Michael Woods
Encyclopedia
Michael Woods is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician, who served in a wide range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Agriculture and Food, Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Health.
in December 1935. He was educated at Christian Brothers
in Synge Street, Dublin; University College Dublin
and Harvard Business School
. He qualified with a degree in Agricultural science
and a PhD
in science.
Woods joined Fianna Fáil in 1968. At the 1977 general election
he stood for the Dáil in the Dublin Clontarf
constituency as a Fianna Fáil candidate. He was elected alongside Fianna Fáil stalwart George Colley
. From 1981 to 2011, he was elected for the Dublin North East
constituency. In 1979 Jack Lynch
appointed him as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
(Government Chief Whip). That same year Woods supported Colley in his leadership bid
, but the other candidate, Charles Haughey
, was successful.
Despite Woods' support for the opponent, Haughey appointed him Minister for Health and Social Welfare. He held that post until 1981 and again in the short-lived 1982 government. In 1987 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Woods returned as Minister for Social Welfare. In 1991, he became Minister for Agriculture and Food. In 1992 Woods entered the leadership contest
to succeed Haughey as leader. He received little support and withdrew from the contest. The eventual victor, Albert Reynolds
, retained Woods as Minister for the Marine in his new Cabinet. Following the formation of the Fianna Fáil–Labour Party
coalition in 1993 Woods remained in the Cabinet and was appointed Minister for Health
.
In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power after three years in opposition. Woods was appointed Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. He introduced a £70 million overhaul of Ireland
's fishing fleet and also launched a new maritime college. In the Cabinet reshuffle in 2000 Woods replaced Micheál Martin
as Minister for Education. He failed to be retained in the Cabinet following the 2002 general election
. He was Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas
Committee on Foreign Affairs from 2002–2007.
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.
which limited their compensation liability to the victims of abuse to only €128 million. This compensation scheme is project to eventually cost the Irish government, and therefore the Irish tax payers, €1.35 billion. The agreement was signed just before the 2002 general election
, and consequently was not laid before the cabinet for its approval. It then remained unpublished for several months.
In 2003 after brokering the deal, Woods claimed his strong Catholic faith made him the most suitable person to negotiate the deal. He also denied allegations that he was a member of Opus Dei
or the Knights of Saint Columbanus
after the group Survivors of Child Abuse alleged he was a member of the former.
After the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
(CICA), Michael Woods defended the deal, claimed the Department of Education and Science
had the management role in the schools in question and that the state knew all the details when making the deal. Mary Raftery
criticised his remarks, pointing out that some of them contradicted remarks made by Woods himself. Further, Woods declined to allow CICA to examine the legality of the court orders that committed the child inmates for decades into the industrial school system.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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 in a wide range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Agriculture and Food, Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Health.
Life
Woods was born in County WicklowCounty Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
in December 1935. He was educated at Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
in Synge Street, Dublin; University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He qualified with a degree in Agricultural science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in science.
Woods joined Fianna Fáil in 1968. At the 1977 general election
Irish 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...
he stood for the Dáil in the Dublin Clontarf
Dublin Clontarf (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Clontarf was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981...
constituency as a Fianna Fáil candidate. He was elected alongside Fianna Fáil stalwart George Colley
George Colley
George Colley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide number of Cabinet poistions, most notably as Minister for Finance and Tánaiste. He was twice defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1966 and 1979.-Early life:Colley was born in Fairview, on the northside of Dublin...
. From 1981 to 2011, he was elected for the Dublin North East
Dublin North East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
constituency. In 1979 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....
appointed him as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, officially styled as the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, is the Chief Whip of the Government of Ireland and is the most senior Minister of State...
(Government Chief Whip). That same year Woods supported Colley in his leadership bid
Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1979
The 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in December 1979, when Jack Lynch resigned as party leader and Taoiseach. Lynch had been party leader for thirteen years and Taoiseach for over nine years. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 7 December...
, but the other candidate, 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...
, was successful.
Despite Woods' support for the opponent, Haughey appointed him Minister for Health and Social Welfare. He held that post until 1981 and again in the short-lived 1982 government. In 1987 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Woods returned as Minister for Social Welfare. In 1991, he became Minister for Agriculture and Food. In 1992 Woods entered the leadership contest
Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1992
The 1992 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in January 1992, when Charles Haughey resigned as party leader. Haughey had been party leader for thirteen years and had served as Taoiseach on three occasions. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 6...
to succeed Haughey as leader. He received little support and withdrew from the contest. The eventual victor, Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds , served as Taoiseach of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize...
, retained Woods as Minister for the Marine in his new Cabinet. Following the formation of the Fianna Fáil–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...
coalition in 1993 Woods remained in the Cabinet and was appointed Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Children (Ireland)
The Minister for Health is the senior minister at the Department of Health in the Government of Ireland and is responsible for health care in the Republic of Ireland and related services.The current Minister for Health is James Reilly, TD...
.
In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power after three years in opposition. Woods was appointed Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. He introduced a £70 million overhaul of Ireland
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,...
's fishing fleet and also launched a new maritime college. In the Cabinet reshuffle in 2000 Woods replaced 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...
as Minister for Education. He failed to be retained in the Cabinet following the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
. He was Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
Committee on Foreign Affairs from 2002–2007.
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.
Controversies
While serving as Minister for Education, Woods signed a controversial agreement with 18 Irish religious orders involved in child sex-abuse scandalsCatholic sexual abuse scandal in Ireland
The Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Ireland is a major chapter in the worldwide Catholic sexual abuse scandal. Unlike the Catholic sexual abuse scandal in the United States, the scandal in Ireland included cases of high-profile Catholic clerics involved in illicit heterosexual relations as well as...
which limited their compensation liability to the victims of abuse to only €128 million. This compensation scheme is project to eventually cost the Irish government, and therefore the Irish tax payers, €1.35 billion. The agreement was signed just before the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
, and consequently was not laid before the cabinet for its approval. It then remained unpublished for several months.
In 2003 after brokering the deal, Woods claimed his strong Catholic faith made him the most suitable person to negotiate the deal. He also denied allegations that he was a member of Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
or the Knights of Saint Columbanus
Knights of Saint Columbanus
The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus is an Irish Catholic fraternal and service organization for lay men over twenty-one years of age.- Organisation :...
after the group Survivors of Child Abuse alleged he was a member of the former.
After the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
(CICA), Michael Woods defended the deal, claimed the Department of Education and Science
Department 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:...
had the management role in the schools in question and that the state knew all the details when making the deal. Mary Raftery
Mary Raftery
Mary Raftery is an Irish filmmaker and writer.Her film States of fear was broadcast on the Irish television channel Raidió Teilifís Éireann in 1999....
criticised his remarks, pointing out that some of them contradicted remarks made by Woods himself. Further, Woods declined to allow CICA to examine the legality of the court orders that committed the child inmates for decades into the industrial school system.