Des Hanafin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Des Hanafin (born 1930) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a member of Seanad Éireann for over 30 years.

Des Hanafin was born in Thurles, County Tipperary in 1930. Born into a political family., Hanafin's father was a Fianna Fáil councillor for North Tipperary County Council and had been elected previously as a Sinn Féin councillor before independence.

Des Hanafin was elected a member of North Tipperary County Council in 1955, holding his seat until 1985. He was first elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and retained his seat until the 1993 Seanad Elections at which he lost his seat by 1 vote. He regained his seat at the 1997 Election and retired from politics in 2002. He unsuccessfully contested the Dáil elections of 1977 and 1981. He was a chief fundraiser of the Fianna Fáil party for many years.

An implacable opponent of social change in Ireland, Hanafin was one of the promoters of the so-called Pro-Life Amendment, the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution that explicitly banned Abortion in Ireland. Hanafin also opposed the introduction of Divorce in Ireland, but despite his efforts, Divorce was finally legalised in the 1990s.

Hanafin's daughter Mary Hanafin is currently a Teachta Dála and is currently the Minister for Education and Science. His son, John Gerard Hanafin is currently a member of Seanad Éireann.