Thomas J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan politician)

Thomas James Fitzpatrick (14 February 1918 – 2 October 2006) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1982 to 1987, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry from 1981 to 1982, Minister for Transport and Power from 1976 to 1977 and Minister for Lands from 1973 to 1976. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1965 to 1989. He was a Senator for the Labour Panel from 1961 to 1965.[1]

Thomas J. Fitzpatrick
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office
14 December 1982  10 March 1987
DeputyJohn Ryan
Preceded byJohn O'Connell
Succeeded bySeán Treacy
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry
In office
30 June 1981  9 March 1982
TaoiseachGarret FitzGerald
Preceded byPaddy Power
Succeeded byBrendan Daly
Minister for Transport and Power
In office
2 December 1976  5 July 1977
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byPeter Barry
Succeeded byPádraig Faulkner
Minister for Lands
In office
14 March 1973  2 December 1976
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded bySeán Flanagan
Succeeded byPaddy Donegan
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1977  June 1989
ConstituencyCavan–Monaghan
In office
April 1965  June 1977
ConstituencyCavan
Senator
In office
1 July 1961  15 June 1965
ConstituencyLabour Panel
Personal details
Born
Thomas James Fitzpatrick

(1918-02-14)14 February 1918
Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland
Died2 October 2006(2006-10-02) (aged 88)
Cavan, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse(s)
Elizabeth Cullen
(m. 1946; died 1951)

Carmel McDonald
(m. 1973)
Children3
Alma materUniversity College Dublin

Fitzpatrick was born at Scotshouse, Clones, County Monaghan in 1918.[2] He was educated at St. Macartan's College, the Incorporated Law Society and University College Dublin where he qualified as a solicitor, and then entered practice as a solicitor in Cavan town.

Fitzpatrick first held political office in 1950, when he was elected to Cavan Urban District Council. In 1961, he moved to national politics when he was elected to Seanad Éireann. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan constituency at the 1965 general election.[3] He held many Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Defence, Health and Social Welfare, Justice and the Environment, as well as being Fine Gael Chief Whip from 1979 to 1981.

Fitzpatrick served in the Irish Government on several occasions under Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald. His first government post was in 1973, when he was appointed Minister for Lands. After Fine Gael lost power in 1977, he was mentioned as a possible leader of the party if a compromise were needed between FitzGerald and Cosgrave.[4] Following the November 1982 general election, he was elected as Ceann Comhairle, a post which he held until 1987.[5] Fitzpatrick was re-elected to the Dáil (or automatically returned as Ceann Comhairle) at every election until 1989 when he retired from politics.

References

  1. "Thomas J. Fitzpatrick". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  2. "Former Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil dies". RTÉ News. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  3. "Thomas J. Fitzpatrick". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  4. "Influential behind scenes during FG turmoil", The Irish Times obituary, 7 October 2006.
  5. "Former ceann comhairle Tom Fitzpatrick dies". The Irish Times. 2 October 2006.
Political offices
Preceded by
Seán Flanagan
Minister for Lands
1973–1976
Succeeded by
Paddy Donegan
Preceded by
Peter Barry
Minister for Transport and Power
1976–977
Succeeded by
Pádraig Faulkner
Preceded by
Paddy Power
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry
1981–1982
Succeeded by
Brendan Daly
Preceded by
John O'Connell
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
1982–1987
Succeeded by
Seán Treacy
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