Thomas J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan politician)

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For other people named Tom Fitzpatrick, including the Dublin Fianna Fáil politician Thomas J. Fitzpatrick see Tom Fitzpatrick (disambiguation)

Thomas J. "Tom" Fitzpatrick (14 February, 1918–2 October 2006) was a Irish Fine Gael politician.

Tom Fitzpatrick was born at Scotshouse, Clones, County Monaghan in 1918. He was educated at St. Macartan's College, the Incorporated Law Society and University College Dublin where he qualified as a solicitor. Fitzpatrick first became involved in politics 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 at the 1965 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Cavan. He held many Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Defence, Health & 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 two Taoisigh, 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. ^[1] Following the November 1982 general election, he was elected Ceann Comhairle, a post which he held until 1987. ^[1] Fitzpatrick was reelected (or automatically returned as Ceann Comhairle) at every election until 1989 when he retired from politics.

Preceded by: Seán Flanagan	Minister for Lands 1973–1976	Succeeded by: Paddy Donegan
Preceded by: Peter Barry	Minister for Transport & Power 1976–1977	Succeeded by: Pádraig Faulkner
Preceded by: Paddy Power	Minister for Fisheries & Forestry 1981–1982	Succeeded by: Brendan Daly
Preceded by: John O'Connell	Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann 1982–1987	Succeeded by: Seán Treacy

Speakers of Dáil Éireann Cinn Comhairlí Dáil Éireann
Cathal Brugha \| Sean T. O'Kelly \| Eoin MacNeill \| Michael Hayes \| Frank Fahy \| Patrick Hogan \| Cormac Breslin \| Seán Treacy \| Joseph Brennan \| Pádraig Faulkner \| John O'Connell \| Thomas Fitzpatrick \| Séamus Pattison \| Rory O'Hanlon