Charles "Charlie" McCreevy, (Irish name: Cathal Mac Riabhaigh; born 30 September 1949) is an Irish politician. He is the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services portfolio since 2004. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1977 and held the seat in Kildare North until 2004 when he became Ireland's European Commissioner. ^[1] In successive governments he served as Minister for Social Welfare (1992–1993), Minister for Tourism & Trade (1993–1994) and Minister for Finance (1997–2004). Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (696x768, 129 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Charlie McCreevy User:GeeJo/Gallery Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Charlie McCreevy Barroso Commission, 2004 to 2009 European Commissioner for Internal Market & Services is a member of the European Commission. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Frits Bolkestein Frederik Bolkestein (born 4 April 1933 in Amsterdam; usually known as  ) is a Dutch politician and former EU Commissioner. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (Irish: ), commonly referred to as Fianna Fáil (IPA ; traditionally translated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though the actual meaning is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland[1]), is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... The Alliance for Europe of the Nations is a pan-European political party that gathers nationalist parties from across the continent. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... A formal Irish-language name consists of a given name and a surname, as in English. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive of the European Union. ... This article is about the current Irish body. ... Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (Irish: ), commonly referred to as Fianna Fáil (IPA ; traditionally translated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though the actual meaning is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland[1]), is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... A Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas or National Parliament. ... Kildare North is a constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. ...

Early life and career

Born in Sallins, County Kildare, McCreevy was educated locally at Naas CBS and at Gormanston Franciscan College. He studied Commerce at University College Dublin and went on to become a chartered accountant. Due to his modest family background (his father was a lock-keeper on the Grand Canal, a job carried on by his mother after the death of his father) his post-compulsory education was achieved through winning scholarships. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Naas Code: KE Area: 1,693 km² Population (2006) 186,075 Website: www. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference N893196 Statistics Province: Leinster County: Elevation: 114 m Population (2006) 20,044  Website: www. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin - more commonly University College Dublin (UCD) - is Irelands largest university, with over 20,000 students. ...

His political career began with his Kildare North victory in the 1977 landslide election and he has been re-elected at every subsequent election. Between 1979 and 1985 he was also elected as member of Kildare County Council. Kildare North is a constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. ... The Irish general election of 1977 was held on June 16, 1977. ...

Relationship with Charles Haughey

In the December 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest, McCreevy strongly supported the controversial Charles Haughey who narrowly won the post. However, in a time of severe budgetary difficulties for Ireland, McCreevy soon became disillusioned with the new Taoiseach and his fiscal policies. In October 1982 McCreevy launched a motion of no-confidence in the party leader, which evolved into a leadership challenge by Desmond O'Malley. In an open ballot and supported by only 21 of his 79 colleagues (known as the "Gang of 22"), the motion failed and McCreevy was temporarily expelled from the parliamentary party. In later years O'Malley was expelled from Fianna Fáil itself and formed the Progressive Democrats (PDs), espousing conservative fiscal policies. Although considered ideologically close to the PDs, and a personal friend of its erstwhile leader, Mary Harney, McCreevy chose to remain a member of Fianna Fáil, where he would eventually serve in joint FF-PD Governments. The 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in December 1979, when Jack Lynch resigned as party leader and Taoiseach. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Taoiseach (IPA: or ) — plural: Taoisigh ( or ), also referred to as An Taoiseach[1], is the head of government of Ireland or prime minister. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Desmond Joseph (Des) OMalley (Irish: ; born 2 February 1939), was a senior Fianna Fáil politician, the founder of the Progressive Democrats and the partys first leader (1985-1993). ... In Irish political history, the Gang of 22 was a group of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dálaí who were opposed to the leadership of Charles J. Haughey in the early 1980s. ... The Progressive Democrats (Irish An Páirtí Daonlathach, lit. ...

Early ministerial career

For his first 15 years as TD, while Haughey remained leader, McCreevy remained a backbencher. In 1992, Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach and McCreevy was appointed Minister for Social Welfare. In this role, he is principally remembered for a set of 12 cost-cutting measures, collectively termed the "dirty dozen", which were mostly minor in their direct impact but provided a major political headache for his party in the 1992 General Election. In 1993 he became Minister for Tourism & Trade, which he held until the government fell in December 1994. In opposition, and under new Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, McCreevy was named to the Front Bench as Spokesman for Finance. In this role he was viewed as actively pro-enterprise, anti-spending and a key advocate for tax cuts. A backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition. ... Albert Reynolds (born November 3, 1932), was the eighth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. ... The Minister for Social & Family Affairs is the chief person at the Department of Social & Family Affairs in the Irish Government. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the head of the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... Bartholomew Bertie Ahern (Irish: ;[1] born 12 September 1951) is an Irish politician who, since 26 June 1997, has served as the tenth Taoiseach of Ireland. ... The Opposition Front Bench is a group of senior opposition TDs in Dáil Éireann who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose members mark each individual member of the government. ... The Minister for Finance is the senior minister at the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) in the Irish Government. ...

Minister for Finance

In 1997, Fianna Fáil returned to power and McCreevy became Minister for Finance. His period coincided with the Celtic Tiger era which saw the rapid growth of the Irish economy. A consistent advocate of cutting taxes and spending, he then had an opportunity to implement these policies. In 1999 he announced the biggest give-away Budget in the history of the state. The dramatic cut in interest rates which preceded the joining of the Euro, combined with a tightening labour market and ax reductions led to siginificant increases in inflation. His 1999 budget also included individualisation measures to reduce the heavy tax wedge faced bin particular by married women who choose to work. However, couples on a similar income where one parent worked in the home would not see a similar reduction in their tax bill and following much public debate an extra tax allowance was introduced for stay-at-home spouses. It later emerged that his Tax Strategy group had advised against introducing individualisation due to reasons of cost rather than principle. The change is viewed as making a significant contribution to increased female participation in the workforce. The Minister for Finance is the senior minister at the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) in the Irish Government. ... Cartoon of the Celtic Tiger. ...

During his term in Finance, he made many changes to simplify the tax system and presided over Ireland's entry to Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union and later, the changeover to the Euro. In the early 2000s, when Irish economic growth fell back, he maintained strict control on growth in government spending. He maintained a significant primary surplus during his 7 years in Finance, while also implementing the tax-cutting programme, major increases in health, education and pension funding as well as increasing investment in infrastructural development to 5% of GNP. Unemployment was reduced from 10% to 4.4%. Real GDP growth across the full period represented by far the highest average of any western European country. In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... This article is about the first decade of the 21st century. ...

Frequently outspoken, McCreevy sometimes made comments^{[citation needed]} that were out-of-line with his party colleagues and attracted controversy. McCreevy once referred^{[citation needed]} to the Irish health system as a "black hole" and reacted to the initial Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty as good for democracy.^{[citation needed]}. He later explained this as reflecting a wake-up call to politicians and others who, like him, had expected an almost automatic Yes vote. Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Nice is a treaty adopted in Nice by the European Council to amend the two founding treaties of the European Union: the Treaty on European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, which introduced the Euro and the 3-pillar structure of the EU; the Treaty of...

European Commissioner

In 2004, McCreevy was selected by the Government to replace David Byrne as Ireland's European Commissioner. He was appointed to the Internal Market and Services portfolio by President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso. At his confirmation hearings in the European Parliament MEPs described^{[citation needed]} him as “fluent and relaxed” giving straightforward answers in a refreshing and engaging manner. He also informed them that he had campaigned for the ratification of every European Treaty since 1972. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... David Byrne (Born April 6, 1947) is an Irish barrister and EU Commissioner. ... Berlaymont, the Commissions seat The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive branch of the European Union. ... François-Xavier Ortoli, Romano Prodi, José Manuel Barroso and Jacques Delors The President of the European Commission is notionally the highest ranking unelected official within the European Union bureaucracy. ... José Manuel Duroso Barrão, GCC (pronounced: IPA,  ) (born in Lisbon, March 23, 1956) is a Portuguese politician and the 11th President of the European Commission. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild...

His approach to his portfolio is;^[2]

You will find me ready to meet, discuss, listen and argue on how best to deliver to our citizens the real benefits of an Internal Market. There are enormous challenges facing the EU in the coming period on which we all must find common ground. I want our policies to show that EU means something real and positive to the people in Europe

McCreevy's EU Services Sector Competition Directive, sets out to achieve full competition in the Services sector across the EU. This is rather difficult to implement in practical terms. It is also very unpopular politically in large countries with high unemployment rates like France, Germany and Italy. McCreevy's determination to push this through, did result in much conflict. McCreevy himself could not see why the level of competition sought in the directive needed to be compromised. McCreevy's viewpoint was that lack of competition was hurting consumers, more than any it was benefitting anybody.

His performance can be less than apt, in the interpretation of his role, in relation to those, to whom he is addressing.^[3]

Charlie McCreevy got a frosty reception from British businessmen at a dinner in London recently. Guest of honour at the Association of Corporate Treasurers’ annual dinner, attended by 1,500 financial types, McCreevy horribly misjudged his audience. British businessmen chafing at excessive EU red tape are not in the mood to hear about Brussels’ “light touch”, or that its regulations are “tip-top”, but that’s what McCreevy claimed.

Political career

The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party, usually referred to as Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicised to ; approximate English translation: Family/Tribe of the Irish, is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland with a membership of over 34,000, and is the largest opposition party in... Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (Irish: ), commonly referred to as Fianna Fáil (IPA ; traditionally translated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though the actual meaning is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland[1]), is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... A Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas or National Parliament. ... County Kildare Kildare is a former constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. ... Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (Irish: ), commonly referred to as Fianna Fáil (IPA ; traditionally translated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though the actual meaning is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland[1]), is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... A Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas or National Parliament. ... Kildare North is a constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. ... Catherine Murphy is an Irish Independent Teachta Dála (Member of Parliament). ... Brendan Daly (born February 2, Irish politician. ... The Minister for Social & Family Affairs is the chief person at the Department of Social & Family Affairs in the Irish Government. ... Dr. Michael Woods (born December 8, 1935) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is currently a Teachta Dála for Dublin North East. ... Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (born September 5, 1950) is a former Irish politician. ... The Minister for Transport is the chief person at the Department of Transport in the Irish Government. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the head of the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... Enda Kenny (Irish: ; born 24 April 1951), an Irish politician, is the 10th leader of the Fine Gael party and Leader of the Opposition in Dáil Éireann. ... Ivan Yates (born October 23, 1959), was a senior Irish politician. ... The Opposition Spokesperson on Finance in the Republic of Irelands parliamentary system is the member of the official Opposition Front Bench who is primarily responsible for marking the Minister for Finance. ... Michael Noonan (Irish: ; born 21 May 1943) is an Irish politician and was Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael from February 2001 to June 2002. ... Ruairi Quinn (born 1946) is an Irish politician. ... The Minister for Finance is the senior minister at the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) in the Irish Government. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... David Byrne (Born April 6, 1947) is an Irish barrister and EU Commissioner. ... New Commissioners Orban (Romania) and Kuneva (Bulgaria) with President Barroso Currently, the European Commission is comprised of one member per member-state. ... Frits Bolkestein Frederik Bolkestein (born 4 April 1933 in Amsterdam; usually known as  ) is a Dutch politician and former EU Commissioner. ... The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive of the European Union. ...

References

1. ^ His son, Charlie McCreevy, Jr, declined the opportunity to be the Fianna Fáil candidate in the resulting by-election and the seat was won by the Independent candidate, Catherine Murphy.
2. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/mccreevy/speeches/2004-10-07/index_en.htm EU Parliament confirmation hearings
3. ^ McCreevy bores for Europe at City bash

A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Catherine Murphy is an Irish Independent Teachta Dála (Member of Parliament). ...

External links

• ESRI report looks at health spending
• His Commissioner web page
• First speech to the Committee of Judicial Affairs of the European Parliament (02-02-2005).
• FFII: Charlie McCreevy and Software Patents
• Charlie McCreevy's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)