Mark Clinton

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Mark Clinton (7 February 1915 – 23 December 2001) was a senior Irish Fine Gael politician.

Clinton was born to a farming family at Moynalty, Kells, County Meath, in February, 1915. He was known as an accomplished Gaelic footballer in his youth and played on the Meath GAA team defeated in the 1939 All Ireland by Kerry. He served as a member of Dublin County Council from 1955 and represented various County Dublin constituencies as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) from 1961 until his retirement from Dáil Eireann in 1981.

In 1973 he joined the Irish Government of Liam Cosgrave as a Minister in the National Coalition. Clinton is best remembered as the Agriculture Minister who negotiated Ireland's entry into the EU's Common Agriculture Policy, a development which brought billions of pounds to Irish farming and agri business. He served in government until 1977 and retired from the Dáil in 1981. Clinton also served in the European Parliament from 1979 to 1989 and his political experience was recognised by his election as vice-president of that assembly.

Mark Clinton died in a Dublin nursing home on December 23, 2001, survived by his wife and six of his seven children.

Political offices
Preceded by Jim Gibbons	Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries 1973–1977	Succeeded by Jim Gibbons

[edit] External links

• Mark Clinton's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database

v • d • e « 1979–1984 «   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (1984–1989)   » 1989–1994 » Connacht-Ulster Seán Flanagan (FF / EDA) • Joe McCartin (FG / EPP) • Ray MacSharry (FF / EDA) Dublin Niall Andrews (FF / EDA) • Mary Banotti (FG / EPP) • Eileen Lemass (FF / EDA) • Richie Ryan (FG / EPP) Leinster Mark Clinton (FG / EPP) • Jim Fitzsimons (FF / EDA) • Patrick Lalor (FF / EDA) Munster Sylvester Barrett (FF / EDA) • Gene FitzGerald (FF / EDA) • T. J. Maher (IND / ELDR) • Tom O'Donnell (FG / EPP) • Tom Raftery (FG / EPP)

v • d • e « 1977–1979 «   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (1979–1984)   » 1984–1989 » Connacht-Ulster Neil Blaney (IFF / CDI) • Seán Flanagan (FF / EPD) • Joe McCartin (FG / EPP) Dublin Síle de Valera (FF / EPD) • John O'Connell1 (LAB / PES) • Michael O'Leary2 (LAB / PES) • Richie Ryan (FG / EPP) Leinster Mark Clinton (FG / EPP) • Liam Kavanagh3 (LAB / PES) • Patrick Lalor (FF / EPD) Munster Jerry Cronin (FF / EPD) • Noel Davern (FF / EPD) • Eileen Desmond4 (LAB / PES) • T. J. Maher (IND / ELDR) • Tom O'Donnell (FG / EPP) 1Substituted by John Horgan5 (LAB / PES) on 21 October 1981 • 2Substituted by Frank Cluskey6 (LAB / PES) on 1 July 1981 • 3Substituted by Séamus Pattison7 (LAB / PES) on 9 July 1981 • 4Substituted by Seán Treacy (LAB / PES) on 9 July 1981 5Substituted by Flor O'Mahony (LAB / PES) on 2 March 1983 • 6Substituted by Brendan Halligan (LAB / PES) on 2 March 1983 • 7Substituted by Justin Keating (LAB / PES) on 8 February 1984