CUMANN NA nGAEDHEAL IN POWER 1923-1932

CUMANN NA nGAEDHEAL IN POWER 1923-1932 3rd Year History

Aims: Establish

law and order Rebuild the economy Manage relations with Britain

Law and Order        

Irish Free State member of Commonwealth Oireachtas: Dail and Seanad set up. Oath of Allegiance to King required. Governor General (Lived in Phoenix Park) Garda set up (unarmed) Courts (copied British Model) Public Safety Act (wide powers of arrest) The Army Mutiny (dissatisfaction with redundancy and progress to republic) Richard Mulcahy (defence) resigned and leaders arrested. Important to control army

The Economy     

Concentration on agriculture (loans to farmers, better breeding) Farmers Taxes kept low The Shannon Scheme (ESB) Little development of Irish industry. Poor still lived in slums and extreme poverty.

Relations with Britain  

The Boundary Commission 1931 Statute of Westminster (allowed members to change any laws made for them by the British parliament)

Reasons Decline of Cumann na nGaedhael  Blamed

for the failure of the Boundary Commission  Great Depression 1929 destroyed ecomony.  Cut in pay for teachers and garda  Cut old age pension.  Popularity of Fianna Fail