[5] After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Liam Cosgrave proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.

[13][14] On 14 March 1973, Declan Costello SC was appointed by the president as Attorney General on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

It removed the requirement that Irish be passed to obtain a Leaving Certificate; it also reformed the civil service by removing the requirement of knowledge in Irish and the mandatory retirement on marriage that many women faced during their civil service careers.

A free travel scheme was also introduced covering bus and rail services for all blind persons over the age of 21.

President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh referred the Emergency Powers Bill to the Supreme Court.

On 21 October, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion in the Dáil calling on the minister to resign, which was defeated.

[25] Ó Dálaigh viewed the refusal to remove the minister as an affront to his office by the government and resigned on 22 October 1976.