Michael Hilliard

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Michael Hilliard (11 March 19031 January 1982) was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician.

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1943 general election, as a TD for Meath-Westmeath. During his career he served in the governments of Seán Lemass and Jack Lynch. During his tenure as Minister for Posts & Telegraphs Hilliard oversaw the introduction of a television service in Ireland, Radio Telefís Éireann.

He retained his Dáil seat at eight further general elections, switching to the new Meath constituency after constituencies were revised for the 1948 general election. However, at the 1973 general election, he lost his seat to his party colleague Brendan Crinion. He did not contest any further Dáil elections.

While a TD in 1973, Hilliard was appointed a Member of the European Parliament as part of Ireland's short-lived first delegation.

His son Colm Hilliard was Fianna Fáil TD for Meath from 1982–1997.

[edit] Political career

Political offices
Preceded by
Gerald Bartley
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce
1958–1959
Succeeded by
Office abolished
Preceded by
John Ormonde
Minister for Posts & Telegraphs
1959–1965
Succeeded by
Joseph Brennan
Preceded by
Gerald Bartley
Minister for Defence
1965–1969
Succeeded by
Jim Gibbons

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database