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Martin O'Donoghue
Encyclopedia
Martin O'Donoghue is a former Irish
politician and economist. He also served as a Fianna Fáil
Teachta Dála
(TD) and holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. He is a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin and serves with Tony O'Reilly
's O'Reilly Foundation
.
and worked as a waiter in Dublin, becoming a mature student in University of Dublin
and later obtaining a doctorate in philosophy, with economics as his discipline, from that university.
, Jack Lynch
.
O'Donoghue was elected to Dáil Éireann
as a Fianna Fáil
TD for the Dún Laoghaire
constituency. He was the architect of the election manifesto which saw Fianna Fáil
achieve an unprecedented twenty seat majority. O'Donoghue was immediately appointed Minister for Economic Planning and Development
. In 1979, Charles Haughey
became Taoiseach
and O'Donoghue's ministerial position was abolished. In 1982 O'Donoghue was returned to Cabinet as Minister for Education. He resigned in October 1982, when he refused to support Haughey in a leadership challenge and in November 1982 lost his Dáil seat in the general election.
O'Donogue entered Seanad Éireann
after loss of his Dáil seat. Allegedly when a senior Fianna Fáil member was asked why Martin O'Donoghue wasn't expelled from the party, given what O'Donoghue was saying about Fianna Fáil and its leadership, he replied "he's not worth expelling". He remained in Seanad Éireann
until 1987 when he drifted out of Fianna Fáil
to support the Progressive Democrats
.
He is currently a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin, having retired from his career as a Lecturer and Associate Professor of Economics there. He is also a member of the Scholarship Board of Tony O'Reilly's O'Reilly Foundation.
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,...
politician and economist. He also served as a 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...
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 holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. He is a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin and serves with Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
's O'Reilly Foundation
O'Reilly Foundation
The O'Reilly Foundation is a personal charitable trust set up in 1998 by media magnate, and former CEO of Heinz, Sir Anthony "Tony" O'Reilly. Its function is the funding of educational projects; the two main work areas are capital developments at Irish colleges and an annual post-graduate...
.
Life
Martin O'Donoghue was born in Dublin in May 1933. He was educated in CrumlinCrumlin, Dublin
Crumlin is suburb in Southside Dublin, Ireland. It is the site of Ireland's largest hospital for children.-Location:Crumlin covers the area from the River Poddle near the KCR to the Drimnagh Road, to Bunting Road, and is situated not far from the city centre, on the Southside of Dublin city....
and worked as a waiter in Dublin, becoming a mature student in University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
and later obtaining a doctorate in philosophy, with economics as his discipline, from that university.
Career
From 1962–64 and from 1967–69 he was economic consultant at the Departments of Education and Finance respectively. From 1970–73 O'Donoghue was economic adviser to the TaoiseachTaoiseach
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...
, Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
.
Politics
At the 1977 general electionIrish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
O'Donoghue was 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...
as a 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...
TD for the Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency. He was the architect of the election manifesto which saw 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...
achieve an unprecedented twenty seat majority. O'Donoghue was immediately appointed Minister for Economic Planning and Development
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Ireland)
The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the Government of Ireland.The current minister is Jimmy Deenihan, TD. He is assisted by:...
. In 1979, Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
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...
and O'Donoghue's ministerial position was abolished. In 1982 O'Donoghue was returned to Cabinet as Minister for Education. He resigned in October 1982, when he refused to support Haughey in a leadership challenge and in November 1982 lost his Dáil seat in the general election.
O'Donogue entered 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...
after loss of his Dáil seat. Allegedly when a senior Fianna Fáil member was asked why Martin O'Donoghue wasn't expelled from the party, given what O'Donoghue was saying about Fianna Fáil and its leadership, he replied "he's not worth expelling". He remained in 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...
until 1987 when he drifted out of 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...
to support the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
.
Later career
In 1998 O'Donoghue became a director of the Irish Central Bank, serving with this and its successor body until the end of April 2008.He is currently a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin, having retired from his career as a Lecturer and Associate Professor of Economics there. He is also a member of the Scholarship Board of Tony O'Reilly's O'Reilly Foundation.