Ned O'Keeffe

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Edward "Ned" O'Keeffe (Irish: Éamonn Ó Caoimh; born 1 August 1942) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála (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. In 1982 O'Keeffe nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to the 16th Seanad. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD at the November 1982 general 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.

On 28 November 2007, during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health & Children Mary Harney, O'Keeffe resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip when forced to vote his confidence in the Minister.[1] On 26 February 2008 he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Harney survives confidence vote as rebel FF TD quits – Irish Independent, 29 November 2007.
  2. ^ Ned O'Keeffe readmitted to FF Dáil party – RTÉ News, 26 February 2008.

[edit] External links

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