Ned O'Keeffe

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Edmond "Ned" O'Keeffe (Irish: Éamonn Ó Caoimh; born August, 1942) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a TD for Cork East.

Ned O'Keeffe was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork in 1942. He was educated at Darra College, Clonakilty and University College Cork, where he received a diploma in Social and Rural Science. O'Keeffe was a farmer by profession before becoming involved in politics. O'Keeffe was appointed to the Seanad in 1982 as a nominee of the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD at the November 1982 election. He has retained his seat at every general election since then.

Since his election in 1982, O'Keeffe has served in a number of positions. He was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Industry from 1982 until 1987. Even though Fianna Fáil were in power between 1987 and 1994 O'Keeffe remained on the backbenches. When Bertie Ahern became party leader in 1994 O'Keeffe was appointed Deputy Spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science, Technology and Small Business. He served in that position until 1997 when he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture & Food. He served in that position until February 2001 when he had to resign due to his voting on a Dáil motion without declaring that he had a beneficial interest in the subject matter.

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by Joe Sherlock (Sinn Féin the Workers Party)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Cork East 1982 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Jimmy Deenihan	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Food) 1997–2001	Succeeded by Éamon Ó Cuív