[1] This constitution provided for a cabinet consisting of a head of government, known as the Príomh Aire or President of Dáil Éireann, and four other ministers.
The Irish Republic modelled itself on the parliamentary system of government and so its cabinet was appointed by and answerable to the Dáil.
The Dáil could dismiss both the cabinet as a whole and individual ministers by passing a resolution.
[2][failed verification] For a brief period the members of this president's cabinet became known as "secretaries of state" rather than ministers.
When the Fourth ministry assumed office in 1922 after the approval of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, with Arthur Griffith as its head, cabinet members were once again described as ministers and Griffith adopted the title of President of Dáil Éireann.