Dr. Noel Browne resigned as Minister for Health on April 22, 1951, amidst the controversy surrounding his proposed Mother and Child Scheme. His departure marked the climax of a significant political crisis, exposing deep-seated tensions between the Catholic Church and the state in post-independence Ireland. The scheme aimed to provide free healthcare for mothers and children, but faced strong opposition from medical professionals and the Church, ultimately leading to Browne's political downfall and a re-evaluation of state-church relations.
