Michael O'Leary (politician)
Michael O'Leary | |
|---|---|
Government of Ireland | |
| Appointed by | Mary Robinson |
| Tánaiste | |
| In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | George Colley |
| Succeeded by | Ray MacSharry |
| Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 17 June 1981 – 1 November 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Cluskey |
| Succeeded by | Dick Spring |
| Minister for Energy | |
| In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | George Colley |
| Succeeded by | Albert Reynolds |
| Minister for Labour | |
| In office 14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977 | |
| Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave |
| Preceded by | Joseph Brennan |
| Succeeded by | Gene Fitzgerald |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office November 1982 – February 1987 | |
| Constituency | Dublin South-West |
| In office June 1981 – November 1982 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Central |
| In office April 1965 – June 1981 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North-Central |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 1979 – 1 July 1981 | |
| Constituency | Dublin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 May 1936 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 11 May 2006 (aged 70) Saint-Sever-de-Rustan, France |
| Resting place | Saint-Sever Abbey, Landes, France |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Other political affiliations | Labour Party (until 1982) |
| Spouse |
Mary O'Leary (m. 1965) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Presentation Brothers College, Cork |
| Alma mater | |
Michael O'Leary (8 May 1936 – 11 May 2006) was an Irish judge, politician and barrister who served as a Judge of the District Court from 1997 to 2006, Tánaiste and Minister for Energy from 1981 to 1982, Leader of the Labour Party from 1981 to 1982 and Minister for Labour from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1965 to 1987.[1] He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1979 to 1981.
He resigned from the Labour Party in 1982 to join Fine Gael.
Early life
O'Leary was born in Cork in 1936, [2] the son of a publican. He was educated at Presentation College, University College Cork, Columbia University, and King's Inns. On returning to Ireland, he became involved in the Labour Party and was employed as Education Officer for the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU). In this role he was instrumental in establishing the Universities Branch, affiliated to Dublin North-Central constituency, bringing together Labour Party students of the Dublin University Fabian Society in Trinity College Dublin and of University College Dublin.
Political career
O'Leary was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party TD for Dublin North-Central at the 1965 general election.[3] His agent was Bob Mitchell, Chairman of Dublin University Fabian Society, who could claim credit in a dirty campaign for picking up transfers to squeeze out the Labour Party front-runner on the 11th recount.
When he was first elected to the Dáil, O'Leary encouraged the Labour Party to take a more left-wing stance in its policies. He was initially strongly opposed to the idea of a
In 1977, he was narrowly defeated by Frank Cluskey for the leadership of the party. O'Leary was elected to the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency in 1979.
Cluskey resigned as Labour Party leader when he lost his Dáil seat at the
In 1985, O'Leary introduced a private member's bill on divorce which preceded the government's own 1986 divorce referendum.
When the Progressive Democrats were formed in 1985 he considered joining, but remained with Fine Gael.
He did not contest the 1987 general election and afterwards he moved back to Cork and practised as a barrister. He was elected as a Fine Gael member of Cork City Council at the 1991 local elections. He unsuccessfully contested the 1992 general election in Cork North-Central and received about 2% of the valid poll.[7]
He was appointed a
Death
O'Leary died in France in May 2006, following a drowning accident in a swimming pool.[7] He was on holiday, having retired as a judge just days earlier.
References
- ^ "Michael O'Leary". Oireachtas Members Database. 25 November 1986. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ Maume, Patrick. "O'Leary, Michael". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "Michael O'Leary". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ Walsh, Dick (29 October 1982). "O'Leary gives up leadership and party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Joint statement by Dr Garret FitzGerald, TD, and Mr Michael O'Leary, TD". The Irish Times. 3 November 1982. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "O'Leary welcomed as member of Fine Gael". The Irish Times. 4 November 1982. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Former Tánaiste Michael O'Leary dies in France". RTÉ News. 12 May 2006. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
External links
- Personal profile of Michael O'Leary in the European Parliament's database of members