Batt O'Keeffe
Encyclopedia
Bartholomew "Batt" O'Keeffe (born 2 April 1945) is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician who served as a Teachta Dála
(TD) and Senator
from 1989 to 2011. He also served as Minister for Education and Science (2008–10) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (2010–11).
. He was educated at St. Brendan's, Killarney
, County Kerry
and at University College Cork where he received a Bachelor of Arts
. O'Keeffe worked as a lecturer in the Cork Institute of Technology
before becoming involved in politics. He also had a sporting career, being the holder of three Munster football
Gaelic Athletic Association
medals with Cork GAA at Under 21, Junior and Senior level. He was also a Cork Intermediate Handball Champion. In 1985 he was elected to Cork County Council
. He is former chairman of the Southern Health Board. He is married to Mary Murphy and they have three daughters and one son.
O'Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann
for the Cork South Central
constituency. He lost his seat to Micheál Martin
at the 1989 general election
but he was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann
by the Labour Panel where he was spokesperson on Finance. At the 1992 general election
O'Keeffe was re-elected to the Dáil and was re-elected at each subsequent election until his retirement in 2011. Between 1995 and 1997 O'Keeffe was Opposition Spokesperson on Transport and Communications. He has also served on a number of committees including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Public Accounts Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee. In Bertie Ahern
's Cabinet reshuffle of 2004 O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State
at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Environmental Protection.
In 2006 O'Keeffe was selected unopposed to contest the 2007 general election in the re-drawn Cork North West
constituency along with Michael Moynihan
and Donal Moynihan
. O'Keeffe was elected though his party colleague Donal Moynihan lost his seat. In 2007 O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal. In 2008, when Brian Cowen
became Taoiseach
, O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister for Education and Science. In his role as Minister for Education in 2010 he has decided to dissolve the National University of Ireland
, a move which was later reversed in 2011 by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition.
throughout 2009, including the increase of the primary school teacher:pupil ratio 1:27 to 1:28 and the increase of the post-primary school teacher:pupil ratio from 1:18 to 1:19 although the capital allocation of €889m was increased by €80m.
On 29 October 2008 approximately 12,000 teachers and parents demonstrated against the education cuts announced in Budget 2009. The rally outside Leinster House
coincided with a Dáil debate on a Labour Party
motion calling for the increase in class sizes to be reversed. INTO
General Secretary John Carr described the budget as an act of educational sabotage. Ferdia Kelly – representing most second-level school managers – said school principals and deputy principals "are saying loudly and clearly that they are not available to supervise classes where teachers are absent. Failure to act now on this proposal will lead to an unwelcome disruption of school life in January." The cutbacks will remove substitution cover for uncertified sick leave and for teachers on school business at second level from 7 January 2009.
The education cutbacks were supported in the Dáil on 30 October 2008 by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party
.
O'Keeffe accused the opposition parties of whipping up "hysteria" and said they were being dishonest with the Irish people.
The minority Protestant population in the Republic were outraged by cuts announced by the Minister for Education to grants previously available to the 21 Protestant denomination secondary schools. This breached a 40 year old agreement reached when free secondary education was introduced by the then Minister for Education, Donogh O'Malley. It was claimed that the cuts would disproportionately affect Protestant Schools. Protestant parents claimed that they must accept fewer teachers per child, and that their schools will not be funded to employ non academic staff in the way that their Roman Catholic neighbours are..
The range of options would then be discussed in a new programme for government. It was later announced in the new programme for government brokered by both Fianna Fáil and the Green Party that third-level fees would not be introduced in the lifetime of the present government although O'Keeffe has since stated his support for their introduction and has stated that existing registration fees, commonly cited as "fees by another name", faced an increase. His stance on fees has been supported by former education ministers Noel Dempsey
and Mary Hanafin
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician who served as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) and Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
from 1989 to 2011. He also served as Minister for Education and Science (2008–10) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (2010–11).
Early and personal life
O'Keeffe was born in Cullen, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was educated at St. Brendan's, Killarney
St. Brendan's, Killarney
St. Brendan's, Killarney, known locally as The Sem, is a secondary school in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland.-History:St. Brendan’s is a Catholic Diocesan College, founded in 1860 by Bishop David Moriarty as a boarding and day-school for boys under the name of ‘ St. Brendan’s Seminary’. The first...
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
and at University College Cork where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. O'Keeffe worked as a lecturer in the Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology , formerly the Regional Technical College, Cork, is an Institute of Technology in Ireland, located in Cork, Ireland opened in 1973. The institute has 17,000 students in art, business, engineering, music and science disciplines...
before becoming involved in politics. He also had a sporting career, being the holder of three Munster football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
medals with Cork GAA at Under 21, Junior and Senior level. He was also a Cork Intermediate Handball Champion. In 1985 he was elected to Cork County Council
Cork County Council
Cork County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Cork in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach...
. He is former chairman of the Southern Health Board. He is married to Mary Murphy and they have three daughters and one son.
Political career
At the 1987 general electionIrish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
O'Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
for the Cork South Central
Cork South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency. He lost his seat to Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
but he was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
by the Labour Panel where he was spokesperson on Finance. At the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
O'Keeffe was re-elected to the Dáil and was re-elected at each subsequent election until his retirement in 2011. Between 1995 and 1997 O'Keeffe was Opposition Spokesperson on Transport and Communications. He has also served on a number of committees including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Public Accounts Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee. In Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
's Cabinet reshuffle of 2004 O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Environmental Protection.
In 2006 O'Keeffe was selected unopposed to contest the 2007 general election in the re-drawn Cork North West
Cork North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
constituency along with Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan (Cork politician)
Michael Moynihan is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Cork North West constituency since 1997.Moynihan was born in Kiskeam, County Cork in 1968...
and Donal Moynihan
Donal Moynihan (Cork politician)
Donal Moynihan is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who sat in Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Cork North West constituency until 2007 when he lost his seat....
. O'Keeffe was elected though his party colleague Donal Moynihan lost his seat. In 2007 O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal. In 2008, when Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
became Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister for Education and Science. In his role as Minister for Education in 2010 he has decided to dissolve the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
, a move which was later reversed in 2011 by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition.
Budget 2009
On 14 October 2008, as part of Budget 2009, O'Keeffe announced cutbacks and the imposition of increased charges to pay for the running of the Department of Education and ScienceDepartment of Education and Science (Ireland)
The Department of Education and Skills is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Education and Skills who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
throughout 2009, including the increase of the primary school teacher:pupil ratio 1:27 to 1:28 and the increase of the post-primary school teacher:pupil ratio from 1:18 to 1:19 although the capital allocation of €889m was increased by €80m.
On 29 October 2008 approximately 12,000 teachers and parents demonstrated against the education cuts announced in Budget 2009. The rally outside Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
coincided with a Dáil debate on a Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
motion calling for the increase in class sizes to be reversed. INTO
Irish National Teachers' Organisation
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation , in Irish Cumann Múinteoirí Éireann, which was founded in 1868, is the largest teachers' trade union in Ireland. It represents teachers at primary level in the Republic of Ireland, and at primary and post-primary level in Northern Ireland. The head office...
General Secretary John Carr described the budget as an act of educational sabotage. Ferdia Kelly – representing most second-level school managers – said school principals and deputy principals "are saying loudly and clearly that they are not available to supervise classes where teachers are absent. Failure to act now on this proposal will lead to an unwelcome disruption of school life in January." The cutbacks will remove substitution cover for uncertified sick leave and for teachers on school business at second level from 7 January 2009.
The education cutbacks were supported in the Dáil on 30 October 2008 by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party
Green Party (Ireland)
The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
.
O'Keeffe accused the opposition parties of whipping up "hysteria" and said they were being dishonest with the Irish people.
The minority Protestant population in the Republic were outraged by cuts announced by the Minister for Education to grants previously available to the 21 Protestant denomination secondary schools. This breached a 40 year old agreement reached when free secondary education was introduced by the then Minister for Education, Donogh O'Malley. It was claimed that the cuts would disproportionately affect Protestant Schools. Protestant parents claimed that they must accept fewer teachers per child, and that their schools will not be funded to employ non academic staff in the way that their Roman Catholic neighbours are..
Proposed re-introduction of third level fees
On 11 August 2008, O'Keeffe proposed the re-introduction third level fees which had been abolished in Ireland since 1995. While originally indicating that high earners would be hit, it was later announced that this scheme would raise far short of the €500 million in the original report compiled by UCC economist, Dr. Noel Woods. O'Keeffe stated that he wanted to increase third level participation and claimed that the "free fees" scheme had not accomplished this. After putting forward a range of options to the cabinet in July 2009, O'Keeffe set a deadline of 15 September 2009 for his colleagues to decide on the issue.The range of options would then be discussed in a new programme for government. It was later announced in the new programme for government brokered by both Fianna Fáil and the Green Party that third-level fees would not be introduced in the lifetime of the present government although O'Keeffe has since stated his support for their introduction and has stated that existing registration fees, commonly cited as "fees by another name", faced an increase. His stance on fees has been supported by former education ministers Noel Dempsey
Noel Dempsey
Noel Dempsey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Meath and Meath West constituencies from 1987 to 2011...
and Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
.