 The provisions of the Treaty required the formation of a "new" government, which would be recognised by Westminster as pertaining to the Free State dominion that had been established by the Treaty.Despite the abdication of a large part of the Dáil, the Provisional Government (Rialtas Sealadach na hÉireann) was formed by Arthur Griffith as President and Michael Collins as Chairman of the Cabinet (effectively Prime Minister).Collins retained his position as Minister for Finance.