March 1987.

Notable events
- The government stopped a hostile takeover of Irish Distillers by Grand Metropolitan, with Albert Reynolds helping block it; the company later sold to Pernod Ricard.
- There were major industrial actions, including a 1,800-doctor strike over pay and job security, and a prison officers’ strike that required guards and soldiers to secure prisons.
- A large number of haemophiliacs were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products.
- Tensions in Northern Ireland continued as the IRA carried out and faced operations around the Anglo-Irish peace process, including the Loughgall ambush. Relations with Britain improved after the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and there were ongoing issues around the extradition of Paul Kane.

European and constitutional matters
- On 26 May 1987, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution was approved by referendum to allow Ireland to ratify the Single European Act.

End of government
- On 25 May 1989, the president dissolved the Dáil on the advice of Haughey. A general election was held on 15 June 1989.
- The 26th Dáil met on 26 June 1989 but failed to nominate a Taoiseach. Haughey resigned as Taoiseach on 29 June, though the government continued to operate until successors were appointed.
- The 21st government of Ireland was formed on 12 July 1989 as a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition, with Charles Haughey again serving as Taoiseach.