Michael Smith (Irish politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other people by this name, see Michael Smith.

Michael Smith (Irish: Micheál Mac Gabhann; born 11 November 1940) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Tipperary North on several occasions since 1969. He has 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).

Michael Smith was born in Roscrea, County Tipperary in 1940. He was educated by the Christian Brothers 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. He lost his seat at the 1973 general election but was re-elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1977 election. 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, and failed to regain it at the November 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 in 1987.

When he was returned to the Lower House of the Oireachtas at the 1987 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. 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.

He is one of only three TDs in the current Dáil who were first elected in the 1960s, the others are Séamus Pattison, elected in the 1961 general election and Noel Davern, also elected in the 1969 general election.

[edit] Political career

Preceded by Patrick Tierney (Labour Party)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Tipperary North 1969–1973	Succeeded by John Ryan (Labour Party)
Preceded by Thomas Dunne (Fine Gael)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Tipperary North 1977–1982	Succeeded by David Molony (Fine Gael)
Preceded by John Ryan (Labour Party)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Tipperary North 1987–	Succeeded by Current Incumbent
Preceded by Thomas Hussey	Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture 1980–1981	Succeeded by Michael D'Arcy
Preceded by Ray Burke	Minister for Energy 1988–1989	Succeeded by Bobby Molloy
Preceded by Rory O'Hanlon	Minister for the Environment 1992–1994	Succeeded by Brendan Howlin
Preceded by Niamh Bhreathnach	Minister for Education 1994	Succeeded by Niamh Bhreathnach
Preceded by David Andrews	Minister for Defence 1997–2004	Succeeded by Willie O'Dea

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database