 Lynch introduced innovative legislation, such as raising the school leaving age; reducing school class sizes; removing a ban on married women working as teachers and allowing the Jewish skull cap to be worn but only from the age of 12.In 1959, Éamon de Valera was elected President of Ireland and Seán Lemass succeeded became Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader.Lynch was promoted to Lemass' old portfolio as Minister for Industry and Commerce.