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Gene FitzGerald
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gene FitzGerald (Irish: Eoghan Mac Gearailt; born August, 1932) is a former Irish politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) and a Member of the European Parliament for the Fianna Fáil party. FitzGerald also served as Minister for Labour and Minister for Finance.
Gene Fitzgerald was born in Crookstown, County Cork in August 1932. He was educated nearby in Cork at the Presentation Brothers College. FitzGerald was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election in 1972. He remained as a Fianna Fáil TD for the constituency of Cork South Central for 15 years. He was also involved in local politics, serving as a member of Cork County Council from 1974 until 1977. FitzGerald was also Vice-President of the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
FitzGerald was first appointed to the Irish Government in 1977 when he became Minister for Labour under Jack Lynch. He backed George Colley in the 1979 Fianna Fáil eadership contest but retained his office under the eventual victor, Charles Haughey. His appointment as Minister for Finance in 1980 caused some political commentators to be taken aback, particularly because of his political inexperience and also FitzGerald had never been named as a possible Finance Minister. From then on he backed Haughey in the leadership heaves of 1982. In Haughey's second government FitzGerald returned to the position of Minister for Labour.
FitzGerald contested the 1984 European Election for Munster and won a seat. He remained a TD until 1987 at which point he decided to concentrate on European politics instead of national politics. He was re-elected to the European Parliament in 1989. FitzGerald retired from politics in 1994, although he remains involved in the Fianna Fáil party as a Treasurer.
| Preceded by Michael O'Leary |
Minister for Labour 1977-1980 |
Succeeded by Tom Nolan |
| Preceded by Michael O'Kennedy |
Minister for Finance 1980–1981 |
Succeeded by John Bruton |
| Minister for the Public Service 1980–1981 |
Succeeded by Liam Kavanagh |
|
| Preceded by Liam Kavanagh |
Minister for Labour 1982 |
Succeeded by Liam Kavanagh |
| Minister for the Public Service 1982 |
Succeeded by John Boland |
Categories: 1932 births | Living people | Irish Fianna Fáil Party politicians | Irish Ministers for Finance | Members of the European Parliament from Ireland | People from County Cork | Former Teachtaí Dála | Members of the 19th Dáil | Members of the 20th Dáil | Members of the 21st Dáil | Members of the 22nd Dáil | Members of the 23rd Dáil | Members of the 24th Dáil