- Ned O'Keeffe
-
Ned O'Keeffe Minister of State
for FoodIn office
8 July 1997 – 17 February 2001Preceded by Jimmy Deenihan Succeeded by Éamon Ó Cuív Teachta Dála In office
December 1982 – February 2011Preceded by Joe Sherlock Constituency Cork East Senator In office
May 1982 – November 1982Constituency Nominated by the Taoiseach Personal details Born 1 August 1942
Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, County Cork, IrelandNationality Irish Political party Fianna Fáil Spouse(s) Ann Buckley Children 5 Alma mater University College Cork Edward "Ned" O'Keeffe (born 1 August 1942) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 1982 to 2011.[1]
O'Keeffe was born in Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, County Cork in 1942. He was educated at Darra College, Clonakilty where he received a diploma in Social and Rural Science. O'Keeffe was a pig farmer before becoming involved in politics. In 1982 O'Keeffe nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to the 16th Seanad. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election. He retained his seat at each subsequent general election until his retirement in 2011.[2]
Since his election in 1982, O'Keeffe has served in a number of positions. He was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Industry from 1982 until 1987. While Fianna Fáil were in power between 1987 and 1994, O'Keeffe remained on the backbenches. When Bertie Ahern became party leader in 1994 O'Keeffe was appointed Deputy spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science, Technology and Small Business. He served in that position until 1997 when he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food. He served in that position until February 2001 when he had to resign due to his voting on a Dáil motion without declaring that he had a beneficial interest in the subject matter.
On 28 November 2007, during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, O'Keeffe resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip when forced to vote his confidence in the Minister.[3] On 26 February 2008 he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.[4]
He was a member of Cork County Council from 1985–97.
He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the South constituency. In the pre-election debate on Today FM he voiced his support for the use of Nuclear power and an incinerator in Cork Harbour.[5]
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[6]
References
- ^ "Mr. Ned O'Keeffe". Oireachtas Members Database. http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=16&MemberID=902&ConstID=210. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ "Ned O'Keeffe". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3499. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ "Harney survives confidence vote as rebel FF TD quits". Irish Independent. 29 November 2007. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/harney-survives-confidence-vote-as-rebel-ff-td-quits-1232570.html.
- ^ "Ned O'Keeffe readmitted to FF Dáil party". RTÉ News. 26 February 2008. http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0226/okeeffen.html.
- ^ European Elections Debate, South - The Last Word with Matt Cooper, Today FM, 25 May 2009
- ^ "Ahern, O'Keeffe not contesting election". RTÉ News. 24 January 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0124/politics1.html. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
Oireachtas Preceded by
Joe Sherlock
(Workers' Party)Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Cork East
1982–2011Succeeded by
Tom Barry
(Fine Gael)Political offices Preceded by
Jimmy DeenihanMinister of State (with special responsibility for Food)
1997–2001Succeeded by
Éamon Ó CuívCategories:- 1942 births
- Living people
- Fianna Fáil politicians
- Teachtaí Dála
- Members of the 16th Seanad
- Members of the 24th Dáil
- Members of the 25th Dáil
- Members of the 26th Dáil
- Members of the 27th Dáil
- Members of the 28th Dáil
- Members of the 29th Dáil
- Members of the 30th Dáil
- People from County Cork
- Irish farmers
- Alumni of University College Cork
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