Michael O'Kennedy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael O'Kennedy CMG, S.C

Minister for Finance
Periods in office: 12 December 1979 – 16 December 1980
Predecessor(s)	George Colley
Successor(s)	Gene FitzGerald
Born	February, 1936 Nenagh, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil

Michael O'Kennedy CMG, S.C (Irish: Micheál Ó Cinnéide; born February, 1936) was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served in Seanad Éireann from 1965 until 1969 and again from 1992 until 1997. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1969 serving until 1992. He was re-elected again in 1997, serving until 2002.

Michael O'Kennedy was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary in February 1936. He was educated at St. Flannan's, Ennis, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and University College Dublin. He qualified as a barrister from King's Inns in Dublin and was appointed Senior Counsel twelve years later in 1973. In 1965 he was unsuccessful in his bid to win a Dáil seat for Fianna Fáil in Tipperary North. He was, however, appointed to Seanad Éireann. In 1969 he was elected to the Dáil Éireann and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education the following year. He was appointed to the government as Minister without Portfolio in 1972 before becoming Minister for Transport and Power in January 1973. His period as Minister was short-lived because Fianna Fáil lost power in March of the same year.

During Fianna Fáil's period in opposition O'Kennedy revealed his leadership aspirations. In 1975 he became associated with a hardline policy document regarding Northern Ireland. The document called for a withdrawal of the British Government from Northern Ireland. This was against the wishes of the party and was against Fianna Fáil party policy. In 1977 Fianna Fáil returned to power and O'Kennedy was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In 1979 Jack Lynch resigned as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil. Charles Haughey faced George Colley in the leadership contest to succeed Lynch. O'Kennedy was the only Cabinet Minister to publicly support Haughey for Taoiseach. Many believe that it was because of this support that Haughey was successful in becoming Taoiseach. O'Kennedy's loyalty was rewarded when he was appointed Minister for Finance in Haughey's first government. In 1981 O'Kennedy became Ireland's European Commissioner.

O'Kennedy returned to Ireland in 1982 to contest the general election. Haughey returned to power and O'Kennedy demanded a senior government position, however, his request was refused. Haughey did offer him the post of Attorney-General but O'Kennedy declined. As a result he was left out of the short-lived administration. In 1987 O'Kenendy returned to the Cabinet when he became Minister for Agriculture and Food.

O'Kennedy was an important part of the Haughey camp until Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach in 1992. O'Kennedy was one of the few Haughey-ites to remain in the government. He was appointed Minister for Labour in what was generally seen as a demotion. Worse was to come when he failed to retain his Dáil seat in the 1992 general election. He once again returned to Seanad Éireann. O'Kennedy was re-elected in the 1997 general election. That same year he sought the Fianna Fáil nomination for President of Ireland but only received a mediocre 21 votes out of a total of 112. After the 2002 general election he retired from national politics. He now works as a barrister and is a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by John Fanning	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Tipperary North 1969–1981	Succeeded by David Molony (Fine Gael)
Preceded by Michael Smith	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Tipperary North 1982–1992	Succeeded by John Ryan (Labour)
Preceded by John Ryan (Labour)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Tipperary North 1997–2002	Succeeded by Máire Hoctor
Political offices
Preceded by Bobby Molloy	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education 1970–1973	Succeeded by Jim Tunney
Preceded by -	Minister without Portfolio 1972–1973	Succeeded by -
Preceded by Brian Lenihan	Minister for Transport & Power Jan. 1973–Mar. 1973	Succeeded by Peter Barry
Preceded by Garret FitzGerald	Minister for Foreign Affairs 1977–1979	Succeeded by Brian Lenihan
Preceded by George Colley	Minister for Finance 1979–1980	Succeeded by Gene FitzGerald
	Minister for the Public Service 1979–1980
Preceded by Richard Burke	Irish European Commissioner 1981	Succeeded by Richard Burke
Preceded by Austin Deasy	Minister for Agriculture & Food 1987–1991	Succeeded by Joe Walsh
Preceded by Bertie Ahern	Minister for Labour 1991–1992	Succeeded by Brian Cowen