Paddy Donegan Explained

Office:Minister for Fisheries
(Minister for Lands
from 9 February 1977)
Taoiseach:Liam Cosgrave
Term Start:2 December 1976
Term End:5 July 1977
Predecessor:Tom Fitzpatrick
Successor:Brian Lenihan
Office1:Minister for Defence
Taoiseach1:Liam Cosgrave
Term Start1:14 March 1973
Term End1:2 December 1976
Predecessor1:Jerry Cronin
Successor1:Liam Cosgrave
Office2:Teachta Dála
Term Start2:October 1961
Term End2:June 1981
Term Start3:May 1954
Term End3:March 1957
Constituency3:Louth
Office4:Senator
Term Start4:22 May 1957
Term End4:4 October 1961
Constituency4:Agricultural Panel
Birth Date:29 October 1923
Birth Place:Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland
Death Place:County Louth, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fine Gael
Children:4
Education:Castleknock College

Patrick Sarsfield Donegan (29 October 1923 – 26 November 2000) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Fisheries from February 1977 to July 1977, Minister for Lands from 1976 to 1977 and Minister for Defence from 1973 to 1976. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1954 to 1957 and 1961 to 1981. He also served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 1957 to 1961.[1]

He was born on 29 October 1923 at Monasterboice, County Louth, son of Thomas Francis Donegan, a publican and farmer, and Rose Ann Donegan (née Butterly).[2] He was educated at a Christian Brothers School in Drogheda, County Louth and at the Vincentian Castleknock College, Dublin.

Donegan was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Louth constituency at the 1954 general election.[3] He lost his seat at the 1957 general election, but was elected to Seanad Éireann as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel. He regained his Dáil seat at the 1961 general election. In the Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government which took power after the 1973 general election Donegan was appointed as Minister for Defence.

In October 1976, Donegan made a speech on an official visit to the opening of new kitchen facilities in an army barracks at Mullingar, County Westmeath in which he described as a "thundering disgrace" President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's refusal to sign the Emergency Powers Bill 1976. Ó Dálaigh had instead exercised his powers under Article 26 of the Constitution to refer it to the Supreme Court.[4] The Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, refused Donegan's resignation, and instead Ó Dálaigh resigned as President of Ireland. The whole episode badly damaged the government's reputation.

In December 1976, Donegan was appointed as Minister for Lands.[5] In February 1977, this office was restructured as the Minister for Fisheries.[6] He served in cabinet until the government lost office after the 1977 general election. Donegan retired from politics at the 1981 general election, and died in 2000. He was buried in his home town of Monasterboice, County Louth.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patrick S. Donegan. Oireachtas Members Database. 31 August 2012. 8 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108144537/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Patrick-S-Donegan.D.1954-06-02. live.
  2. Web site: Donegan, Patrick Sarsfield. Dictionary of Irish Biography. White. Lawrence William. 2 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Patrick S. Donegan. ElectionsIreland.org. 31 August 2012. 25 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120925023942/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2310. live.
  4. News: Politicians pay tribute to Paddy Donegan. RTÉ News. 26 November 2000. 31 December 2007. 25 July 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030725040842/http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/1126/donegan.html. live.
  5. Web site: Ministerial Appointments: Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil) – Vol. 294 No. 9. 2 December 1976. 12 July 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas.
  6. Web site: Transfer of Departmental Functions: Statement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil) – Vol. 296 No. 7. 8 February 1977. 8 April 2020. Houses of the Oireachtas.