Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. He was first elected as a Labour Party TD in 1981 and retained his seat until 2002. He became Party Leader in 1982, and held this position until 1997. He served as Minister for the Environment(1982-1983), Minister for Energy (1983-1987) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1993-Nov 1994, Dec 1994-1997). He also served as Tánaiste during those three governments. August 29 is the 241st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (242nd in leap years), with 124 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Tralee (Irish: Trá Lí) is the county town of County Kerry, in the southwest corner of Ireland. ... County Kerry (Irish: Contae Chiarraí) is a county in the southwest of Ireland, in the Munster province of the Republic of Ireland, informally referred to as The Kingdom. ... Logo of the Irish Labour Party The Irish Labour Party (Irish: Páirti an Lucht Oibre) is the third largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... A TD or Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas (pronounced orr-och-tas) or National Parliament. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for: election matters such as the general election and presidential elections, including electronic voting; the environment, Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; heritage; local authorities and related services. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the head of the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ... Cite error 4; Invalid call; no input specified 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Tánaiste (plural: Tánaistithe), or more formally An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ...

Education

Richard (known as Dick) was educated by the Christian Brothers in County Tipperary, and at Trinity College, Dublin, and qualified as a barrister at King's Inns. He played Gaelic football and hurling for Kerry in the seventies and won rugby union caps for Ireland in 1979, Munster and for London Irish in England. The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a world-wide community of religious brothers of the Catholic church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice in Waterford, Ireland, in 1802. ... County Tipperary (Tiobraid Árann in Irish) is a traditional county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster. ... The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin or more commonly Trinity College, Dublin was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ... The Kings Inns or formally the Honorable Society of Kings Inns (HSKI) is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of the Republic of Ireland. ... Gaelic football (Irish: peil ghaelach) is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ... For the Cornish sport of hurling, see Hurling the Silver Ball. ... // History Gaelic football Hurling External links Kerry on Hoganstand. ... Ireland v the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby union is a team sport that was developed from the rules used to play football at Rugby School in England. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch (also known as Munster Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Munster. ... London Irish are a rugby union club in England. ...

Political career

His political life began in 1979 when he successfully contested the local elections in Tralee. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the General Election of 1981 for the constituency of Kerry North, a seat previously held by his father Dan Spring. The Labour Party formed a coalition Government with Fine Gael and Spring was appointed a Junior Minister on his first day as a deputy. When Michael O'Leary resigned as Party leader in 1982, Spring allowed his name go forward in the leadership contest. He easily defeated Barry Desmond and Michael D Higgins but inherited the leadership of a deeply divided party. The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Irish general election of 1981 was held on June 11, 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on May 21. ... The Kerry North parliamentary constituency is located in the northern half of County Kerry, Ireland, taking in Tralee, Listowel, and Castleisland. ... Dan Spring (born 1910, died 1988) was an Irish politician who represented the constituency of Kerry North in the Irish parliament, the Dáil, from 1943 to 1981. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... A Minister of State, in the Republic of Ireland, is a junior minister of non-cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the cabinet. ... Michael OLeary (born 1936), is a former leader of the Irish Labour Party ( 1981- 1982). ... Barry Desmond was born in Cork in 1935. ... Michael D. Higgins (born 1941) is an Irish Labour politician and poet. ...

Ministerial appointment

Following the November 1982 General Election Labour again formed a coalition government with Fine Gael. Spring was appointed Tánaiste and Minister for the Environment. He was closely involved in the negotiations which led to the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. In 1987 Spring and the Labour Party withdrew from the government on budgetary issues and Fianna Fáil took power in the subsequent election. Spring himself narrowly escaped losing his seat when he was re-elected by just 4 votes. The Irish general election of November 1982 was held on November 24, 1982, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on November 4. ... The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which aimed to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. ... This article is about the year. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Ireland but more often translated - inaccurately - as Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ...

Opposition

Under Spring, the Labour party selected Mary Robinson as its candidate in the 1990 Presidential Election. Robinson was elected and this enhanced the credibility of the party. For Spring, his period in opposition co-incided with the exposure of a number of business scandals and gave him the opportunity to shine as critic of the Fianna Fáil government led by the controversial Charles Haughey. Mary Robinson (Irish name Máire Bhean Mhic Róibín; born 21 May 1944) was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. ... In the Irish presidential election in 1990 the Irish Labour Party let it be known that it would for the first time run a candidate. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (IPA ; English translation: Soldiers of Ireland but more often translated - inaccurately - as Soldiers of Destiny) is the largest political party in Ireland. ... Charles Haughey (Irish name Cathal Ó hEochaidh; born on September 16, 1925), was the sixth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving three terms in office; 1979 to 1981, March 1982 to December 1982 and 1987 to 1992. ...

Return to power

As a result, in the 1992 General Election the party increased its Dáil seats from 15 to 33, a feat which is referred to as the 'Spring Tide'. The Labour Party then entered a coalition government with Fianna Fáil, and thus returned Albert Reynolds, who had taken over as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) from Mr. Haughey at the beginning of the year, to power. Spring was appointed Tánaiste for the second time, and also Minister for Foreign Affairs. Although approved by a special party meeting, many who had voted for the new Labour TDs as an alternative to the Fianna Fáil government were critical. The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, November 25, 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on November 5. ... 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 Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ...

In November 1994 Spring and the Labour Party resigned from the Government due to a disagreement with then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds over the appointment of the President of the High Court. The minority Reynolds government then lost a vote of confidence in the Dáil. In December Labour, with Fine Gael and Democratic Left formed a coalition government, referred to as the 'Rainbow Coalition'. Spring returned to his positions as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. This was the first occasion on which a new Irish government was formed without a general election. The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... Albert Reynolds (born November 3, 1932), was the eighth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. ... In Ireland, Democratic Left was a socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between 1992 and 1997. ...

During his period as Foreign Minister, Spring was deeply involved in the negotiations leading to the Irish Republican Army and loyalist ceasefires of 1994 and the Belfast Agreement of 1998. With Albert Reynolds he received warm applause in the Dáil on the announcment of the Downing Street Declaration in December 1993. He also advanced Ireland's membership of the Partnership for Peace, a controversial issue due to Irelands policy of neutrality. The West Cork Flying Column during the War of Independence. ... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was arguably a major step in the Northern Ireland peace process. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 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 Downing Street Declaration was a joint declaration issued on December 15, 1993 by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, John Major and Albert Reynolds, the Taoiseach (prime minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Template:DecemberCalendar2006 December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Cite error 4; Invalid call; no input specified 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Partnership for Peace is a NATO project aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in both Europe as well as the Asian part of the former Soviet Union. ... Neutral means balanced between two or more opposites. ...

Resignation as party leader

In the 1997 General Election the Labour party returned to opposition, winning only 17 of its outgoing 33 seats. This was considered to be punishment by the electorate for the 1993 decision to enter coalition with Fianna Fáil. In the Presidential election of the same year the Labour candidate, Adi Roche, came fourth out of five candidates. Following that defeat, Spring resigned as Labour leader, having served 15 years - one of the longest serving party leaders of Ireland. He remained a TD, but lost his seat in the General election of 2002 to the Sinn Féin candidate, Martin Ferris. The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, June 6, 1997. ... The Irish general election of 1997 was held on October 30, 1997. ... Adi Roche ( 1955-present) is a campaigner for peace, humanitarian aid, and education. ... The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday 17 May 2002, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. ... It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... Martin Ferris (born 1958) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. ...

After stepping down as party leader, Spring has been spoken of as a possible European Commissioner for Ireland and as Labour Party candidate for President of Ireland. He became involved in the Cyprus dispute as a United Nations envoy. The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive of the European Union. ... The President of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Cyprus Dispute is the conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and also Republic of Cyprus and Turkey over Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. ... Main article: League of Nations The term United Nations was coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, to refer to the Allies. ...

As Foreign Minister, there was much critical comment in the media on Spring's extensive foreign travel and use of the Government Jet. Although the Labour Party, and its members promote the principles of left wing politics, Dick Spring has been described as a Champagne socialist due to his association with Irish business executives, his choice of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel when staying in New York as Foreign Minister, and his statements on the Eircom privatisation saga. In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... A champagne socialist is a pejorative political term originating in the United Kingdom. ... Waldorf-Astoria hotel The Waldorf-Astoria is the name of two luxury hotels in New York City — an original that formerly stood on the site of the Empire State Building on Fifth Avenue, and a modern American 42-story luxury hotel and Art Deco landmark that has been located at... Official language(s) English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... eircom Group plc is the largest telecommunications operator in the Republic of Ireland. ...

Spring lives in Tralee and is married to Kristi, an American whom he met while working in New York as a bartender. They have 3 children. Tralee (Irish: Trá Lí) is the county town of County Kerry, in the southwest corner of Ireland. ...

Political Career

Michael OLeary (born 1936), is a former leader of the Irish Labour Party ( 1981- 1982). ... Logo of the Irish Labour Party The Irish Labour Party (Irish: Páirti an Lucht Oibre) is the third largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... Ruairi Quinn (born 1946) is an Irish politician. ... Ray MacSharry (born April 29, 1938) is a former Irish politician. ... The Tánaiste (plural: Tánaistithe), or more formally An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Brian Lenihan (November 17, 1930 - November 1, 1995) was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... Raphael P. Burke (born September 30, 1943) is a former Fianna Fáil politician. ... The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for: election matters such as the general election and presidential elections, including electronic voting; the environment, Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; heritage; local authorities and related services. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the head of the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... Michael Noonan (born 1943) is an Irish politician and was Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael from February 2001 to June 2002. ... John P. Wilson (born 1923) was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... The Tánaiste (plural: Tánaistithe), or more formally An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (Irish name: Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachthairn) (born September 12, 1951), commonly called Bertie Ahern, is an Irish politician. ... David Andrews (born March 15, 1936) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and barrister. ... The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ... Albert Reynolds (born November 3, 1932), was the eighth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. ... Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (Irish name: Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachthairn) (born September 12, 1951), commonly called Bertie Ahern, is an Irish politician. ... The Tánaiste (plural: Tánaistithe), or more formally An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Mary Harney (born March 11, 1953) is an Irish politician who has been the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the fourth largest political party in Ireland) since 1993. ... 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 Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ... Raphael P. Burke (born September 30, 1943) is a former Fianna Fáil politician. ...

Deputy Prime Ministers of Ireland Tánaistithe na hÉireann
Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh | Seán F. Lemass | William Norton | Seán MacEntee | Frank Aiken | Erskine H. Childers | Brendan Corish | George Colley | Michael O'Leary | Ray MacSharry | Dick Spring | Peter Barry | Brian Lenihan | John P. Wilson | Bertie Ahern | Mary Harney The Tánaiste (plural: Tánaistithe), or more formally An Tánaiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Image File history File links COA_IRELAND.PNG Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Sean Thomas OKelly (Irish name: Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh, (August 25, 1882 - November 23, 1966) was the second President of Ireland (1945-1959). ... Seán Francis Lemass (July 15, 1899 - May 11, 1971) was Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland and served as the second leader of Fianna Fáil from 1959 until 1966. ... William Norton (1900-1963), Irish politician, Labour Party leader (1932-1960). ... Seán MacEntee (1889–1984) was a senior Irish politician. ... Frank Aiken (February 13, 1898 - May 18, 1983) was a senior Irish politician. ... Erskine Hamilton Childers (11 November 1905 - 17 November 1974), the son of Robert Erskine Childers (author of The Riddle of the Sands), served as the fourth President of Ireland from 1973 until his death in 1974. ... Brendan Corish ( 1918- 1990), Irish Labour leader ( 1960- 1977). ... George Colley (October 18, 1925 - September 17, 1983), was a senior Irish politician. ... Michael OLeary (born 1936), is a former leader of the Irish Labour Party ( 1981- 1982). ... Ray MacSharry (born April 29, 1938) is a former Irish politician. ... Peter Barry (born August 10, 1928) is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician and businessman. ... Brian Lenihan (November 17, 1930 - November 1, 1995) was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... John P. Wilson (born 1923) was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (Irish name: Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachthairn) (born September 12, 1951), commonly called Bertie Ahern, is an Irish politician. ... Mary Harney (born March 11, 1953) is an Irish politician who has been the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the fourth largest political party in Ireland) since 1993. ...
Vice-Presidents of the Executive Council Kevin O'Higgins | Ernest Blythe | Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh The Vice-President of the Executive Council (Irish: Leas-Uachtarán na hArd-Chomhairle) was in effect the deputy prime minister of the Irish Free State, the Executive Council. ... Kevin Christopher OHiggins ( 7 June 1892- 10 July 1927), Irish politician. ... Ernest Blythe (Ir: Earnán de Blaghd) (April 13, 1889–February 23, 1975), Irish politician. ... Sean Thomas OKelly (Irish name: Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh, (August 25, 1882 - November 23, 1966) was the second President of Ireland (1945-1959). ...