Mick Lanigan
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mick" Lanigan is a retired Irish
company director and Fianna Fáil
politician from County Kilkenny
. He was a senator
from 1977 to 2002, and was noted in the Seanad
for his interest in foreign affairs, particularly humanitarian issues and the Palestinian cause.
Lanigan stood in the Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency, but failed to win a seat in the 21st Dáil. In the subsequent elections to the 14th Seanad, he was elected on the Industrial and Commercial Panel.
Lanigan stood again for the Dáil
at the 1981 general election
and November 1982 general elections in Carlow–Kilkenny, but was unsuccessful on both occasions. He was re-elected by the Industrial and Commercial Panel to each successive Seanad until his defeat at the 1989 elections, when he was nominated by the Taoiseach
, Charles Haughey
, to the 19th Seanad.
The Industrial and Commercial Panel re-elected him in 1992 to the 20th and in 1997 to the 21st Seanad, but he did not contest the 2002 elections to the 22nd Seanad.
Lanigan was leader of the opposition Fianna Fáil group in the 17th Seanad (1983–1987), and was Leader of the Seanad
in the 18th Seanad (1987–1989). He was reappointed as Leader in the 19th Seanad (1989–1993), but resigned (along with all the Fianna Fáil whip
s) in May 1990 after the government lost a series of votes when no Fianna Fáil senators were present in the chamber. He later served as Chairman of the Oireachtas
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Lanigan was noted as a supporter of independent Palestinian state. Lanigan founded the Friends of Palestine in the Oireachtas. In December 2003 he was awarded the Order of Bethlehem by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
. The Order, which is the highest honour bestowed on behalf of the Palestinian people, was made at a ceremony in Ramallah
in which Arafat commended Lanigan for having supported the Palestinian cause "when it was not popular to do so".
Lanigan continues to be involved with the Palestinian cause, in his capacity as chairman of Irish Medical Aid for Palestine. The organisation works with all sectors of Palestinian society and with sister organisations from outside Palestine for the improvement of health in Palestine. In addition, Lanigan is a member of the Oxfam Ireland Members council.
His son, also called Mick, has been a member of Kilkenny Town Council and Kilkenny County Council
since 1999.
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,...
company director and 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 from County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
. He was a 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 1977 to 2002, and was noted in the Seanad
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...
for his interest in foreign affairs, particularly humanitarian issues and the Palestinian cause.
Political career
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...
Lanigan stood in the Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency, but failed to win a seat in the 21st Dáil. In the subsequent elections to the 14th Seanad, he was elected on the Industrial and Commercial Panel.
Lanigan stood again for the Dáil
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...
at the 1981 general election
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
and November 1982 general elections in Carlow–Kilkenny, but was unsuccessful on both occasions. He was re-elected by the Industrial and Commercial Panel to each successive Seanad until his defeat at the 1989 elections, when he was nominated by the Taoiseach
Nominated by the Taoiseach
The composition of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas of Ireland, is defined in outline by Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland, which provides for 11 appointees that are nominated by the Taoiseach...
, 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...
, to the 19th Seanad.
The Industrial and Commercial Panel re-elected him in 1992 to the 20th and in 1997 to the 21st Seanad, but he did not contest the 2002 elections to the 22nd Seanad.
Lanigan was leader of the opposition Fianna Fáil group in the 17th Seanad (1983–1987), and was Leader of the Seanad
Leader of the Seanad
The Leader of the Seanad is the leader of the government senators in Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland.- List of Leaders on the Seanad :-References :...
in the 18th Seanad (1987–1989). He was reappointed as Leader in the 19th Seanad (1989–1993), but resigned (along with all the Fianna Fáil whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
s) in May 1990 after the government lost a series of votes when no Fianna Fáil senators were present in the chamber. He later served as Chairman of the 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...
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Lanigan was noted as a supporter of independent Palestinian state. Lanigan founded the Friends of Palestine in the Oireachtas. In December 2003 he was awarded the Order of Bethlehem by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
. The Order, which is the highest honour bestowed on behalf of the Palestinian people, was made at a ceremony in Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
in which Arafat commended Lanigan for having supported the Palestinian cause "when it was not popular to do so".
Lanigan continues to be involved with the Palestinian cause, in his capacity as chairman of Irish Medical Aid for Palestine. The organisation works with all sectors of Palestinian society and with sister organisations from outside Palestine for the improvement of health in Palestine. In addition, Lanigan is a member of the Oxfam Ireland Members council.
His son, also called Mick, has been a member of Kilkenny Town Council and Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County council is the local authority for County Kilkenny in Ireland. The council is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The county council has 26 elected members...
since 1999.