John O'Donoghue (Irish: Seán Ó Donnchú; born 28 May 1956 in Caherciveen, County Kerry) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is the current Ceann Comhairle (speaker) of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas and a Teachta Dála for Kerry South. He is formerly Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism (2002-2007) and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (1997-2002). The Ceann Comhairle1 is the chairman or speaker of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Dr. Rory OHanlon (born 7 February 1934), Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (An Roinn Ealaíon Spóirt agus Turasóireachta) in the Irish Government. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Dr. Jim McDaid (b. ... Séamus Brennan (born February 16, 1948) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the senior minister at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (An Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí) in the Irish Government. ... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Nora Owen (born June 1945), was a senior Irish politician. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) is a former Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party from 11 September 2006 until 25 May 2007. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 51. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 km² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (Irish: Fianna Fáil - An Páirtí Poblachtánach), 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... May 28 is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cahersiveen (Cathair Saidhbhín in Irish), or Caherciveen is a town in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 km² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (Irish: Fianna Fáil - An Páirtí Poblachtánach), 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... The Ceann Comhairle1 is the chairman or speaker of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... It has been suggested that Speakers of the House be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the current Irish body. ... The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... 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. ... The Kerry South parliamentary constituency is located in the southern half of County Kerry, Ireland, taking in Killarney, Caherciveen and Kenmare. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (An Roinn Ealaíon Spóirt agus Turasóireachta) in the Irish Government. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the senior minister at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the Irish Government. ...

Early & private life

John O'Donoghue was born in Cahirciveen, County Kerry in 1956. He was educated locally at Cahirciveen CBS and later attended University College Cork where he studied law. He graduated from UCC in 1976 with a BCL (Hons) and in 1977 with a LLB (Hons). O'Donoghue later attended the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland from where he graduated as a solicitor in 1978. Once qualified he practised as a solicitor in his home town of Cahirciveen before entering political life. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 51. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 km² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ... Note: This page needs to be cleaned up to be brought into conformance with the Manual of Style. ... University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork - or more commonly University College Cork (UCC) - is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland located in Cork City. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the 1976 Gregorian calendar. ... G90 g0 x0 y0 z0 g1 x100 y10 m2 ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... The degree of Bachelor of Laws is the principal academic degree in law in most common law countries. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

O'Donoghue is married to Kate Ann Murphy and they have two sons and one daughter. His father-in-law, Michael Pat Murphy, was a Labour Party TD for Cork South West from 1951 until 1981. The Labour Party (Irish: Páirtí an Lucht Oibre) is a social democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... Cork South West is a constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

Early political career

O'Donoghue first became involved in politics in the early 1980s. He first ran for the Dáil as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the 1981 general election, however, in spite of polling over 3,700 he failed to be elected. O'Donoghue contested both general elections in February and November of 1982 but, in spite of increasing his vote, he still failed to be elected. Building on his electoral profile O'Donoghue was elected to Kerry County Council in 1985. Both his mother and his father had served on the Council before him. He served on that authority until 1997 and was elected chairman in 1990. Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (Irish: Fianna Fáil - An Páirtí Poblachtánach), 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... The Irish general election of 1981 was held on June 11, 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on May 21. ... The Irish general election of February 1982 was held on February 18, 1982, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on January 27. ... The Irish general election of November 1982 was held on November 24, 1982, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on November 4. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 km² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

O'Donoghue was finally elected to the Dáil on his fourth attempt at the 1987 general election. A supporter of the party leader, Charles Haughey, he remained on the backbenches until 1991 when he became Minister of State at the Department of Finance following Albert Reynolds's failed attempt to oust Haughey as Taoiseach. In this capacity O'Donoghue was in charge of the Office of Public Works. He returned to the backbenches again when Reynolds fianll became leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in February 1992. Two years later Fianna Fáil were back in opposition and Bertie Ahern was the new party leader. O'Donoghue was appointed to the front bench as spokesperson on Justice. In this capacity he constantly criticised the incumbent Minister for Justice, Nora Owen of Fine Gael. He demanded 'zero tolerance' for criminals and campaigned for harsher sentencing and increased prison places. During this time O'Donoghue also became the first politician in the history of the state to enact three criminal justice bills from the opposition benches. These bills were the Criminal Law Sexual (Jurisdiction) Bill, the Criminal Justice (Bail) Bill and the Proceeds of Crime Bill, which was instrumental in the setting up of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the introduction of the Proceeds of Crime Act. The Irish general election of 1987 was held on February 17, 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on January 20. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The Minister of State at the Department of Finance is a junior ministerial post in the Irish Department of Finance. ... 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 (IPA: or ) — plural: Taoisigh ( or ), also referred to as An Taoiseach[1], is the head of government of Ireland or prime minister. ... The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for Irish Government and historic buildings in the Republic of Ireland. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Patrick Bartholomew Ahern (known as Bertie Ahern, Irish: ; born 12 September 1951 in Dublin) is an Irish politician. ... 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. ... Nora Owen (born June 1945), was a senior Irish politician. ... Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicised to ) (approximate English translation: Family or Tribe of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - The United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Dail (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership... The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a division of the Garda Síochána (Irish police). ...

Cabinet career: 1997-2007

When Fianna Fáil returned to power with the Progressive Democrats following the 1997 general election O'Donoghue joined the cabinet as Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, one of the most senior government positions. In this capacity he was heavily involved in the British-Irish negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. In spite of this his tenure as minister was not viewed as successful. The Progressive Democrats (Irish An Páirtí Daonlathach, lit. ... The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, June 6, 1997. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the senior minister at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (An Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí) in the Irish Government. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 2002 Fianna Fáil again failed to obtain an overall majority and formed a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats. O'Donoghue, in what was seen as a demotion, was appointed Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, a position commonly referred to as being the "Minister for Fun". He was involved in the finalisation of details for the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road. In mid-2004 Ahern announced that he would be reshuffling his cabinet in September, prompting speculation over O'Donoghue's cabinet position, and a possible move to another portfolio. O'Donoghue, however, retained his post. Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (Irish: Fianna Fáil - An Páirtí Poblachtánach), 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... The Progressive Democrats (Irish An Páirtí Daonlathach, lit. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (An Roinn Ealaíon Spóirt agus Turasóireachta) in the Irish Government. ... A DART train passes under the Lansdowne Road Rugby Football Stadium and over the level crossing as it enters the station of the same name. ...

Ceann Comhairle

Following the 2007 general election, he was elected Ceann Comhairle by 90 votes to 75. O'Donoghue was nominated for the position by Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte said that for the first time in almost 20 years there would be an alternative and nominated Ruairi Quinn. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny seconded Mr Quinn's nomination but the nomination was not put to a vote. The Irish general election of 2007 took place on 24 May 2007 after the dissolution of the 29th Dáil by the President on 29 April 2007, at the request of the Taoiseach. ... The Ceann Comhairle1 is the chairman or speaker of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... The Taoiseach (IPA: or ) — plural: Taoisigh ( or ), also referred to as An Taoiseach[1], is the head of government of Ireland or prime minister. ... Patrick Bartholomew Ahern (known as Bertie Ahern, Irish: ; born 12 September 1951 in Dublin) is an Irish politician. ... Pat Rabbitte (born May 18, 1949) is a senior Irish politician, who has been the leader of the Labour Party since 2002. ... Ruairi Quinn (Irish: Ruairí Ó Cuinn) (born 2 April 1946) is an Irish Labour politician. ... Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicised to ) (approximate English translation: Family or Tribe of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - The United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Dail (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership... 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. ...

Political career

The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... Michael Moynihan (17th June 1917–27th June 2001) was an Irish Labour Party party politician who served in the Oireachtas as a Senator and as TD for Kerry South. ... The Labour Party (Irish: Páirtí an Lucht Oibre) is a social democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (Irish: Fianna Fáil - An Páirtí Poblachtánach), 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... 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. ... The Kerry South parliamentary constituency is located in the southern half of County Kerry, Ireland, taking in Killarney, Caherciveen and Kenmare. ... Vincent Brady was a senior Irish politician. ... The Minister of State at the Department of Finance is a junior ministerial post in the Irish Department of Finance. ... Noel Treacy (Irish: ; born December 18, 1951), is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... Nora Owen (born June 1945), was a senior Irish politician. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the senior minister at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the Irish Government. ... Michael McDowell (Irish: ;[1] born May, 1951) is a former Irish politician who led the Progressive Democrats political party from 11 September 2006 until 25 May 2007. ... Dr. Jim McDaid (b. ... The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (An Roinn Ealaíon Spóirt agus Turasóireachta) in the Irish Government. ... Séamus Brennan (born February 16, 1948) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... Dr. Rory OHanlon (born 7 February 1934), Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann. ... The Ceann Comhairle1 is the chairman or speaker of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ...

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database Image File history File links COA_of_Ireland. ...

External links

• John O'Donoghue's website
• Fianna Fáil website
• John O'Donoghue's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)