Pádraig Flynn Explained

Office:European Commissioner for Social Affairs
Term Start:1 February 1993
Term End:12 September 1999
Predecessor:Vasso Papandreou
Successor:Anna Diamantopoulou
Office1:Minister for Industry and Commerce
Taoiseach1:Albert Reynolds
Term Start1:5 November 1992
Term End1:4 January 1993
Predecessor1:Desmond O'Malley
Successor1:Bertie Ahern
Office2:Minister for Justice
Taoiseach2:Albert Reynolds
Term Start2:11 February 1992
Term End2:4 January 1993
Predecessor2:Ray Burke
Successor2:Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Office3:Minister for the Environment
Taoiseach3:Charles Haughey
Term Start3:10 March 1987
Term End3:3 April 1991
Predecessor3:John Boland
Successor3:John Wilson
Office4:Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
Taoiseach4:Charles Haughey
Term Start4:11 October 1982
Term End4:14 December 1982
Predecessor4:Paddy Power
Successor4:Frank Cluskey
Office5:Minister for the Gaeltacht
Taoiseach5:Charles Haughey
Term Start5:9 March 1982
Term End5:11 October 1982
Predecessor5:Paddy O'Toole
Successor5:Denis Gallagher
Office6:Minister of State
Suboffice6:Transport
Subterm6:1980–1981
Office7:Teachta Dála
Term Start7:June 1977
Term End7:12 June 1994
Constituency7:Mayo West
Birth Date:9 May 1939
Birth Place:Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fianna Fáil (until 2012)
Children:4, including Beverley
Education:St. Gerald's College
Alma Mater:St Patrick's College, Dublin

Pádraig Flynn (born 9 May 1939) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as European Commissioner for Social Affairs from 1993 to 1999, Minister for Industry and Commerce and Minister for Justice from 1992 to 1993, Minister for the Environment from 1987 to 1991, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from October 1982 to December 1982, Minister for the Gaeltacht from March 1982 to October 1982 and Minister of State at the Department of Transport from 1980 to 1981. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo West constituency from 1977 to 1994.[1]

Early life

Flynn was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, in 1939.[1] He is the son of Patrick and Anne Flynn.[2] He was educated in St. Gerald's College, Castlebar[2] and qualified as a primary school teacher from St Patrick's College of Education in Dublin. His mother owned a small shop in Castlebar. He was married in 1963,[2] to Dorothy and they have four children, one son and three daughters.[3] One daughter, Beverley Flynn was also a Fianna Fáil politician.

He first held political office in 1967, when he became a member of Mayo County Council. Ten years later, at the 1977 general election, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Mayo West constituency.[4] On the day the 21st Dail convened in Leinster House, Frank Dunlop described Flynn's encounter with the then Taoiseach Jack Lynch:[5]

He was known by the nickname "Pee Flynn".

Ministerial career

Flynn was a supporter of Charles Haughey in the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest. His loyalty was rewarded when he became a Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Power. Flynn joined the Cabinet for the first time following the February 1982 general election, when he was appointed Minister for the Gaeltacht. In October 1982, in a minor reshuffle, he became Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. However, his time in this office was brief, since Fianna Fáil lost the November 1982 general election.

Fianna Fáil was returned to power in the 1987 general election and Flynn became Minister for the Environment. Two years later he opposed the formation of the coalition government with the Progressive Democrats, describing it "as hitting at Fianna Fáil core values." In 1990, he attacked the opposition presidential candidate Mary Robinson on a radio show, accusing her of "having a new-found interest in her family" for the purposes of her election campaign.[6] This attack backfired drastically, causing many women who initially supported Lenihan to back Robinson. Lenihan's campaign never recovered, and Robinson became Ireland's first female President.

In 1991, Flynn was sacked from the Cabinet because of his support for a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. Then in 1992, Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach and Flynn was rewarded for supporting Reynolds by becoming Minister for Justice. In 1993, he retired from domestic politics when he was appointed Ireland's European Commissioner. He was reappointed by the Fine Gael-Labour Party government in 1995 and, on both of these occasions, served in the social affairs portfolio.

The Late Late Show controversy

On 15 January 1999, Flynn made comments on a live chat show (The Late Late Show) regarding businessman Tom Gilmartin and a donation of IR£50,000 to the Fianna Fáil party. On the same programme, following a question by journalist Barry O'Halloran on EC Commissioners' remuneration, Flynn described his salary and lifestyle as a European Union Commissioner as being "about IR£140,000, paying 33% tax, which works out to IR£100,000 net. [...] It's a well-paid job." He said the position meant he had the added expense of maintaining three houses, cars, and housekeepers and regular travel, and described the hassle involved. The performance was seen as eccentric and out of touch at a time when house prices were rising significantly.[7] [8]

The show's presenter Gay Byrne then asked Flynn if he knew of Gilmartin. Flynn responded that he knew him well. Flynn seemed to be making an attack of Gilmartin's emotional stability, stating that "He's not well", based on the effect of sickness of Gilmartin's wife. If it was to be interpreted as an attack of Gilmartin's credibility, then it backfired in a spectacular manner against Flynn. Also, unknown to Flynn, Gilmartin was watching The Late Late Show on Tara Television at his home in Luton. This hurt Gilmartin a great deal, while also bringing the illness of his wife into the picture as the real driving force behind Gilmartin's testimony against Flynn. Gilmartin responded by releasing details of meetings he held with Flynn to the McCracken Tribunal.

The interview is widely described as the end of Flynn's political career.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Retirement from politics

Flynn's second term as European Commissioner ended early in September 1999, when the entire commission resigned due to allegations of malpractice by the European Parliament. He was not reappointed to the commission and retired from politics completely. He is a member of the Comite d'Honneur of the Institute of International and European Affairs. Flynn's daughter Beverley Flynn is a former Fianna Fáil TD for the Mayo constituency. She was readmitted to the party on 8 April 2008, having previously been expelled after failing in a libel action against RTÉ which claimed she was involved in selling bogus non-resident accounts to customers while she worked for National Irish Bank.

He receives annual pension payments of €87,129 from his time as a TD and Minister, but this does not include payments for his time as a European Commissioner.[13]

Mahon Tribunal report

Flynn was cited in the Mahon Tribunal for having received money from Frank Dunlop intended for Fianna Fáil, but diverted to Flynn's personal use.[14] [15] On 22 March 2012, the final report of the Mahon Tribunal was published. It found that Flynn "wrongly and corruptly" sought a substantial donation from Tom Gilmartin for the Fianna Fáil party. It also found that having been paid IR£50,000 by Gilmartin, for that purpose, Flynn proceeded to use that money for his personal benefit, and that the donation funded at least a significant portion of the purchase of a farm in County Mayo.

Flynn had to pay nearly IR£23,000 to the Revenue Commissioners from the IR£50,000 he got from Tom Gilmartin in 1989.[16]

Flynn made his first public appearance since the publication of the Mahon Report by attending noon Mass in the Holy Rosary Church in Castlebar.[17]

Resignation from Fianna Fáil

On 26 March 2012, facing expulsion following the Mahon Tribunal, Flynn resigned in disgrace from Fianna Fáil before he could be ousted.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pádraig Flynn. Oireachtas members database. 19 May 2008. 10 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190810132441/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/P%C3%A1draig-Flynn.D.1977-07-05/. live.
  2. News: Quinlan. Ronald. The Mighty Flynns and their dogged belief that they are always in the right. Sunday Independent. 1 July 2007. 20 May 2008. 8 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090108110718/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-mighty-flynns-and-their-dogged-belief-that-they-are-always-in-the-right-892586.html. live.
  3. Web site: Profile of Pádraig Flynn. Europa (web portal). 19 May 2008. 2 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202042847/http://ec.europa.eu/archives/1995_99/commissioners/en/flynn.htm. live.
  4. Web site: Pádraig Flynn. ElectionsIreland.org. 19 May 2008. 3 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070903230502/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3200. live.
  5. Sweeney, Eamonn. Down Down Deeper and Down: Ireland in the 70's and 80's, pg 126.
  6. News: Robinson has no hard feelings over Flynn jibe. Shiel. Tom. 22 December 2008. The Irish Times. 29 December 2008. 12 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110212055628/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1222/1229728441360.html. live.
  7. Lifestyle Of Pee Flynn 1999 . 28 March 2020 .
  8. News: Duffy . Michael . 13 January 2009 . When Flynn met Gaybo . Mayo News . 28 March 2020 . But, ultimately, openly admitting that he owned three houses when house prices were rising, and personalising the Tom Gilmartin issue proved fatal, if unpremeditated errors – and brought the curtain down on Pee’s colourful political career. . 23 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210923134051/https://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5750%3Awhen-flynn-met-gaybo&catid=3&Itemid=29 . live .
  9. Web site: 10 times The Late Late Show made the nation shout "WTF" . 2018 . Joe.ie . 28 March 2020 . European Commissioner Padraig "Pee" Flynn appeared on the show in 1999, in what was a spectacular and career-ending interview for the charismatic Mayo man. He made several out-of-touch comments about the size of his salary and the difficulty of managing three houses at once, telling an audience member he should "try it sometime". . 28 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200328061128/https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/10-times-late-late-show-made-nation-shout-wtf-589658 . live .
  10. News: 22 March 2012 . 'Late Late Show' appearance beginning of the end for Flynn . BreakingNews.ie . 28 March 2020 . 28 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200328061125/https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/late-late-show-appearance-beginning-of-the-end-for-flynn-544551.html . live .
  11. News: Late Late Show appearance infuriated developer. 29 June 2007. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 13 October 2008. 20 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110520074215/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/late-late-show-appearance-infuriated-developer-890914.html. live.
  12. Web site: Flynn has fallen far since heyday . O’Brien . Paul . 27 March 2012 . irishexaminer.com . 28 March 2020 . 28 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200328061955/https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/politics/flynn-has-fallen-far-since-heyday-188476.html . live .
  13. News: Thanks big fellas: Ahern and Cowen get massive pensions. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 10 November 2011. Fiach. Kelly. 10 November 2011. 14 September 2012. https://archive.today/20120914031001/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/thanks-big-fellas-ahern-and-cowen-get-massive-pensions-2931032.html. live.
  14. News: P. Flynn's day of reckoning . . 14 July 2004 . 19 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050920174251/http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2004/07/14/story20570.asp . 20 September 2005 .
  15. News: Flynn due back in Mahon Tribunal witness box today. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 9 April 2008. 19 May 2008. 20 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110520035624/http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/flynn-due-back-in-mahon-tribunal-witness-box-today-1342431.html. live.
  16. News: In brief: The 16 key findings in the Mahon Tribunal Report. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 22 March 2012. 22 March 2012. 24 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120324120933/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mahon-tribunal/in-brief-the-16-key-findings-in-the-mahon-tribunal-report-3058680.html. live.
  17. News: Corrupt: Ex-minister Flynn braves storm for Mass. Kevin. Doyle. Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. 26 March 2012. 26 March 2012. 27 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327195352/http://www.herald.ie/news/corrupt-exminister-flynn-braves-storm-for-mass-3061131.html. live.
  18. News: Pádraig Flynn resigns from Fianna Fáil. RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 26 March 2012. 26 March 2012. 27 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327074411/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0326/mahon.html. live.