Maurice Hayes
Encyclopedia
Maurice Hayes is an Irish
politician and was an independent member of the 21st and 22nd Seanads
, nominated as a senator by the Taoiseach
.
in Northern Ireland
.
After completing a PhD in English at Queen's University, he taught at St Patrick's Grammar School in Downpatrick. He left teaching to become Town Clerk of Downpatrick
the administrative centre of the county, succeeding his father in the role.
In the troubled politics of Northern Ireland
, where political parties tend to be sharply split along religious lines, Hayes has been viewed as an even-handed observer, who has written or contributed to major policy reports, such as the Patten Commission dealing with reforms to the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC), the police force later renamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI).
He has written numerous pieces of journalism and writes regularly for the Irish Independent. He is the author of three books of memoirs, Sweet Killough: Let Go Your Anchor; Black Puddings with Slim: A Downpatrick Boyhood; and Minority Verdict: Experiences Of A Catholic Civil Servant. He is also the author or editor of works on conflict research, community relations and Irish writing.
and the Research Ethical Committee of Queen's University Belfast medical school, and a governor of the Linenhall Library, Belfast. He is a long-serving member of the Scholarship Board of the O'Reilly Foundation
. He is also a board member at Regtel.
Hayes has recently been asked by Mary Harney, the Minister for Health in Ireland, and the HSE to conduct a review into a scandal in the radiology department at Tallaght Hospital.
and Boundary Commissioner, and was Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (NI). He is a former chairman of the Community Relations Council (NI) and the Acute Hospitals Review Group.
He was chairman of The Ireland Funds
in Ireland, the Irish branch of a major charitable group with worldwide contributors, which has made significant grants to groups dealing with social and business problems in Ireland.
Hayes was also a long-serving non-executive director of Independent News & Media Plc, retiring in 2009 towards the culmination of a long running battle for control of the group between the O'Reilly family and Denis O'Brien led to a re-structuring of the Board.
He also served, at the Taoiseach's request, as Chairman of the National Forum on Europe in Ireland. The approach he devised to educate the population on the arguments around European issues was so successful that many other European countries adopted similar methods.
He has also received honorary doctorates from his alma mater, Queen's University Belfast; Trinity College, University of Dublin; University of Ulster; National University of Ireland.
, who in the mid-1950s became County Secretary of the Down Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA) and set a ten-year plan for the county Gaelic football
team to become the first from the six counties of Northern Ireland
to win an All-Ireland football final. Within five years, Down had won their first All Ireland trophy in 1960. They followed it with further successes in 1961, 1968, 1991 and 1994. With talent in the sixties such as Paddy Doherty, Joe Lennon and James McCartan Senior (whose son, James Jr, went on to win the All Ireland with Down in the 90s), Down should have won more All Ireland titles. No other Northern team won an All Ireland title until Derry won the All Ireland football title in 1993, since when northern teams have dominated the football championship. In 2010, the Down team, under its coach James McCartan, fought its way to another All Ireland final after defeating Kerry and Kildare to set up a clash with Cork. The defeat of Kerry was the fifth straight championship victory for Down over their experienced rivals. It followed a debate about whether Down should retain its style of attacking football, and Hayes was one of those who argued for retention of the 'Down way' of playing. Down lost the 2010 final by one point.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician and was an independent member of the 21st and 22nd Seanads
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...
, nominated as a senator by the 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...
.
Life
Maurice Hayes was born in County DownCounty Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
After completing a PhD in English at Queen's University, he taught at St Patrick's Grammar School in Downpatrick. He left teaching to become Town Clerk of Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
the administrative centre of the county, succeeding his father in the role.
In the troubled politics of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, where political parties tend to be sharply split along religious lines, Hayes has been viewed as an even-handed observer, who has written or contributed to major policy reports, such as the Patten Commission dealing with reforms to the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC), the police force later renamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
(PSNI).
He has written numerous pieces of journalism and writes regularly for the Irish Independent. He is the author of three books of memoirs, Sweet Killough: Let Go Your Anchor; Black Puddings with Slim: A Downpatrick Boyhood; and Minority Verdict: Experiences Of A Catholic Civil Servant. He is also the author or editor of works on conflict research, community relations and Irish writing.
Current
He is a member of the Royal Irish AcademyRoyal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
and the Research Ethical Committee of Queen's University Belfast medical school, and a governor of the Linenhall Library, Belfast. He is a long-serving member of the Scholarship Board of the 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...
. He is also a board member at Regtel.
Hayes has recently been asked by Mary Harney, the Minister for Health in Ireland, and the HSE to conduct a review into a scandal in the radiology department at Tallaght Hospital.
Former roles
Hayes is a former Northern Ireland OmbudsmanOmbudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
and Boundary Commissioner, and was Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (NI). He is a former chairman of the Community Relations Council (NI) and the Acute Hospitals Review Group.
He was chairman of The Ireland Funds
The Ireland Funds
The Ireland Funds are a global fundraising network for people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland, dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland...
in Ireland, the Irish branch of a major charitable group with worldwide contributors, which has made significant grants to groups dealing with social and business problems in Ireland.
Hayes was also a long-serving non-executive director of Independent News & Media Plc, retiring in 2009 towards the culmination of a long running battle for control of the group between the O'Reilly family and Denis O'Brien led to a re-structuring of the Board.
He also served, at the Taoiseach's request, as Chairman of the National Forum on Europe in Ireland. The approach he devised to educate the population on the arguments around European issues was so successful that many other European countries adopted similar methods.
Awards
Hayes was voted European Person of the Year in 2003.He has also received honorary doctorates from his alma mater, Queen's University Belfast; Trinity College, University of Dublin; University of Ulster; National University of Ireland.
Sport
Hayes is a former county hurlerHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, who in the mid-1950s became County Secretary of the Down 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...
(GAA) and set a ten-year plan for the county Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team to become the first from the six counties of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
to win an All-Ireland football final. Within five years, Down had won their first All Ireland trophy in 1960. They followed it with further successes in 1961, 1968, 1991 and 1994. With talent in the sixties such as Paddy Doherty, Joe Lennon and James McCartan Senior (whose son, James Jr, went on to win the All Ireland with Down in the 90s), Down should have won more All Ireland titles. No other Northern team won an All Ireland title until Derry won the All Ireland football title in 1993, since when northern teams have dominated the football championship. In 2010, the Down team, under its coach James McCartan, fought its way to another All Ireland final after defeating Kerry and Kildare to set up a clash with Cork. The defeat of Kerry was the fifth straight championship victory for Down over their experienced rivals. It followed a debate about whether Down should retain its style of attacking football, and Hayes was one of those who argued for retention of the 'Down way' of playing. Down lost the 2010 final by one point.