Desmond O'Malley
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| Desmond O'Malley | |
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| In office 21 December 1985 – 12 October 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Newly created position |
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| Succeeded by | Mary Harney |
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| In office 9 March 1982 – 7 October 1982 |
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| Preceded by | John Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Paddy Power |
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| In office 12 July 1989 – 4 November 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Burke |
| Succeeded by | Pádraig Flynn |
| In office 5 July 1977 – 30 June 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Justin Keating |
| Succeeded by | John Kelly |
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| In office 5 May 1970 – 14 March 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Micheál Ó Moráin |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Cooney |
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| Born | 2 February 1939 Limerick Ireland |
| Political party | (1) Fianna Fáil (1968-1985) (2) Progressive Democrats (1985-2002) |
Desmond Joseph (Des) O'Malley (Irish: Deasún Ó Máille; born 2 February 1939) was an Irish politician. Once prominent as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) and government minister in the 1970s and 1980s, he went on to found the Progressive Democrats and serve as the party's first leader from 1985 until 1993.
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[edit] Early life
O'Malley was born in Limerick City, Ireland in 1939. He was educated at the Jesuit Crescent College and at University College Dublin where he qualified with a degree in law in 1962. O’Malley’s family had been involved in politics for many decades. His grandfather was killed during the War of Independence by the Black and Tans. Two of his uncles and his father held the office of Mayor of Limerick.
O'Malley's uncle, Donagh O'Malley, as Minister for Education was a seminal figure in the development of Irish education. He died suddenly on his way to a function in Ennis, County Clare in 1968 while still in office. The young O'Malley was elected to Dáil Éireann for Fianna Fáil in the subsequent by-election in the Limerick East constituency. Much of the credit for O'Malley's by-election victory on 22 May was due, it was commonly believed at the time, to Neil Blaney and his "Donegal Mafia". These supposedly helped ensure that O'Malley won the election after a bitter and acrimonious selection convention.
Following the 1969 general election O'Malley was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach, during which time he also acted as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence. The Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, noticed early on the ability and intelligence that lay in O'Malley. From an early stage he was singled out as a possible future leader of the Fianna Fáil Party and Taoiseach.
As Parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence, Jim Gibbons, O'Malley had a central role in the Arms Crisis of 1970. It is a contested point as to how big a role O'Malley's played in preparing this seminal case for the state. The case against the accused government ministers (Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney) was quickly dismissed in the Supreme Court and the ministers were acquitted. While they were dropped from the cabinet, Charles Haughey would later come back as Taoiseach nine years later, with memories still very much alive of O'Malley's role in the prosecution.
Many questions remain around the Arms Crisis. Files went missing from the Department of Justice. O'Malley's later claimed to want to illuminate "dark passages" of Irish political life.
In the wake of the Arms Crisis in 1970 O'Malley succeeded Micheál Ó Móráin as Minister for Justice. During his tenure at Justice O'Malley started to tackle the problem of the Provisional IRA. He wanted to introduce internment without trial for IRA suspects in the Republic but his plans were scrapped due to the controversial nature of this new legislation. Because of his hard-line on the IRA he was the subject of an ongoing assassination threat and was forced to carry a loaded pistol and was frequently moved from house to house.
[edit] Fianna Fáil majority
In the 1977 general election Fianna Fáil received a 23 seat majority in Dáil Éireann. The major portfolios were all dominated by Jack Lynch's supporters - George Colley became Minister for Finance, Martin O'Donoghue was appointed Minister for Economic Planning & Development while O'Malley became Minister for Industry and Commerce. O'Malley worked well and was well suited to the challenge of his portfolio; the proposed Carnsore Point nuclear plant was, however, a low point.
Two years later in 1979 Lynch resigned as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil. Two candidates emerged in the leadership contest, George Colley and Charles Haughey. O'Malley and O'Donoghue managed Colley's campaign; however, neither of them knew that most of the backbench TDs were going to vote for Haughey, who won. In the days after the ballot Colley, O'Malley and O'Donoghue considered whether they would even vote for Haughey's nomination as Taoiseach. However when it came to it all three voted for Haughey. Colley and O'Malley retained their positions in the government, however, Martin O'Donoghue's department was scrapped.
[edit] Opposition to Haughey
Following the February 1982 general election Fianna Fáil, led by Haughey, failed to win an overall majority in the Dáil. The party met a few days later to discuss the issue of the leadership of the Party and the nomination for Taoiseach. Haughey was seen as the main reason for the election defeat. George Colley dropped his own claims to the succession and threw all of his support behind O'Malley who was seen as a more acceptable candidate to a deeply divided Party and electorate. When the meeting was held a vote on the leadership was not taken and O'Malley withdrew his challenge. Some of his key supporters, including Martin O'Donoghue, urged him to back out at the last minute. He had no choice but to concede. Haughey was elected Taoiseach and O'Malley was still appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism.
On 1 October 1982, another challenge to Haughey was initiated, this time by the Kildare TD, Charlie McCreevy. McCreevy although a supporter of Haughey grew disillusioned with his economic policies and put down a motion of no confidence in the leader. O'Malley was on holiday in Spain at the time but rushed back to join the campaign. He disagreed with the timing of the challenge but had no choice but to put his own name forward as a possible alternative to Haughey. On the morning of the vote O'Malley and his supporters resigned from the Cabinet due to the fact that they were going to vote against Haughey. After the meeting that went on all day and all night Haughey won an open vote by 58 votes to 22. The TDs who voted against Haughey eventually became known as the Gang of 22.
In 1983 a new Fine Gael–Labour Party government was in power. The Minister for Justice, Michael Noonan, revealed that the last government was involved in the tapping of certain journalists telephones. Haughey was implicated in the scandal because it occurred during his tenure as Taoiseach. This time it looked as if the game was up and that he would resign. The race to succeed him began with O'Malley, Gerard Collins, Michael O'Kennedy, Brian Lenihan and John P. Wilson all showing an interest in the post of Party leader, even while Haughey was still in power. On 7 February 1983, Fianna Fáil met to debate the issue. The report into the telephone tapping was read out and it cleared Haughey from any wrong-doing and put more blame on Martin O'Donoghue than the other TDs involved. His opponents were sceptical and were determined to push the issue to a secret ballot. A vote was taken however Haughey carried the day by winning 40 votes to 33.
With Haughey now completely in control of the party, O'Malley and his supporters became disillusioned. George Colley died in 1983 and O'Donoghue was no longer a TD. O'Malley also became isolated within Fianna Fáil with many of his supporters giving up hope of ever beating Charlie Haughey.
[edit] Expulsion from Fianna Fáil
In May 1984 the New-Ireland Forum Report was published. Haughey was a key figure in the Forum and agreed to several possible solutions for solving the problem of Northern Ireland. However when the report became public Haughey backtracked and said the only possible solution was a United Ireland. This statement was criticised by the other leaders who forged the New-Ireland Forum, namely Garret FitzGerald, Dick Spring and John Hume.
O'Malley strongly criticised Haughey's position and accused him of stifling debate. At a meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party to discuss the report the whip was removed from O'Malley and he was no longer a Fianna Fáil TD, being forced to sit on the Independent TD benches along with another Fianna Fáil exile, the hard-line Irish Republican Neil Blaney.
In early 1985 a bill was introduced by the Fine Gael–Labour Party government to liberalise the sale of contraceptives in the country. Fianna Fáil opposed the bill. O'Malley considered it a matter of conscience over anything else and wanted to support it. On the day of the vote O'Malley delivered an electrifying speech in the Dáil chamber. He said:
The politics of this would be very easy. The politics would be to be one of the lads, the safest way in Ireland. But I do not believe that the interests of this State or our Constitution and of this Republic would be served by putting politics before conscience in regard to this. There is a choice of a kind that can only be answered by saying that I stand by the Republic and accordingly, I will not oppose this Bill. ([1])
O'Malley left his Fianna Fáil colleagues squirming in their seats as he completely dismantled their argument. When it came to a vote he abstained rather than cross the floor and vote with the government. Haughey wasn't going to let this slide. On 26 February 1985, O'Malley was summoned to a Party meeting and was charged with "conduct unbecoming". Following a roll-call vote O'Malley was expelled from the Fianna Fáil organisation by 73 votes to 9. After three attempts by O'Malley to oust Haughey, Haughey had finally won and was in complete control of the Party. At the age of 46 it looked as if O'Malley's political career was over.
[edit] The Progressive Democrats
Immediately after O'Malley's expulsion he was contacted by a young Fine Gael activist named Michael McDowell. He encouraged O'Malley to found a new political party and offered any help he could give. On 21 December 1985, O'Malley announced publicly for the first time the formation of the Progressive Democrats. Several Fianna Fáil TDs joined including Mary Harney and Bobby Molloy. Within a few weeks the Party numbers swelled and tens of thousands of pounds were collected in donations.
In the 1987 general election the Progressive Democrats won 14 seats making it the third biggest party in the Dáil. Among the TDs elected were O'Malley and his cousin Patrick O'Malley; Anne Colley, daughter of George Colley, Martin Gibbons, son of the former Fianna Fáil Minister and Martin Cullen. Fianna Fáil returned to power with Haughey as head of a minority government.
[edit] Coalition with Fianna Fáil
In May 1989 Haughey made one of his biggest political mistakes. He called an early general election in the hope of winning an overall majority. When the results came in Fianna Fáil actually lost seats. The Progressive Democrats lost 8 seats but they still held the balance of power. Haughey had failed to be elected Taoiseach in the Dáil vote with O'Malley's Progressive Democrats voting for Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes. After Haughey formally resigned he entered into negotiations with the Progressive Democrats about forming a coalition. The vast majority of Haughey's Cabinet was vehemently opposed to any coalition deal but Haughey was desperate for power. On 5 July 1989, Haughey and O'Malley agreed a deal for government. In the new cabinet O'Malley was appointed Minister for Industry & Commerce.
In 1990 the Fianna Fáil nominee in the presidential election was Brian Lenihan, a hugely popular figure in politics. A few weeks before the election a scandal broke surrounding Lenihan and the accusation that he phoned President Hillery in 1982, asking him not to dissolve the Dáil following the fall of Garret FitzGerald's government. Lenihan had always denied this, but now new evidence had come to light. O'Malley was very concerned over this and the effect it would have on the coalition. He met with Haughey and told him that the Progressive Democrats would pull out of the coalition and support a no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition unless 1) Lenihan left the Government or 2) Haughey opened an investigation into the 1982 incident. Ultimately, Haughey sacked Lenihan.
In early 1992 the programme for government was up for renewal by both parties. When it was revealed by Seán Doherty that Haughey had authorised the tapping of two journalists' telephones in 1982, O'Malley decided that the Progressive Democrats could no longer remain in a government led by Haughey. Haughey eventually resigned on 11 February 1992 and was replaced by Albert Reynolds.
O'Malley and the Progressive Democrats continued in government until the Beef Tribunal. When Reynolds accused O'Malley of being 'dishonest' while giving evidence, the Progressive Democrats immediately withdrew from the government and a general election was called. Fianna Fáil returned to power in coalition with the Labour Party. The Progressive Democrats were now confined to the Opposition benches.
[edit] Retirement
In October 1993 O'Malley retired as leader of the Progressive Democrats. He was succeeded by Mary Harney, one of the co-founders of the party. In 1994 O'Malley ran for the European Parliament but was defeated by Pat Cox, a sitting MEP who left the PDs to run as an independent when O'Malley was selected as the candidate to replace him. He remained on as a TD until his complete retirement from politics at the 2002 general election, when he was succeeded as TD by his cousin, Tim O'Malley. His daughter, Fiona O'Malley, was elected to the Dáil as a Progressive Democrats TD continuing the O'Malley dynasty that lasted from 1954.
Vehemently opposed to Charles Haughey's leadership throughout his political career, Desmond O'Malley is regarded as a 'Taoiseach that never was' due largely to his position on the high moral ground where the national electorate rarely treads.
In 1999, Jack Lynch, the 1970s leader of Fianna Fáil died, and O'Malley was selected to give the graveside oration, a tradition at the burial of political leaders in Ireland. This was remarkable, because the orator is usually chosen for their fidelity to the political beliefs of the leader being buried, and O'Malley had led a damaging split from Fianna Fáil. The selection of O'Malley to give the oration suggested that Lynch's family believed that, in the great dispute with Haughey, it was Haughey, not O'Malley, who had betrayed Fianna Fáil ideals.
[edit] Political career
| Oireachtas | ||
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| Preceded by Donagh O'Malley |
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Limerick East 1968–1985 |
Succeeded by O'Malley leaves Fianna Fáil and founds the Progressive Democrats |
| Preceded by O'Malley was previously a member of Fianna Fáil |
Progressive Democrats Teachta Dála for Limerick East 1985–2002 |
Succeeded by Tim O'Malley |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael Carty |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach (Government Chief Whip) 1969–1970 |
Succeeded by David Andrews |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence 1969–1970 |
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| Preceded by Micheál Ó Móráin |
Minister for Justice 1970–1973 |
Succeeded by Patrick Cooney |
| Preceded by Justin Keating |
Minister for Industry & Commerce 1977–1981 |
Succeeded by John Kelly |
| Preceded by John Kelly |
Minister for Trade, Commerce & Tourism Feb. 1982–Oct. 1982 |
Succeeded by Pádraig Flynn |
| Preceded by Newly Created Party |
Leader of the Progressive Democrats 1985–1993 |
Succeeded by Mary Harney |
| Preceded by Ray Burke |
Minister for Industry & Commerce 1989–1992 |
Succeeded by Pádraig Flynn |
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[edit] See also
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
