Clann na Poblachta was a political party founded in 1946 by republican activists, Seán MacBride, Noel Hartnett, Jack McQuillan and Michael Kelly. Its leader was Seán MacBride and it quickly established a strong presence in the political arena of the day. It won 13.2% of the 1948 general election and joined the first inter-party government with Fine Gael, Clann na Talmhan and the Labour Party. There was internal dissension, however, between MacBride and one of his ministers, Dr Noel Browne, Minister for Health, over the 'Mother and Child Scheme'. Browne's scheme brought him into conflict with the Catholic hierarchy and MacBride would not support him. After Browne's resignation and the resulting fallout, the party never recovered its position, although it continued to contest elections until 1965.