- Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher ( _ga. Pádraig Ó Gallchóir; born 10 March 1948), is an Irish
Fianna Fáil politician. He is aTeachta Dála (TD) for Donegal South West. [cite web |url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&MemberID=446&ConstID=52
title=Mr. Pat (The Cope) Gallagher
work=Oireachtas Members Database
accessdate=2008-05-15]Gallagher was born in
Burtonport ,County Donegal . He was educated at Roshine N.S Dungloe, Luinneach N.S.Gweedore , Dungloe Secondary School, St Enda's College, Galway andUniversity College, Galway where he graduated with a B. Comm in 1970.cite web |url=http://www.patthecope.com |title=Pat The Cope Gallagher's website |accessdate=2008-02-22] Gallagher worked as a fish exporter until 1982, becoming involved in local politics in 1979. He was first elected toDáil Éireann in the 1981 general election, retaining his seat until retiring at the 1997 general election. Gallagher was appointed Minister of State for Marine & Gaeltacht in 1987, serving in that post until 1994.In 1994 he was elected to the
European Parliament as an MEP for Connacht-Ulster and was re-elected in the 1999 European elections. During his period in Europe, Gallagher was a member of a number of committees including Fisheries, Economic & Monetary and Industry & Energy. He returned to domestic politics to successfully contest the 2002 general election and he was appointed Minister of State at theDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government . InBertie Ahern 's Cabinet reshuffle in 2004 he received the portfolio of Minister of State for the Marine. Following a period in this role, Gallagher was moved to the Department of Transport in February 2006 where he served as Minister of State until May 2007. In June 2007 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety. He was not re-appointed as a Minister of State afterBrian Cowen becameTaoiseach in May 2008.His somewhat unusual
nickname "The Cope" refers to his family connection toThe Cope agriculturalco-operative which operates inThe Rosses area of Donegal. This nickname is even used officially, in his profile on the Fianna Fáil website.References
External links
* [http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4177 Gallagher's electroral history on ElectionsIreland.org]
* [http://www.fiannafail.ie/person.phpx?pid=78&bid=264&rel=TD&aid=110 Gallagher's page on the Fianna Fáil website] Navboxes
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