NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Garrett Fitzgerald

Garret FitzGerald (Irish name: Gearóid Mac Gearailt) (born February 9, 1926) was the seventh Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving two terms in office; July 1981 to February 1982, and December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He previously served as Foreign Affairs Minister from 1973 to 1977. FitzGerald was the leader of Fine Gael between 1977 and 1987. He is also the son of Desmond FitzGerald who was the first Minister for External Affairs of the nascent Irish state, following independence from Britain in 1922. At present FitzGerald is the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland. He is widely considered to have been the most successful leader of the modern Fine Gael party. Image File history File links GFitzgerald. ... The Taoiseach ( or [1]) â€” plural: Taoisigh ( or [1]) â€” or, more formally, An Taoiseach[2], is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet, the rough equivalent of a prime minister under the Westminster System. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael OLeary (8 May 1936 â€“ 11 May 2006) was an Irish senior politician and barrister. ... Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. ... Peter Barry (born August 10, 1928) is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician and businessman. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicized to (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership of over 34,000. ... Paul Samuelson, Nobel Prize in Economics winner. ... A formal Irish Gaelic name consists of a given name and a surname, as in English. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Taoiseach ( or [1]) â€” plural: Taoisigh ( or [1]) â€” or, more formally, An Taoiseach[2], is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet, the rough equivalent of a prime minister under the Westminster System. ... The Seanad Chamber The Seanad meets in the former picture gallery in Leinster House. ... The DÃ¡il Chamber DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland. ... Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicized to (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership of over 34,000. ... A Teachta DÃ¡la (Irish for DÃ¡il Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas or National Parliament. ... Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947), Irish revolutionary, poet and Cumann na nGaedhael politician. ... The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997. ...

Early life

Garret FitzGerald was born in Dublin in 1926 into a very politically active family. His father was the London-born and reared Desmond FitzGerald, the Minister for External Affairs at the time of his son's birth. Fitzgerald senior had been active in Sinn Féin during the Irish War of Independence, and had been one of the founders of Cumann na nGaedhael, the party formed to support the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which created the Irish Free State. Though a senior figure on the 'pro-treaty' side of Ireland's political divide, Desmond FitzGerald had remained friendly with anti-Treaty republicans such as Belfast man Seán MacEntee, a minister in Éamon de Valera's government, and father-in-law of Conor Cruise O'Brien. The families of Patrick McGilligan and Ernest Blythe were also frequent visitors to the FitzGerald household. FitzGerald's mother, the former Mabel Washington McConnell, who, although an ardent nationalist and republican herself, came of Ulster unionist Protestant stock and left a lasting effect on her son's political philosophy. He would later describe his political objective as the creation of a pluralist Ireland where the northern Protestants of his mother’s family tradition and the southern Catholics of his father’s could feel equally at home. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Sinn FÃ©in (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... Combatants Irish Republican Army United Kingdom Strength 15,000 British Army c. ... Cumann na nGaedhael (League of the Gaels), sometimes spelt Cumann na nGaedheal,[1] was an Irish language name given to two Irish political parties, the second of which had the greater impact. ... Signature page of the Anglo-Irish Treaty The Anglo-Irish Treaty, officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and representatives of the extra-judicial Irish Republic which concluded the Irish War of Independence. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: SaorstÃ¡t Ã‰ireann) (1922â€“1937) was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties that were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and... Irish Republicanism is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... SeÃ¡n MacEntee (1889 â€“ 1984) was a senior Irish politician. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Conor Cruise OBrien (born 3 November 1917) is an Irish politician, writer and academic. ... Patrick McGilligan (1889-1979), Irish politician and lawyer. ... Ernest Blythe (Ir: EarnÃ¡n de Blaghd) (April 13, 1889â€“February 23, 1975), Irish politician. ... Irish nationalism refers to political movements that desire greater autonomy or the independence of Ireland from Great Britain. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 kmÂ² Population (2006 estimate) 1,993,918 Ulster (Irish: CÃºige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ... SO THE DUCK GOES INTO THE BAR AND SAYS WHERES MY MARGIRITA! AND THE BARTENDER SAYS ITS ON FIRE! LOLUnionism, in Ireland, is a belief in the desirability of a full constitutional and institutional relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom based on the structures of the Act of Union... Protestantism is one of three main groups currently within Christianity. ...

FitzGerald was educated at the Jesuit Belvedere College and University College Dublin (UCD). He was deeply interested in the politics of the Spanish Civil War and World War II. An intellectually brilliant student who counted among his contemporaries in UCD his future political rival, Charles Haughey, who also knew Joan O'Farrell (a Liverpool-born daughter of a British army officer, Richard O'Farrell) a fellow student, whom Garret Fitzgerald would go on to marry in 1947. Seal of the Society of Jesus. ... Belvedere College SJ is a Jesuit-run secondary school located in Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. ... University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin - more commonly University College Dublin (UCD) - is Irelands largest university, with over 20,000 students. ... Combatants Spanish Republic CNT-FAI UGT POUM Soviet Union International Brigades Spanish State Falangists Carlists Fascist Italy Nazi Germany Commanders Manuel AzaÃ±a Francisco Largo Caballero Juan NegrÃn Francisco Franco Casualties Civilians killed/wounded = hundreds of thousands The Spanish Civil War, which lasted from July 17, 1936 to April... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Template:Warningbox Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in North West England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. ...

Following his university education he found employment with Aer Lingus, the state airline of Ireland, in 1947 and became an authority on the strategic economic planning of transport. During this time he wrote many newspaper articles and was encouraged to write on National Accounts and economics by the Features Editor in The Irish Times. He remained in Aer Lingus until 1959, when after undertaking a study of the economics of Irish Industry in Trinity College Dublin, he became a lecturer in economics at UCD. Aer Lingus is the national airline of Ireland. ... The Irish Times is Irelands newspaper of record, launched in the late 1850s. ... Trinity College, Dublin, corporately designated as the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ...

Early political life

It was in the early 1960s that FitzGerald was approached by Charles Haughey to join Fianna Fáil. FitzGerald declined, choosing instead to follow in his father's footsteps by joining the rival Fine Gael party where he was hugely influenced by the ideas of the Declan Costello. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and soon built up his political profile. His profile was enhanced further because it was at this time that he became a regular commentator on economic affairs in the Irish, as well as the English media. FitzGerald was elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1969 general election, the same year he obtained his PhD for a thesis later published under the title "Planning in Ireland". He became an important figure almost immediately in the parliamentary party and his liberal ideas were seen as a counterweight to the conservative leader, Liam Cosgrave. FitzGerald was soon appointed Opposition Spokesperson on Finance, one of the most senior positions in the party. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Fianna FÃ¡il - The Republican Party (IPA ; commonly translated roughly into English as Soldiers of Destiny (though the more literal translation is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland),Â¹ is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... Declan Costello (born August 1, 1926) was an Irish politician from the Fine Gael Party, who served as a Teachta DÃ¡la (TD) for twenty years as as Attoney-General for four. ... Jack Lynch becomes Taoiseach after winning his first election as leader of Fianna FÃ¡il The Irish general election of 1969 was held on June 18, 1969, just over four years after its predecessor. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Liam Cosgrave (Irish name Liam Mac Cosgair) (born 13 April 1920), served as the fifth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland between 1973 and 1977. ... 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. ...

Minister for Foreign Affairs

In 1973 Fine Gael came to power in a coalition government with the Labour Party with Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach. FitzGerald was widely tipped to take over as Minister for Finance, particularly after a stunning performance in a pre-election debate with the actual Minister for Finance, George Colley. However the position went to Richie Ryan, with FitzGerald becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs. It was a case of history repeating itself as FitzGerald's father had held that post in a government led by Liam Cosgrave's father W.T. Cosgrave fifty years earlier. His appointment to Iveagh House (the home of the Department of Foreign Affairs) would have a huge effect on FitzGerald's own career and the future of Fine Gael. Cosgrave was suspicious of FitzGerald's liberal ideas and believed he had designs on the leadership. By appointing him as Foreign Minister, Cosgrave hoped that FitzGerald would be out of the country and would lose touch with the party. The exact opposite is what happened. 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. ... George Colley (18 October 1925 - 17 September 1983), was a senior Irish politician. ... Richie Ryan (born November, 1929) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. ... The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn GnÃ³thaÃ Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ... William Thomas Cosgrave (Irish name Liam TomÃ¡s Mac Cosgair; 6 June 1880 â€“ 16 November 1965), known generally as W.T. Cosgrave, was an Irish politician who succeeded Michael Collins as Chairman of the Irish Provisional Government from August to December 1922. ... Iveagh House is now the Department of Foreign Affairs as it was donated to the Irish State by the Guinness family in 1939. ... The Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn GnÃ³thaÃ Eachtracha) is the government department of the Irish government that is responsible for promoting the interests of Ireland in the European Union and the wider world. ...

FitzGerald is, by general consensus, regarded as one of Ireland's best Foreign Ministers. The minister's role had changed substantially since his father's day. Ireland was no longer a member of the Commonwealth of Nations but had in 1973 joined the European Economic Community (EEC), now known as the European Union (EU). FitzGerald, firmly ensconced as Foreign Minister, was free from any blame due to other Ministers mishandling of the economy. If anything his tenure at the Department of Foreign Affairs helped him to achieve the leadership of the party. His innovative views, energy and fluency in French won him — and through him, Ireland — a status in European affairs far exceeding the country’s size and ensured that the first Irish Presidency of the European Council in 1975 was a noted success. His reputation abroad, and that of Ireland, increased his popularity and his affable style helped change the traditional, stereotypical European view of Ireland. The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... The constitutional treaty as signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by representatives from all EU Member States The European Union (EU) is a supranational and intergovernmental union of 25 independent, democratic member states. ...

Leader of Fine Gael

In 1977 the National Coalition of Fine Gael and Labour suffered a disastrous electoral defeat. Liam Cosgrave resigned as party leader and FitzGerald was chosen by acclamation to succeed him. In his new role as Leader of the Opposition and party leader he set about modernising and revitalising Fine Gael. He immediately appointed a General-Secretary to oversee all of this, a tactic copied from Fianna Fáil. FitzGerald took a personal tour of every constituency in Ireland in an effort to breath new life into a demoralised Fine Gael. The 20th Dáil was elected on February 28, 1973 and first met on March 14 when the 14th Government of Ireland was appointed. ... The Leader of the Opposition (Ir Ceannaire an FhreasÃºra) in the Republic of Ireland is the politician who, at least in theory, leads the Parliamentary Opposition bloc in the lower house of the Irish Parliament, DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann. ...

Under FitzGerald, Fine Gael experienced a rapid rise in support and popularity. By the November 1982 election, it held only five seats fewer than Fianna Fáil (their closest ever margin; at times Fianna Fáil was nearly twice as large), with Fine Gael in the Oireachtas bigger than Fianna Fáil, an unprecedented achievement. Much of the success was FitzGerald's; he brought in a new generation of brilliant young politicians, including future Taoiseach John Bruton, future party leaders Alan Dukes and Michael Noonan, and other exceptional figures such as Jim Mitchell, Ivan Yates and Gemma Hussey. But Fine Gael's rise was in part a reaction to the controversial nature and unpopularity of his old college rival and now Fianna Fáil leader, Charles Haughey. The epic battles between Haughey and FitzGerald (or 'Charlie' and 'Garret' as it was personalised) dominated Irish politics in the 1980s. The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Alan Dukes (born April 20, 1945) is an Irish politician, a former leader of the Fine Gael political party and former TD for Kildare South. ... Michael Noonan (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. ... Jim Mitchell (19 October 1946 - 2 December 2002) was a senior Irish politician who served in the cabinets of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald (1981-82; 1982-87). ... Ivan Yates (born October 23, 1959), was a senior Irish politician. ... Gemma Hussey (born November 11, 1938), was a senior Irish Fine Gael politician. ...

Taoiseach 1981-1982

By the time of the general election in 1981 Fine Gael had a party machine that could easily match Fianna Fáil's. The party won 65 seats and formed a minority coalition government with the Labour Party and the support of a number of Independent TDs. FitzGerald was elected Taoiseach on June 30, 1981. June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ...

FitzGerald showed an unsuspected toughness in naming a young and innovative Cabinet. Richie Ryan, Richard Burke and Tom O'Donnell, former Fine Gael stalwarts, were all excluded. Two fundamental problems faced FitzGerald during his first period, Northern Ireland and the worsening economic situation. A protest march in support of the H-Block hunger strikers in July 1981 was dealt with by FitzGerald through a combination of firmness and restraint. Richard (Dick) Burke (born March 28, 1932) was a senior Irish Fine Gael politician and a European Commissioner. ... Thomas G. (Tom) ODonnell (born August, 1926) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. ... Motto: [citation needed] (French for God and my right)2 Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, NI Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair... Her Majestys Prison (HMP) Maze (known colloqually as The Maze) is a disused prison sited at the former RAF station at Long Kesh (it is still called Long Kesh by many Irish Republicans) near Lisburn, nine miles outside Belfast, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. ... -1...

The economic crisis was also a lot worse than FitzGerald had feared. Fine Gael had to jettison its plans for tax-cuts in the run-up to the election and a draconian mid-year budget was introduced almost immediately. The July Budget seemed exceptionally austere for a government dependent on Independent TDs support. However the second budget introduced by John Bruton led to the Government's shock defeat in Dáil Éireann on the evening of January 27, 1982. January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Viewing his defeat as a Loss of Supply FitzGerald headed to Áras an Uachtaráin to request an immediate Dáil dissolution from President Hillery. When he got there, he was informed that a series of telephone calls had been made by senior opposition figures (and some independent TDs), including Fianna Fáil leader (and ex-Taoiseach) Charles Haughey, Brian Lenihan and Sylvester Barret demanding that the President, as he could constitutionally do where a Taoiseach had 'ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann', refuse FitzGerald a parliamentary dissolution, forcing his resignation as taoiseach and enabling the Dáil to nominate someone else for the post. The President is said to have angrily rejected such pressure, regarding it as gross misconduct, and granted the dissolution. (These events came back to haunt one of the alleged callers, Brian Lenihan, when his differing accounts of his role that night led to his dismissal from Haughey's cabinet in 1990 during his own unsuccessful presidential election campaign.) Loss of Supply occurs where a government in a parliamentary democracy is by parliamentary vote denied a supply of treasury or exchequer funds, by whichever house or houses of parliament is constitutionally entitled to grant and deny supply. ... Ãras an UachtarÃ¡in (formerly the Viceregal Lodge) is the official residence of the President of Ireland, located in the Phoenix Park on the Northside of Dublin1. ... Dr. Patrick John Hillery (born May 2, 1923) is an Irish Fianna FÃ¡il politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. ... Brian Lenihan (17 November 1930 - 1 November 1995) was a Irish Fianna FÃ¡il politician. ... Sylvester Barret (1926-2002) was a senior Irish politician. ...

In the subsequent general election Fine Gael lost only two seats and were out of power. However, a third general election within eighteen months in November 1982 resulted in FitzGerald being returned as Taoiseach for a second time, heading a Fine Gael-Labour coalition with a working majority.

Taoiseach 1982-1987

Deep economic recession dominated FitzGerald's second term as well as his first. The pursuit of ‘fiscal rectitude’ in order to reduce a high national debt required a firmer control of public spending than Labour found easy to accept. The harmonious relationship the Taoiseach developed with Tánaiste, Dick Spring, successfully avoided a collapse of the coalition for more than four years, despite tensions between other ministers, and enabled a rational economic policy to evolve. The TÃ¡naiste (plural: TÃ¡naistithe), or more formally An TÃ¡naiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. ...

Constitutional reform

As Taoiseach for a second time FitzGerald advocated a liberalisation of Irish society, to create what he called the non-sectarian nation of 'Tone and Davis'. His attempt to introduce divorce was defeated in a referendum, though he did liberalise Ireland's contraception laws. A controversial ''Pro-Life Amendment' (anti-abortion clause), which was stated to recognise the 'Right to Life of the Unborn, with due regard to the Equal Right to Life of the Mother' was added to the Irish constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, against FitzGerald's advice, in a national referendum. Theobald Wolfe Tone Theobald Wolfe Tone, commonly known as Wolfe Tone (June 20, 1763 - November 19, 1798) was a leading figure in the Irish independence movement and is regarded as the father of Irish republicans. ... Thomas Osborne Davis (October 14, 1814 - September 16, 1845) was an Irish writer and politician who was the chief organizer and poet of the Young Ireland movement. ... The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, the founding legal document of the Republic of Ireland, introduced the controversial constitutional ban on abortion. ... The Constitution of Ireland is the founding legal document of the state known today as the Republic of Ireland. ...

Northern Ireland

Perhaps FitzGerald’s most dramatic achievement as Taoiseach was in regard to Northern Ireland. The New Ireland Forum which he set up in 1983 brought together representatives of the constitutional political parties in the Republic and the nationalist SDLP from the North. Although the Unionist parties spurned his invitation to join, and the Forum’s conclusions proposing various forms of association between Northern Ireland and the Republic were rejected outright by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the Forum provided the impetus for the resumption of serious negotiations between the Irish and British governments, which culminated in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of November 1985. This agreement provided for a mechanism by which the Republic of Ireland could be consulted by the British Government under Margaret Thatcher regarding the governance of Northern Ireland, and was bitterly opposed by Unionists in Northern Ireland, whose MPs all resigned their seats in the British Parliament in protest. New elections were required to be held, and the unionists lost one seat (Newry and Armagh) to Seamus Mallon of the SDLP. Motto: [citation needed] (French for God and my right)2 Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, NI Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair... The New Ireland Forum was established in Ireland in 1983 by then Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald to discuss ways of bringing peace and stability to the whole of Ireland, and the structures and processes through which this might be achieved. ... The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP â€” Irish: PÃ¡irtÃ SÃ³isialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is the smaller of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. ... 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. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Newry and Armagh is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. ... Seamus Mallon, MP Seamus Mallon (born on 17 August 1936) is a Northern Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party. ...

While the Agreement was repudiated and condemned by Unionists, it became the basis for developing trust and common action between the governments, which in time would ultimately bring about the Downing Street Declaration of 1993, and the subsequent republican and loyalist cease-fires. In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be or The Establishment. ...

In January 1987, the Labour Party members of the government withdrew from the government over disagreements due to budget proposals. FitzGerald continued as Taoiseach heading a minority Fine Gael government until Fianna Fáil returned to power in March 1987, after Fine Gael were heavily defeated in the 1987 general election. FitzGerald took the extraordinary step of announcing that Fine Gael would support Fianna Fáil in government if they adopted sensible economic policies. The Irish general election of 1987 was held on February 17, 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the DÃ¡il on January 20. ...

Post-Taoiseach period

FitzGerald retired as leader of Fine Gael immediately after the general election to be replaced by Alan Dukes. His autobiography, "All in a Life," appeared in 1991, immediately becoming a best-seller. He retired completely from politics at the 1992 general election. His wife, Joan, died in the 1999 after many years of a crippling illness. Since then he has written a popular weekly column every Saturday in The Irish Times, and lectures widely at home and abroad on public affairs. He came out of retirement to campaign for a yes vote in the second Nice referendum, held in 2002. Alan Dukes (born April 20, 1945) is an Irish politician, a former leader of the Fine Gael political party and former TD for Kildare South. ... The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, November 25, 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the DÃ¡il on November 5. ...

Assessment

Though a highly successful Minister for Foreign Affairs, FitzGerald was judged a relatively poor Taoiseach; his notoriously long cabinet meetings were dreaded by ministers, while differences in policy between Fine Gael and Labour prevented the Government from agreeing an approach to deal with the Irish economic crisis and spiralling government debt.

However, FitzGerald was one of the Republic of Ireland's most popular politicians, known to all sides simply as 'Garret'. His gregarious nature, his notorious ability to talk faster than many thought humanly possible, his genuine ecumenism and his 'absent minded professor' image, made him a major political force from his entry into Irish politics in the mid-1960s until his retirement in 1992. The word ecumenism (also oecumenism, Å“cumenism) is derived from Greek (oikoumene), which means the inhabited world, and was historically used with specific reference to the Roman Empire. ...

FitzGerald's first government, June 1981 – March 1982

The Taoiseach ( or [1]) â€” plural: Taoisigh ( or [1]) â€” or, more formally, An Taoiseach[2], is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet, the rough equivalent of a prime minister under the Westminster System. ... The TÃ¡naiste (plural: TÃ¡naistithe), or more formally An TÃ¡naiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Michael OLeary (8 May 1936 â€“ 11 May 2006) was an Irish senior politician and barrister. ... The Minister for Finance is the senior minister at the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) in the Irish Government. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ... John Maurice Kelly (August 31, 1931â€”January 24, 1991) was a senior Irish politician and academic. ... The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is one of the most important economic ministeries in the Irish Cabinet. ... John Maurice Kelly (August 31, 1931â€”January 24, 1991) was a senior Irish politician and academic. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform is the chief minister in charge of law and order in the Republic of Ireland. ... Jim Mitchell (19 October 1946 - 2 December 2002) was a senior Irish politician who served in the cabinets of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald (1981-82; 1982-87). ... The modern title of Minister for Labour was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1966 as a member of the Irish Government. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... The Minister for the Public Service was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1973, in March 1987 the ministers functions were transferred to the Minister for Tourism & Transport after the department was amalgamated. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... The Minister for Agriculture and Food is an important position in the Irish Government. ... Alan Dukes (born April 20, 1945) is an Irish politician, a former leader of the Fine Gael political party and former TD for Kildare South. ... The Minister for Defence is in charge of the Department of Defence in the Republic of Ireland. ... James Tully (born 18 September 1915) was a prominent Irish trade unionist, politician and Deputy Leader of the Irish Labour Party who served as a minister in a series of Irish Fine Gael-Labour coalition governments. ... The Minister for Education & Science is the chief person at the Department of Education & Science is engaged in a wide range of activities covering pllicy planning, quality assurance and providing a broad range of services for education in the Republic of Ireland. ... John Boland (1945?-2001) was a senior Irish 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. ... Peter Barry (born August 10, 1928) is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician and businessman. ... The Minister for Health & Children has overall constitutional and political responsibility for the Department of Health & Children, while his or her duties include the creation and assessment of policy for the health services. ... Eileen Desmond (December 29, 1932 - January 7, 2005) was a senior Irish Labour Party politician. ... The Minister for Social & Family Affairs is the chief person at the Department of Social & Family Affairs in the Irish Government. ... Eileen Desmond (December 29, 1932 - January 7, 2005) was a senior Irish Labour Party politician. ... The Minister for Transport is the chief person at the Department of Transport in the Irish Government. ... Patrick (Paddy) Cooney (born March 2, 1931) He was educated at Castleknock College and was a senior Irish politician. ... The Minister for Posts & Telegraphs was responsible for Irelands postal and telecommunications services since the foundation of the State until 1984, the department was one of the largest civil service departments in Ireland. ... Patrick (Paddy) Cooney (born March 2, 1931) He was educated at Castleknock College and was a senior Irish politician. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the head of the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... Michael OLeary (8 May 1936 â€“ 11 May 2006) was an Irish senior politician and barrister. ... The Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources is the chief minister at the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... (Thomas J) Tom Fitzpatrick (born 14th February, 1918) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. ... The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is responsible for one of Irelands newest Departments of State. ... Paddy OToole is a former Irish politician. ...

Changes

August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... James Dooge (born 30 July 1922) is an Irish politician, engineer and academic. ... John Maurice Kelly (August 31, 1931â€”January 24, 1991) was a senior Irish politician and academic. ...

FitzGerald's Second Government, December 1982-March 1987

The Taoiseach ( or [1]) â€” plural: Taoisigh ( or [1]) â€” or, more formally, An Taoiseach[2], is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet, the rough equivalent of a prime minister under the Westminster System. ... The TÃ¡naiste (plural: TÃ¡naistithe), or more formally An TÃ¡naiste, is the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Ireland1. ... Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. ... The Minister for Finance is the senior minister at the Department of Finance (An Roinn Airgeadais) in the Irish Government. ... Alan Dukes (born April 20, 1945) is an Irish politician, a former leader of the Fine Gael political party and former TD for Kildare South. ... The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ... Peter Barry (born August 10, 1928) is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician and businessman. ... The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is one of the most important economic ministeries in the Irish Cabinet. ... Frank Cluskey (1 April 1930 - 7 April 1989) was an Irish politician and a former leader of the Irish Labour Party. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform is the chief minister in charge of law and order in the Republic of Ireland. ... Michael Noonan (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. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the head of the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Minister for Agriculture and Food is an important position in the Irish Government. ... Austin Deasy (b. ... The Minister for Defence is in charge of the Department of Defence in the Republic of Ireland. ... Patrick (Paddy) Cooney (born March 2, 1931) He was educated at Castleknock College and was a senior Irish politician. ... The Minister for Education & Science is the chief person at the Department of Education & Science is engaged in a wide range of activities covering pllicy planning, quality assurance and providing a broad range of services for education in the Republic of Ireland. ... Gemma Hussey (born November 11, 1938), was a senior Irish Fine Gael 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. ... Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. ... The modern title of Minister for Labour was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1966 as a member of the Irish Government. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... The Minister for Health & Children has overall constitutional and political responsibility for the Department of Health & Children, while his or her duties include the creation and assessment of policy for the health services. ... Barry Desmond was born in Cork in 1935. ... The Minister for Social & Family Affairs is the chief person at the Department of Social & Family Affairs in the Irish Government. ... Barry Desmond was born in Cork in 1935. ... The Minister for the Public Service was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1973, in March 1987 the ministers functions were transferred to the Minister for Tourism & Transport after the department was amalgamated. ... John Boland (1945?-2001) was a senior Irish politician. ... The Minister for Transport is the chief person at the Department of Transport in the Irish Government. ... Jim Mitchell (19 October 1946 - 2 December 2002) was a senior Irish politician who served in the cabinets of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald (1981-82; 1982-87). ... The Minister for Posts & Telegraphs was responsible for Irelands postal and telecommunications services since the foundation of the State until 1984, the department was one of the largest civil service departments in Ireland. ... Jim Mitchell (19 October 1946 - 2 December 2002) was a senior Irish politician who served in the cabinets of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald (1981-82; 1982-87). ... The Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources is the chief minister at the Department of the same name in the Irish Government. ... Paddy OToole is a former Irish politician. ... The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is responsible for one of Irelands newest Departments of State. ... Paddy OToole is a former Irish politician. ...

Changes

December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Frank Cluskey (1 April 1930 - 7 April 1989) was an Irish politician and a former leader of the Irish Labour Party. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... Ruairi Quinn (born April 2, 1946) is an Irish Labour politician. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jim Mitchell (19 October 1946 - 2 December 2002) was a senior Irish politician who served in the cabinets of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald (1981-82; 1982-87). ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... Patrick (Paddy) Cooney (born March 2, 1931) He was educated at Castleknock College and was a senior Irish politician. ... John Boland (1945?-2001) was a senior Irish politician. ... Paddy OToole is a former Irish politician. ... Alan Dukes (born April 20, 1945) is an Irish politician, a former leader of the Fine Gael political party and former TD for Kildare South. ... Barry Desmond was born in Cork in 1935. ... Gemma Hussey (born November 11, 1938), was a senior Irish Fine Gael politician. ... Michael Noonan (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 April 2, 1946) is an Irish Labour politician. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Richard Spring (born August 29, 1950 in Tralee County Kerry), is a businessman and former senior Irish politician. ... Barry Desmond was born in Cork in 1935. ... Liam Kavanagh (b. ... Ruairi Quinn (born April 2, 1946) is an Irish Labour politician. ... Peter Barry (born August 10, 1928) is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician and businessman. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Paddy OToole is a former Irish politician. ... John Boland (1945?-2001) was a senior Irish politician. ... Michael Noonan (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. ... Gemma Hussey (born November 11, 1938), was a senior Irish Fine Gael politician. ...

Political Career

Categories: 1926 births | Living people | Irish Ministers for Foreign Affairs | Leaders of Fine Gael | Taoisigh of Ireland | Former Teachtaí Dála | Members of the 11th Seanad | Members of the 19th Dáil | Members of the 20th Dáil | Members of the 21st Dáil | Members of the 22nd Dáil | Members of the 23rd Dáil | Members of the 24th Dáil | Members of the 25th Dáil | Members of the 26th Dáil | Natives of County Dublin Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicized to (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership of over 34,000. ... General Eoin ODuffy (20 October 1892 - 30 November 1944), was in succession a Teachta DÃ¡la (TD), the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army, the second Commissioner of the Garda SÃochÃ¡na, leader of the fascist Blueshirts and then the first leader of Fine Gael (1933... William Thomas Cosgrave (Irish name Liam TomÃ¡s Mac Cosgair; 6 June 1880 â€“ 16 November 1965), known generally as W.T. Cosgrave, was an Irish politician who succeeded Michael Collins as Chairman of the Irish Provisional Government from August to December 1922. ... Richard Mulcahy General Richard James Mulcahy (10 May 1886 â€“ 16 December 1971) was an Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister. ... This article is about the politician James Dillon. ... Liam Cosgrave (Irish name Liam Mac Cosgair) (born 13 April 1920), served as the fifth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland between 1973 and 1977. ... Alan Dukes (born April 20, 1945) is an Irish politician, a former leader of the Fine Gael political party and former TD for Kildare South. ... John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Michael Noonan (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. ... Enda Kenny (Irish name: Ã‰anna Ã“ Cionnaith; born 24 April 1951) is an Irish politician, is the 10th leader of the Fine Gael party and Leader of the Opposition in DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann. ...

Contents

Early life GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Early political life

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Leader of Fine Gael

Taoiseach 1981-1982

Taoiseach 1982-1987

Constitutional reform

Northern Ireland

Post-Taoiseach period

Assessment

FitzGerald's first government, June 1981 – March 1982

Changes

FitzGerald's Second Government, December 1982-March 1987

Changes

Political Career

Early life