Michael Smith (Irish politician)
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| Michael Smith | |
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| In office 1969 – 1973 |
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| Constituency | Tipperary North |
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| Constituency | Tipperary North |
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| In office 1982 – 1982 |
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| Constituency | Agricultural Panel |
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| In office 1982 – 1987 |
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| Constituency | Cultural and Educational |
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Teachta Dála
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| In office 1987 – 2007 |
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| Constituency | Tipperary North |
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| Born | November 11, 1940 Roscrea, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Religion | Catholic |
Michael Smith (Irish: Micheál Mac Gabhann; born 11 November 1940) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was 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 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 general 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 election, and failed to regain it at the November 1982 general 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 at the 1987 general election. At the 2007 general election he lost his seat to Noel Coonan of Fine Gael.
When he was returned to the Dáil at the 1987 general 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 was one of only three TDs in the 29th 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] References
- This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
| Oireachtas | ||
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| 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 1987–2007 |
Succeeded by Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) |
| Political offices | ||
| 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 |
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