Jim Higgins (born 4 May 1945 in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo) is an Irish politician. He was educated at St Jarlath's College, Tuam and University College Galway Rep of Ireland. Higgins worked has a Community School teacher before becoming involved in local politics as a member of Mayo County Council in 1979. He first ran for Dáil Éireann in 1981. He was unsuccessful, however, he was one of Garret FitzGerald's nominees to Seanad Éireann. He lost his Seanad seat in 1982 but regained it in 1983, remaining in the Upper House until 1987. He was successful in that years general election, becoming a Fine Gael TD. May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ballyhaunis (Béal Átha hAmhnais in Irish) is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. ... County Mayo (Irish: Contae Mhaigh Eo, the plain of the yews) is a county on the west coast of Ireland. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Dáil Chamber Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI in Roman) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr. Garret FitzGerald (Irish name: Gearóid MacGearailt) (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. ... The Seanad Chamber The Seanad meets in the former picture gallery in Leinster House. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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 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. ...

In 1994 the Rainbow Coalition came to power and Higgins was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance. The following year he became Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence, as well as Chief Whip of the government. He remained in that position until 1997. Higgins, like many of his Fine Gael colleagues in 2002, failed to be elected for his Mayo constituency. He was elected to Seanad Éireann though. In 2004 Higgins was elected to the European Parliament as a Fine Gael MEP for the North-West region. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Rainbow Coalition refers to at least three groups. ... The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mayo parliamentary constituency spans the entire area of the county in Connacht, taking in Castlebar, Westport and Ballina. ... The Seanad Chamber The Seanad meets in the former picture gallery in Leinster House. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The European Parliament is the parliamentary body of the European Union (EU), directly elected by EU citizens once every five years. ... 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 Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP) is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ...