Patrick Hillery

Dr. Patrick John Hillery (born May 2, 1923) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 General Election as a Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973. During this time he served as Minister for Education (1959-1965), Minister for Industry & Commerce (1965-1966), Minister for Labour (1966-1969) and Minister for External Affairs (1969-1973). In 1973 he was appointed Ireland's first European Commissioner, serving until 1976 when he was appointed President. He shares the distinction, with Eamon de Valera and Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh, of serving two full terms as President of Ireland, and is the only President who never faced an election.

European Commissioner 1973-1976

Following Ireland's entry into Europe Hillery was appointed the country's first European Commissioner inBrussels, taking over the Social Affairs portfolio. While Europe had gained one of Ireland's most capable and respected politicians, Jack Lynch was after losing one of his allies, and someone who may have been in line to take over the leadership following Lynch's retirement. As Social Affairs Commissioner Hillery's most famous policy initiative was to force EEC member states to give equal pay to women. However in 1976 the then Irish government, the Fine Gael-Labour Party National Coalition under Liam Cosgrave informed him that he was not being re-appointed to the Commission. He considered returning to medicine, perhaps moving with his wife, Maeve (also a doctor) to Africa. However fate took a turn when the then Minister for Defence, Paddy Donegan, launched a ferocious verbal attack on President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, calling him "a thundering disgrace" for referring anti-terrorist legislation to the courts to test its constitutionality. When a furious President Ó Dálaigh resigned, a deeply reluctant Hillery agreed to become the Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency. He was elected without a contest as the only candidate, becoming President of Ireland on December 3, 1976.

Related Topics:
Europe - European Commissioner - Brussels - Jack Lynch - 1976 - Fine Gael - Labour Party - Liam Cosgrave - Maeve - Africa - Paddy Donegan - President - Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh - Fianna Fáil - December 3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~