REVISION 1. Who did Fianna Fáil have to rely on to form a government in 1951?
2. What were the successes and failures of the Fianna Fáil government of 1951–1954? 3. Who were the members of the second inter-party government? 4. What attempts did Gerard Sweetman make to restore the economy, and was he successful?
5. When T.K. Whitaker was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Finance, what criticisms did he make of the government’s economic policies?
6. What impact did the British devaluation of the pound sterling have on the Irish currency? 7. In your own words, what was the significance of T.K. Whitaker’s Economic Development? 8. Who was the Fianna Fáil Minister for Finance in 1957?
9. In your opinion, did Seán Lemass becoming Taoiseach in 1959 prove to be a positive development for Ireland’s economy?
10. What were the goals of the First Programme for Economic Expansion, 1958–1963?
11. Describe the measures taken by the government to encourage foreign investment during the 1960s.
12. What changes occurred in employment during the 1960s? 13. Briefly describe the results of the First Programme for Economic Expansion. 14. What changes occurred in Irish exports in the early 1960s?
HIGHER LEVEL
1. What was the contribution of T.K. Whitaker and/or Seán Lemass to economic change in Ireland? (2009)
2. Is the term ‘wasted years’ a fair description of the period 1949–1959 in the Republic of Ireland? Give reasons for your answer. (2013)
3. How effective was Seán Lemass as Taoiseach in his management of internal and external affairs? (2010)
4. What were the main social and economic challenges facing Ireland in the period 1949–1959? (2008)
ORDINARY LEVEL 1. Write a detailed paragraph about Ireland’s economy in the early 1950s. 2. What were the aims of the First Programme for Economic Expansion, 1958–1963? (2008) 3. Write a paragraph on T.K. Whitaker. (2011) 4. How did T.K. Whitaker contribute to economic development in Ireland? (2012)
