Noel Treacy
Encyclopedia
Noel Treacy is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He served as a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Galway East constituency from 1982 to 2011.
Treacy was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway
in 1951. He was educated at Gurteen National School and St. Joseph's College
, Garbally Park in Ballinasloe. He worked as an auctioneer and financial services manager before entering public life. He is married to Mary Cloonan and has three daughters and one son.
Treacy was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at a by-election in July 1982 caused by the death of Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Callanan
and was re-elected at each election until his retirement in 2011. His election marked the last time a government party was successful in winning a by-election. He was a member of Galway County Council
from 1985–91.
Over his many years in the Dáil, Treacy has held a number of junior ministerial portfolios. In 1987 Treacy joined the junior ministerial team as Minister of State
at the Department of Finance
with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works
and the Central Development Committee. The following year he became Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
. It was in this capacity that Treacy became the State's first Minister for Heritage Affairs.
Between 1989 and 1991 he served as Minister of State for Children at the Department of Health, before being appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for Law Reform. In 1992 Treacy returned to the Department of Finance again before serving at the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Transport, Energy and Communications during the Fianna Fáil
–Labour Party
government holding special responsibility for Energy.
Some months after Fianna Fáil's return to power in 1997 Treacy became Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
and Education and Science
replacing Michael Smith
who had been promoted to cabinet following the resignation of Ray Burke. Following re-election in 2002 he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food and Horticulture.
He contested the 1999 European Parliament election
in Connacht–Ulster unsuccessfully.
Following Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
's cabinet reshuffle in September 2004, Treacy was appointed Minister of State at the Departments of Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach, with special responsibility for European Affairs
.
Treacy was returned to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. This was his eighth successive time to be elected. However, the manner in which this was achieved is somewhat unique in Irish politics for it was Treacy's seventh time to be elected at a general election without reaching the necessary quota of votes.
However, following 17 years as a Minister of State in various administrations, Treacy was not reappointed to a junior ministerial post by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of Joint Oireachtas
Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
.
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.
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. He 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) for the Galway East constituency from 1982 to 2011.
Treacy was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
in 1951. He was educated at Gurteen National School and St. Joseph's College
Garbally College
Garbally College is a Catholic, boys-only, secondary school based in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. It is officially known as St Joseph's College .-History:...
, Garbally Park in Ballinasloe. He worked as an auctioneer and financial services manager before entering public life. He is married to Mary Cloonan and has three daughters and one son.
Treacy 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...
at a by-election in July 1982 caused by the death of Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Callanan
Johnny Callanan
Johnny Callanan was an Irish Fianna Fáil party politician from County Galway.Callanan was born in the village of Kilconnell, near Ballinasloe, County Galway, to a farming family...
and was re-elected at each election until his retirement in 2011. His election marked the last time a government party was successful in winning a by-election. He was a member of Galway County Council
Galway County Council
Galway County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Galway in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The county seat is at Galway County Hall in Galway...
from 1985–91.
Over his many years in the Dáil, Treacy has held a number of junior ministerial portfolios. In 1987 Treacy joined the junior ministerial team 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 Finance
Department of Finance (Ireland)
The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Finance and is assisted by one Minister of State....
with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
and the Central Development Committee. The following year he became Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
Department of the Taoiseach
The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department of the Taoiseach of Ireland. It is based in Government Buildings, the headquarters of the Government of Ireland, on Merrion Street in Dublin....
. It was in this capacity that Treacy became the State's first Minister for Heritage Affairs.
Between 1989 and 1991 he served as Minister of State for Children at the Department of Health, before being appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for Law Reform. In 1992 Treacy returned to the Department of Finance again before serving at the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Transport, Energy and Communications during the 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...
–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...
government holding special responsibility for Energy.
Some months after Fianna Fáil's return to power in 1997 Treacy became Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
and 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:...
replacing Michael Smith
Michael Smith (Irish politician)
Michael Smith is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for Tipperary North on several occasions since 1969...
who had been promoted to cabinet following the resignation of Ray Burke. Following re-election in 2002 he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food and Horticulture.
He contested the 1999 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1999 (Ireland)
The 1999 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1999 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details :-See also:...
in Connacht–Ulster unsuccessfully.
Following 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...
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 in September 2004, Treacy was appointed Minister of State at the Departments of Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach, with special responsibility for European Affairs
Minister of State (with special responsibility for European Affairs)
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Ireland with special responsibility for European Affairs. The Minister works together with the senior Minister in this department...
.
Treacy was returned to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. This was his eighth successive time to be elected. However, the manner in which this was achieved is somewhat unique in Irish politics for it was Treacy's seventh time to be elected at a general election without reaching the necessary quota of votes.
However, following 17 years as a Minister of State in various administrations, Treacy was not reappointed to a junior ministerial post by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of 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 the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
.
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.