Origins
The idea of Extern Ministers was first mooted as a way of placating Anti-Treaty Irish republicans. It would have allowed them from outside the Oireachtas to hold ministries without having to take the mandatory Oath of Allegiance required of members of both houses. However British objections to the proposal led to the toning down of the posts, with they being made appointees of the Governor-General to bring them into the monarchical symbolism prevalent in the final version of the Irish Free State Constitution enacted in both the Irish and British parliaments.
Nevertheless, as introduced, it still was hoped that Extern Ministers might be independent non-party figures, possibly non-politicians, who were not even members of Oireachtas Éireann.
Read more about this topic: Extern Minister
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