- Michael Smith (Irish politician)
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For other people named Michael Smith, see Michael Smith (disambiguation).
Michael Smith Teachta Dála In office
February 1987 – May 2007In office
June 1977 – February 1982In office
June 1969 – February 1973Constituency Tipperary North Senator In office
February 1983 – February 1987Constituency Cultural and Educational Panel In office
May 1982 – December 1982Constituency Agricultural Panel Personal details Born 8 November 1940
Roscrea, County TipperaryNationality Irish Political party Fianna Fáil Michael Smith (born 8 November 1940) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for Tipperary North on several occasions since 1969. He previously served in Seanad Éireann (1982–1987), as Minister for Energy (1988–1989), Minister for the Environment (1992–1994), Minister for Education (1994) and Minister for Defence (1997–2004).[1]
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Background and education
Michael Smith was born in Roscrea, County Tipperary in 1940. He was educated at CBS Templemore in County Tipperary. Smith worked as a farmer before he entered Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD.[2]
He lost his seat at the 1973 general election but was re-elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1977 general election.
1980s political career
In 1980 Charles Haughey was Taoiseach and Smith was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture. Smith lost his Dáil seat again at the February 1982 general election, and failed to regain it at the November 1982 general election. He spent the next five years as a Senator in Seanad Éireann, elected first on the Agricultural Panel and then on the Cultural and Educational Panel, before his re-election to the Dáil at the 1987 general election.
When he was returned to the Dáil at the 1987 general election he became Minister of State at the Department of Energy. In 1988 he was appointed to Cabinet as the Minister for Energy. His stay as Minister was short because following the 1989 general election he was demoted to Minister of State for Science & Technology.
Political career 1992–2007
In 1992 he returned to Cabinet for two years as Minister for the Environment. In October 1997 he replaced David Andrews as Minister for Defence and held that position until he was dropped from the Cabinet in a reshuffle in 2004. During his tenure Smith dealt with the Army deafness compensation issue that ultimately resulted in claims of €300 million against the State.
At the 2007 general election he lost his seat to Noel Coonan of Fine Gael.
References
- ^ "Mr. Michael Smith". Oireachtas Members Database. http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=29&MemberID=1045&ConstID=171. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ^ "Michael Smith". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=2968. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
« 15th Seanad « Members of the 16th Seanad Éireann (1982–1983) » 17th Seanad » Administrative Panel Luke Belton (FG) • Katharine Bulbulia (FG) • Sean Conway (FF) • Micheál Cranitch (FF) • Tras Honan (FF) • Billy Kenneally (FF) • Flor O'Mahony (Lab)
Agricultural Panel Bernard Durkan (FG) • Michael Ferris (Lab) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Richard Hourigan (FG) • Thomas Hussey (FF) • Joseph Lennon (FG) • John Mannion, Jnr (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Martin O'Toole (FF) • William Ryan (FF) • Michael Smith (FF)
Cultural and Educational Panel Séamus de Brún (FF) • Joachim Loughrey (FG) • Timothy McAuliffe (Lab) • Mary O'Rourke (FF) • Madeleine Taylor (FG)
Industrial and Commercial Panel Deirdre Bolger (FG) • Timmy Conway (Lab) • Jack Daly (FG) • Seán Fallon (FF) • William Farrell (FF) • Michael Howard (FG) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) • Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF)
Labour Panel Monica Barnes (FG) • Toddie Byrne (FG) • Donie Cassidy (FF) • Denis Cregan (FG) • Dick Dowling (FG) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Anthony Herbert (FF) • Mark Killilea, Jnr (FF) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Maurice O'Connell (FG)
National University of Ireland James Dooge (FG) • John A. Murphy (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Ind)
University of Dublin Mary Robinson (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind) • Trevor West (Ind)
Nominated by the Taoiseach Paudge Brennan (FF) • Flor Crowley (FF) • Camilla Hannon (FF) • James Larkin (Ind FF) • Seamus Mallon (Ind) • P. J. Mara (FF) • Bernard McGlinchey (FF) • M. J. Nolan (FF) • Ned O'Keeffe (FF) • John Robb (Ind) • G. V. Wright (FF)
Nominated December 1982 Aidan Eames (FF) • Seán O'Connor (??) • Frank Wall (FF)
FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • Ind: Independent • Ind FF: Independent Fianna Fáil • ??: Unknown partyHaughey 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
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
Ahern Cabinet (2002–2007) Dermot Ahern · Séamus Brennan · Brian Cowen · Mary Coughlan · Martin Cullen · Noel Dempsey · Mary Hanafin · Mary Harney · Charlie McCreevy · Michael McDowell · Micheál Martin · Éamon Ó Cuív · John O'Donoghue · Willie O'Dea · Dick Roche · Michael Smith · Joe Walsh
Categories:- 1940 births
- Living people
- Fianna Fáil politicians
- Teachtaí Dála
- Members of the 16th Seanad
- Members of the 17th Seanad
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- Members of the 26th Dáil
- Members of the 27th Dáil
- Members of the 28th Dáil
- Members of the 29th Dáil
- People from County Tipperary
- Irish farmers
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