IN 1946, the Taoiseach, Mr Eamon de Valera, decided to set up two new Departments, those of Health and Social Welfare. He appointed Dr Jim Ryan as minister for both.
Dr Ryan prepared a Bill which, among other measures, proposed providing free medical care for mothers and children to the age of 16. The medical profession was immediately upset. It would reduce drastically the number of private patients.
In September 1947, the Catholic Hierarchy wrote privately to Mr de Valera, saying the Bill was "entirely contrary to Catholic social teaching. . . and the rights of the medical profession".
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Charles McQuaid, the son of a doctor, had an exalted view of the professions, a view shared by the Bishop of Galway, Dr Michael Browne, particularly where doctors were concerned.
The Fianna Fail government fell before making further progress on the Bill. In February 1948, the State's first coalition was elected, with Mr John A Costello as Taoiseach. Dr Noel Browne, then 32, was appointed Minister for Health.
In 1950, Dr Browne decided to reactivate his predecessor's Bill. Again it was opposed by the hierarchy. In October 1950, the Bishop of Ferns, Dr James Staunton, secretary to the hierarchy, wrote to Mr Costello, saying the scheme was in direct opposition to the rights of the family and the individual. It would "constitute a ready made instrument for future totalitarian aggression".
Behind the bishops thinking lay a deep ideological distrust of the state as a secular institution and a determination to limit, if not roll back, its "socialist" powers.
Following a meeting with three bishops on the matter in October 1950, including Dr McQuaid, Dr Browne was convinced he had allayed their anxieties. In March 1951, he pushed ahead with the Bill. The bishops again denounced it. Dr Browne was isolated at Cabinet and resigned on April 11th, 1951.
An Irish Times leader commented that the Catholic church "would seem to be the effective government of the country".
Mr Costello retorted: "I, as a good Catholic, obey my Church authorities and will continue to do so in spite of The Irish Times or anything else."
The government fell in June 1951, in a row over the price of milk. Fianna Fail returned to power. Dr Jim Ryan was again appointed Minister for Health. In 1953, he reactivated the mother and child Bill. Again the bishops opposed it.
Dr Ryan introduced what was described as a modest means test and other minor concessions. The bishops and doctors grudgingly assented to the Bill. It became law.
