1.
Erskine Hamilton Childers
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Erskine Hamilton Childers was an Irish politician who served as the fourth President of Ireland from 25 of June 1973 until his death on 17 November 1974. He was a Teachta Dála from 1938 until 1973, Childers served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Minister for Lands, Minister for Transport and Power, and Minister for Health. He was appointed Tánaiste in 1969 and his father Robert Erskine Childers, a leading Irish republican and author of the espionage thriller The Riddle of the Sands, was executed during the Irish Civil War. Childers was born in the Embankment Gardens, London, to a Protestant family originally from Glendalough and his mother, Mary Alden Childers was a Bostonian whose ancestors arrived on the Mayflower. Childers was educated at Greshams School, Holt, and the University of Cambridge, before his execution, in a spirit of reconciliation, the older Childers obtained a promise from his son to seek out and shake the hand of every man who had signed the death warrant. After attending his fathers funeral, Childers returned to Greshams, then two years later he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, after finishing his education, Childers worked for a period in a tourism board in Paris. In 1931, Éamon de Valera invited him to work for de Valeras recently founded newspaper, The Irish Press and he became a naturalised Irish citizen in 1938. That same year, he was first elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Athlone–Longford and he would remain in the Dáil Éireann until 1973, when he resigned to become President. Childers joined the cabinet in 1951 as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in the de Valera government, erskines period as a minister was controversial. One commentator described his career as spectacularly unsuccessful. Others praised his willingness to make tough decisions, Childers was nominated by Fianna Fáil at the behest of de Valera, who pressured Jack Lynch in the selection of the presidential candidate. He was a nominee, owing not only to his British birth and upbringing. Childers, though 67, quickly gained a reputation as a vibrant, extremely hard-working president, however, he had a strained relationship with the incumbent government, led by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael. Childers had campaigned on a platform of making the more open and hands-on. He refused to co-operate with Childers first priority upon taking office, Childers considered resigning from the presidency, but was convinced to remain by Cosgraves Foreign Minister, Garret FitzGerald. Prevented from transforming the presidency as he desired, Childers instead threw his energy into a schedule of official visits and speeches. On 17 November 1974, just after making a speech to the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin and he died the same day at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. He was buried in the grounds of the Church of Ireland Derralossary church in Roundwood, childerss widow, Rita, shared her late husbands widespread personal popularity
2.
European Commissioner
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A European Commissioner is a member of the 28-member European Commission. Each Member within the Commission holds a portfolio, and the Commission is led by the President of the European Commission. In simple terms they are the equivalent of national ministers, each Commissioner is first nominated by their member state in consultation with the Commission President, although the President holds little practical power to force a change in candidate. The more capable the candidate is, the likely the Commission President will assign them a powerful portfolio. The Presidents team is subject to hearings at the European Parliament which will question them. If members of the team are found to be inappropriate, the President must then reshuffle the team or request a new candidate from the state or risk the whole Commission being voted down. As Parliament cannot vote against individual Commissioners there is usually a compromise whereby the worst candidates are removed, once the team is approved by parliament, it is formally put into office by the European Council. It should be noted however that although Members of the Commission are allocated between member-states they do not represent their states, instead they are supposed to act in European interests. Normally a member-state will nominate someone of the political party as that which forms the government of the day. Partly due to the selection procedure, only 9 of the current 28 Members are women. Peter Mandelson was the first openly gay Commissioner, the first female Commissioners were Christiane Scrivener and Vasso Papandreou in the 1989 Delors Commission. European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek proposed in 2010 that Commissioners be directly elected and that would give them individually, and the body as a whole, a democratic mandate. Each Member is required to take an oath before the Court of Justice of the European Union, as of December 2009, the Charter of Fundamental Rights has gained legal force and Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has proposed that Commissioners should swear to uphold it also. The second Barroso Commission went to the Court of Justice on 3 May 2010 for the first such oath alongside their usual oath. I formally note the undertaking of each Member State to respect this principle, until 2004, the larger member states received two Commissioners and the smaller states received one. Nice also specified that once the number of members reached 27 then the number of Commissioners should be reduced to less than the number of Member States. The exact number of Commissioners would have to be decided by a vote of the European Council. Following the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in January 2007, this took effect for the following commission
3.
Jack Lynch
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John Mary Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office, from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. Lynch was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for Cork in 1948 and he previously served as Minister for Finance, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Minister for Education, Minister for the Gaeltacht and as a Parliamentary Secretary. He was the leader of Fianna Fáil from 1966 until 1979. Lynch was the last Fianna Fáil leader to secure a majority in the Dáil. Historian and journalist T. Ryle Dwyer has called him the most popular Irish politician since Daniel OConnell, before his political career Lynch had a successful sporting career as a dual player of Gaelic games. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1936 until 1950, Lynch also played Gaelic football with his local club St Nicholas and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1936 until 1946. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest dual players of all-time, in a senior inter-county hurling career that lasted for fourteen years he won five All-Ireland titles, seven Munster titles, three National Hurling League titles and seven Railway Cup titles. In a senior inter-county football career lasted for ten years Lynch won one All-Ireland title. Lynch was later named at midfield on the Hurling Team of the Century, John Mary Lynch was born on 15 August 1917, just yards from the famous Shandon bells and St. Annes in Cork City. The youngest of five boys, with two girls born after him, Jack, as he was known, was regarded as the wild boy of the family. He was educated at St. Vincents Convent on Peacock Lane, and later at the famous North Mon, when Lynch was just thirteen years old his mother died suddenly. Lynch, who had particularly close to his mother, was deeply affected by her death. His aunt, who herself had a family of six, stepped in to look after the family in time of great upheaval for them. Lynch sat his Leaving Certificate in 1936, after which he moved to Dublin and worked with the Dublin District Milk Board, Lynch began working at the Cork Circuit Court as a clerk while still only nineteen years old. His work in the court ignited his interest in law and in 1941 he began a course at University College Cork studying law. After two years in UCC he moved to Dublin to complete his studies at Kings Inns, while continuing his studies he started work with the Department of Justice. In 1945 Lynch was called to the Bar and had to decide whether to remain in his Civil Service job or practice as a barrister, Lynch made the decision to move back to Cork and began a private practice on the Cork Circuit. It was in 1943, while on holidays in Glengariff, West Cork, that Lynch met his wife, Máirín OConnor
4.
Taoiseach
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The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The current Taoiseach is Enda Kenny, TD, who was appointed on 9 March 2011, on 10 March 2016, at the first sitting of the 32nd Dáil, Kenny failed to gain the support of the house and tendered his resignation to the President. He remained in office in a capacity until being re-elected on 6 May 2016. The word means chieftain or leader in Irish and was adopted in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland as the title of the head of the Government, Taoiseach is the official title of the head of government in both English and Irish. Outside of Ireland, the Taoiseach is often referred to as the Prime Minister of Ireland, under the Constitution of Ireland, the Taoiseach is nominated by a simple majority of Dáil Éireann from among its members. He/she is then appointed to office by the President, who is required to appoint whomever the Dáil designates. For this reason, it is said that the Taoiseach is elected by Dáil Éireann. The Taoiseach may lose the support of Dáil Éireann by the passage of a vote of no confidence, or the failure of a vote of confidence, or alternatively, the Dáil may refuse supply. In the event of the Taoiseachs resignation, he/she continues to exercise the duties, the Taoiseach nominates the remaining members of the Government, who are then, with the consent of the Dáil, appointed by the President. The Taoiseach also has authority to advise the President to dismiss cabinet ministers from office, advice the President is required to follow by convention, the Taoiseach is further responsible for appointing eleven members of the Seanad. The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department which supports, since 2013, the Taoiseachs annual salary is €185,350. It was cut from €214,187 to €200,000 when Kenny took office, a proposed increase of €38,000 in 2007 was deferred when Brian Cowen became Taoiseach and in October 2008, the government announced a 10% salary cut for all ministers, including the Taoiseach. However this was a cut and the salaries remained nominally the same with ministers. This courted controversy in December 2009 when a cut of 20% was based on the higher figure before the refused amount was deducted. The Taoiseach is also allowed an additional €118,981 in annual expenses, there is no official residence of the Taoiseach. The house, which part of the Farmleigh estate acquired by the State in 1999 for €29. 2m, was renovated at a cost of nearly €600,000 in 2005 by the Office of Public Works. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern did not use it as a residence, the words Taoiseach and Tánaiste are both from the Irish language and of ancient origin. Though the Taoiseach is described in the Constitution of Ireland as the head of the Government or Prime Minister, Tánaiste in turn refers to the system of tanistry, the Gaelic system of succession whereby a leader would appoint an heir apparent while still living
5.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
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The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. The Ministers office is located at Iveagh House, on St Stephens Green in Dublin, from 1922 until 1971 the title of the office was Minister for External Affairs. The current office holder is Charles Flanagan, TD, Anglo-Irish Division – deals with Anglo-Irish relations and Northern Ireland. Cultural Division – administers the states Cultural Relations Programme, European Union Division – coordinates the states approach within the European Union. Development Cooperation Division – responsible for the Irish Aid programme and for Irish international development policy, passport and Consular Division – is responsible for the issuing of passports to Irish citizens. Political Division – is responsible for political issues and manages the states participation in the EUs Common Foreign. Protocol Division – is responsible for the organisation and management of visits of VIPs to the state, the Minister has responsibility for the relations between Ireland and foreign states. Irish cabinets since 1919 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
6.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the senior minister at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Government of Ireland. Historically, the portfolio has gone under a number of different names. The current Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is Michael Creed, monitoring and controlling aspects of food safety. Control and audit of public expenditure under its control, regulation of the agriculture, fisheries and food industries through national and EU law. Monitoring and controlling animal and plant health and animal welfare, monitoring and direction of state bodies engaged in the following areas, Research training and advice. Direct provision of services to agriculture, food, fisheries. Irish cabinets since 1919 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
7.
Patrick Hillery
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Patrick John Hillery was an Irish politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, during this time he served as Minister for Education, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Minister for Labour and Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 1973 he was appointed Irelands first European Commissioner, serving until 1976 when he became President, Patrick John Hillery, more popularly known as Paddy Hillery, was born in Spanish Point, County Clare in 1923. The son of Michael Joseph Hillery, a doctor, and Ellen McMahon. At third level Hillery attended University College Dublin where he qualified with a degree in medicine, upon his conferral in 1947 he returned to his native town where he followed in his father’s footsteps as a doctor. Hillery’s medical career in the 1950s saw him serve as a member of the National Health Council and he also spent a year working as coroner for West Clare. Hillery married Maeve Finnegan on 27 October 1955, together they had a son, John, and a daughter, Vivienne, who died after a long illness in 1987, shortly before her eighteenth birthday. The election resulted in a return to power for Fianna Fáil and he remained on the backbenches for almost a decade, before finally becoming a minister following de Valeras retirement as Taoiseach in 1959. The new Taoiseach, Seán Lemass, began the process of retiring de Valeras ministers, key among this new breed of politician was Hillery who became Minister for Education in 1959, succeeding Jack Lynch in that post. As Minister for Education, Hillery was responsible for innovative thinking in a department which would become very important under Lemasss leadership. In 1963 he made a policy speech in which he outlined many of the educational reforms that were to be introduced over the next decade. These included increased educational opportunities for many, the establishment of schools and Regional Technical Colleges. As Minister for Education, Hillery laid the groundwork for successive ministers to advance the reforms, while Donogh OMalley has received much of the credit for introducing free education it was in fact Hillery who laid much of the groundwork before this landmark announcement. In 1965 Hillery succeeded Lynch again by taking over as Minister for Industry and this department was considered one of the most important in kick-starting Irelands economy. Hillery only remained in position for just over a year, becoming the countrys first Minister for Labour in 1966. This new department had been a dream of Lemasss for several years, Lemass resigned as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil in November 1966, a shock to many of his political friends. Hillery was invited by Lemass to allow his name to go forward for the leadership of the party, however, he declined explaining that he had no interest. Many historians have suggested that Hillery was Lemasss first choice to succeed him, however others have said that the Lemass pecking order went as follows, Jack Lynch, Hillery and George Colley
8.
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
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The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs was a senior post in the government of the Irish Free State and Ireland from 1924 to 1984, when the post and the department were abolished. The office of Minister for Posts and Telegraphs was created in the Ministers and Secretaries Act,1924 and it assumed the role in the Irish Free State of that formerly exercised by the Postmaster General of the United Kingdom. Legislation of 1831 had amalgamated the offices of Postmaster General of Great Britain and Postmasters General of Ireland, at its height time the department was one of the largest civil service departments in Ireland. The reform of the sector and department began in 1978 with the creation of the Posts and these two boards continued to sit until An Post and Telecom Éireann, respectively, replaced them. These state-sponsored bodies were created in 1984, as a result, the number of civil service employees nearly halved overnight because of the transfer of personnel
9.
Fine Gael
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Fine Gael is a liberal-conservative and Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the governing and largest party in Ireland in terms of members of the Oireachtas, Kenny has led the party since 2002. Fine Gael was founded on 8 September 1933 following the merger of its parent party Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party and the National Guard. Its origins lie in the struggle for Irish independence and the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War and Michael Collins, Fine Gael is generally considered to be more of a proponent of market liberalism than its traditional rival, Fianna Fáil. However, apart from brief minority governments, Fine Gael has rarely governed Ireland without a coalition also included the Labour Party. Fine Gael describes itself as a party of the centre which it defines as acting in a way that is right for Ireland. It lists its values as equality of opportunity, free enterprise and reward, security, integrity. It is strongly in favour of the European Union and opposed to physical force Irish republicanism, the partys youth wing, Young Fine Gael, was formed in 1977, and has approximately four thousand members. Fine Gael is a member of the European Peoples Party. In 1923 this faction formally separates to become Cumann na nGaedheal and it rules as a minority government until 1932 when it’s replaced by a Fianna Fáil minority government with support from the Labour Party. 1933, It becomes Fine Gael also merging with two groups, the National Centre Party and the National Guard. 1937, It campaigns against the enactment of a new constitution proposed by Fianna Fáil advocating a no vote in the referendum, 1948–51, It forms part of Ireland’s first coalition government also including the Labour Party, Clann na Poblachta, Clann na Talmhan and the National Labour Party. 1954–57, It takes part in a three-party coalition government with the Labour Party,1972, It supported the campaign for a yes vote in the referendum to join the European Communities, voters approved of this proposal in the referendum. Both amendments were approved by voters in referenda, 1973–77, It takes part in a two-party coalition government with the Labour Party. Both amendments were approved by voters in referenda, 1981–82, It takes part in a two-party minority coalition government with the Labour Party. 1982-87, It takes part in a two-party coalition government with the Labour Party,1984, It proposed and supported the campaign for a yes vote for a constitutional amendment to extend the voting franchise to allow votes for non-citizens who are residents. This amendment was approved by voters in the referendum,1986, It proposed and supported the campaign for a yes for a constitutional amendment to make divorce constitutional. This amendment was rejected by voters in the referendum,1987, It supported the campaign for a yes vote for a constitutional amendment permitting the state to ratify the Single European Act
