Richie Ryan (politician)

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Richie Ryan (Irish: Risteárd Ó Riain; born February 27, 1929) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.

Richie Ryan was born in Dublin in 1929. He was educated at Synge Street Christian Brothers School, University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law School of Ireland where he received a law degree.

Ryan first became involved in politics when he was elected to Dáil Éireann in a 1959 by-election as a Fine Gael TD for Dublin South West and retained his seat until he retired at the Feb 1982 General Election to concentrate on his European Parliament seat.

In opposition Ryan served as Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health & Social Welfare (1966-1970) and on Foreign Affairs & Northern Ireland (1970-1973).

In 1973 Fine Gael came to power and Ryan became Minister for Finance, an area where he had little experience. He presided over a tough four years in the National Coalition under Liam Cosgrave, during which time Ireland's foreign debt increased and the economy steadily worsened. He was mercilesly lampooned as "Richie Ruin" on the Irish satire show Hall's Pictorial Weekly. Following the 1977 general election Fine Gael were out of power, and Ryan once again became Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs.

Ryan also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 1973 and from 1977 to 1979, being appointed to Ireland's first delegation and third delegation. At the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979, he was elected for the Dublin constituency, and was re-elected in 1984. On being appointed to the European Court of Auditors in 1986 he resigned his seat and was succeeded by Chris O'Malley.

[edit] External links

• ElectionsIreland.org - Profile
• Oireachtas Members - Profile

Political offices
Preceded by George Colley	Minister for Finance 1973–1977	Succeeded by George Colley
	Minister for the Public Service 1973–1977

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

v • d • e « 1973–1977 «   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (1977–1979)   » 1979–1984 » Seán Brosnan (FF) • Ruairí Brugha (FF) • Michael Herbert (FF) • Liam Kavanagh (LAB) • Gerry L'Estrange (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Tom Nolan (FF) • Paddy Power (FF) • Richie Ryan (FG) • Michael Yeats (FF)

v • d • e » 19NN–19NN »   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (1973)   » 1973–1977 » Conor Cruise O'Brien (LAB) • Anthony Esmonde (FG) • Michael Herbert (FF) • Michael Hilliard (FF) • Justin Keating (LAB) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Farrell McElgunn (FF) • Tom Nolan (FF) • Richie Ryan (FG) • Michael Yeats (FF)