He was one of a number of TDs and Senators who gathered in Dublin Airport to welcome Lynch home from the United States after the defendants had been found not guilty at the Arms Trial.

Faulkner was retained in the Cabinet until 1980 as Minister of Defence when he was elected Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.

It was rumoured by various political correspondents that George Colley insisted that he personally appoint the Ministers for Defence and Justice in the 1979 Cabinet.

In a Dáil career that spanned thirty years, his most notable achievements include the introduction of the legislation to establish two commercial semi-State companies, An Post and Telecom Éireann.

Faulkner, while Minister for Transport & Power, also oversaw part of the introduction of the Dublin Area Rapid Transport|DART network.