- Michael Woods (politician)
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For other people named Michael Woods, see Michael Woods (disambiguation).
Michael Woods Minister for Education and Science In office
27 January 2000 – 6 June 2002Preceded by Micheál Martin Succeeded by Noel Dempsey Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources In office
26 June 1997 – 27 January 2000Preceded by Seán Barrett Succeeded by Frank Fahey Minister for the Marine In office
11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993Preceded by John P. Wilson Succeeded by David Andrews Minister for Agriculture and Food In office
14 November 1991 – 11 February 1992Preceded by Michael O'Kennedy Succeeded by Joe Walsh Minister for Social Welfare In office
12 January 1993 – 15 December 1994Preceded by Charlie McCreevy Succeeded by Prionsias de Rossa In office
10 March 1987 – 13 November 1991Preceded by Gemma Hussey Succeeded by Brendan Daly In office
9 March 1982 – 14 December 1982Preceded by Eileen Desmond Succeeded by Barry Desmond In office
12 December 1979 – 30 June 1981Preceded by Charles Haughey Succeeded by Eileen Desmond Minister for Health In office
17 November 1994 – 15 December 1994Preceded by Brendan Howlin Succeeded by Michael Noonan In office
9 March 1982 – 14 December 1982Preceded by Eileen Desmond Succeeded by Barry Desmond In office
12 December 1979 – 30 June 1981Preceded by Charles Haughey Succeeded by Eileen Desmond Government Chief Whip In office
1 July 1979 – 11 December 1979Preceded by Patrick Lalor Succeeded by Seán Moore Teachta Dála In office
June 1981 – February 2011Constituency Dublin North East In office
June 1977 – June 1981Constituency Dublin Clontarf Personal details Born 8 December 1935
Bray, County Wicklow, IrelandNationality Irish Political party Fianna Fáil Spouse(s) Margot Maher Children 5 Alma mater University College Dublin,
Harvard Business SchoolOccupation University lecturer Religion Roman Catholic Michael Woods (born 8 December 1935) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Agriculture and Food, Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Health.[1]
Life
Woods was born in County Wicklow in December 1935. He was educated at Christian Brothers in Synge Street, Dublin; University College Dublin and Harvard Business School. He qualified with a degree in Agricultural science and a PhD in science.
Woods joined Fianna Fáil in 1968. At the 1977 general election he stood for the Dáil in the Dublin Clontarf constituency as a Fianna Fáil candidate. He was elected alongside Fianna Fáil stalwart George Colley. From 1981 to 2011, he was elected for the Dublin North East constituency.[2] In 1979 Jack Lynch appointed him as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Government Chief Whip). That same year Woods supported Colley in his leadership bid, but the other candidate, Charles Haughey, was successful.
Despite Woods' support for the opponent, Haughey appointed him Minister for Health and Social Welfare. He held that post until 1981 and again in the short-lived 1982 government. In 1987 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Woods returned as Minister for Social Welfare. In 1991, he became Minister for Agriculture and Food. In 1992 Woods entered the leadership contest to succeed Haughey as leader. He received little support and withdrew from the contest. The eventual victor, Albert Reynolds, retained Woods as Minister for the Marine in his new Cabinet. Following the formation of the Fianna Fáil–Labour Party coalition in 1993 Woods remained in the Cabinet and was appointed Minister for Health.
In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power after three years in opposition. Woods was appointed Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. He introduced a £70 million overhaul of Ireland's fishing fleet and also launched a new maritime college. In the Cabinet reshuffle in 2000 Woods replaced Micheál Martin as Minister for Education. He failed to be retained in the Cabinet following the 2002 general election. He was Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs from 2002–2007.
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[3]
Controversies
While serving as Minister for Education, Woods signed a controversial agreement with 18 Irish religious orders involved in child sex-abuse scandals which limited their compensation liability to the victims of abuse to only €128 million. This compensation scheme is project to eventually cost the Irish government, and therefore the Irish tax payers, €1.35 billion. The agreement was signed just before the 2002 general election, and consequently was not laid before the cabinet for its approval. It then remained unpublished for several months.
In 2003 after brokering the deal, Woods claimed his strong Catholic faith made him the most suitable person to negotiate the deal.[4] He also denied allegations that he was a member of Opus Dei or the Knights of Saint Columbanus after the group Survivors of Child Abuse alleged he was a member of the former.[4]
After the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA), Michael Woods defended the deal, claimed the Department of Education and Science had the management role in the schools in question and that the state knew all the details when making the deal.[5] Mary Raftery criticised his remarks, pointing out that some of them contradicted remarks made by Woods himself.[5] Further, Woods declined to allow CICA to examine the legality of the court orders that committed the child inmates for decades into the industrial school system.
References
- ^ "Mr. Michael Woods". Oireachtas Members Database. http://oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&MemberID=1113&ConstID=88. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Michael Woods". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3126. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Woods on €106,000 pension as struggling party loses 11th TD". Irish Independent. 7 January 2011. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/woods-on-euro106000-pension-as-struggling-party-loses-11th-td-2487653.html. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ a b Eoghan Williams (12 October 2003). "My faith helped to save church abuse deal, says Woods". Sunday Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/my-faith-helped-to-save-church-abuse-deal-says-woods-495734.html. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
- ^ a b Mary Raftery (25 May 2009). "Woods gives preview of the conservative fightback". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0525/1224247322672.html. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
Haughey Cabinet (1979–1981) Sylvester Barrett · Ray Burke · George Colley · Gerry Collins · Pádraig Faulkner · Gene Fitzgerald · Máire Geoghegan-Quinn · Brian Lenihan · Ray MacSharry · Tom Nolan · Michael O'Kennedy · Desmond O'Malley · Paddy Power · Albert Reynolds · John Wilson · Michael Woods
Haughey Cabinet (1982) Ray Burke · Gerard Brady · Gerry Collins · Brendan Daly · Seán Doherty · Gene Fitzgerald · Pádraig Flynn · Denis Gallagher · Brian Lenihan · Ray MacSharry · Martin O'Donoghue · Desmond O'Malley · Paddy Power · Albert Reynolds · John Wilson · Michael Woods
Haughey Cabinet (1987–1989) Bertie Ahern · Ray Burke · Gerry Collins · Brendan Daly · Pádraig Flynn · Brian Lenihan · Ray MacSharry · Michael J. Noonan · Rory O'Hanlon · Michael O'Kennedy · Mary O'Rourke · Albert Reynolds · Michael Smith · John Wilson · Michael Woods
Haughey Cabinet (1989–1992) Bertie Ahern · Vincent Brady · Séamus Brennan · Ray Burke · Gerry Collins · Brendan Daly · Noel Davern · Pádraig Flynn · Brian Lenihan · Bobby Molloy · Rory O'Hanlon · Michael O'Kennedy · Desmond O'Malley · Mary O'Rourke · Albert Reynolds · John Wilson · Michael Woods
Reynolds Cabinet (1992–1993) Bertie Ahern · Séamus Brennan · David Andrews · Brian Cowen · Pádraig Flynn · Máire Geoghegan-Quinn · Charlie McCreevy · Bobby Molloy · John O'Connell · Desmond O'Malley · Michael Smith · Joe Walsh · John Wilson · Michael Woods
Reynolds Cabinet (1993–1994) Bertie Ahern · David Andrews · Niamh Bhreathnach · Brian Cowen · Máire Geoghegan-Quinn · Michael D. Higgins · Brendan Howlin · Charlie McCreevy · Ruairi Quinn · Michael Smith · Dick Spring · Mervyn Taylor · Joe Walsh · Michael Woods
Ahern Cabinet (1997–2002) Dermot Ahern · David Andrews · Ray Burke · Brian Cowen · Noel Dempsey · Síle de Valera · Frank Fahey · Mary Harney · Charlie McCreevy · Jim McDaid · Micheál Martin · John O'Donoghue · Mary O'Rourke · Michael Smith · Joe Walsh · Michael Woods
Categories:- 1935 births
- Fianna Fáil politicians
- Living people
- Teachtaí Dála
- 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
- Members of the 27th Dáil
- Members of the 28th Dáil
- Members of the 29th Dáil
- Members of the 30th Dáil
- People from County Wicklow
- Alumni of University College Dublin
- Harvard Business School alumni
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