Thomas J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan politician) explained

Office:Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
Deputy:John Ryan
Term Start:14 December 1982
Term End:10 March 1987
Predecessor:John O'Connell
Successor:Seán Treacy
Office1:Minister for Fisheries and Forestry
Taoiseach1:Garret FitzGerald
Term Start1:30 June 1981
Term End1:9 March 1982
Predecessor1:Paddy Power
Successor1:Brendan Daly
Office2:Minister for Transport and Power
Taoiseach2:Liam Cosgrave
Term Start2:2 December 1976
Term End2:5 July 1977
Predecessor2:Peter Barry
Successor2:Pádraig Faulkner
Office3:Minister for Lands
Taoiseach3:Liam Cosgrave
Term Start3:14 March 1973
Term End3:2 December 1976
Predecessor3:Seán Flanagan
Successor3:Paddy Donegan
Office4:Teachta Dála
Term Start4:June 1977
Term End4:June 1989
Constituency4:Cavan–Monaghan
Term Start5:April 1965
Term End5:June 1977
Constituency5:Cavan
Office6:Senator
Term Start6:14 December 1961
Term End6:7 April 1965
Constituency6:Labour Panel
Birth Date:14 February 1918
Birth Place:Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland
Death Place:Cavan, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fine Gael
Children:3
Alma Mater:University College Dublin

Thomas James Fitzpatrick (14 February 1918 – 2 October 2006) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1982 to 1987, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry from 1981 to 1982, Minister for Transport and Power from 1976 to 1977 and Minister for Lands from 1973 to 1976. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1965 to 1989. He was a Senator for the Labour Panel from 1961 to 1965.[1]

Early life

Fitzpatrick was born at Scotshouse, Clones, County Monaghan in 1918.[2] He was educated at St. Macartan's College, the Incorporated Law Society and University College Dublin where he qualified as a solicitor, and then entered practice as a solicitor in Cavan town.[3]

Politics

Fitzpatrick first held political office in 1950, when he was elected to Cavan Urban District Council. In 1961, he moved to national politics when he was elected to Seanad Éireann. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan constituency at the 1965 general election.[4] He held many Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Defence, Health and Social Welfare, Justice and the Environment, as well as being Fine Gael Chief Whip from 1979 to 1981.

Fitzpatrick served in the Irish Government on several occasions under Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald. His first government post was in 1973, when he was appointed Minister for Lands. After Fine Gael lost power in 1977, he was mentioned as a possible leader of the party if a compromise were needed between FitzGerald and Cosgrave.[5] Following the November 1982 general election, he was elected as Ceann Comhairle, a post which he held until 1987.[6] Fitzpatrick was re-elected to the Dáil (or automatically returned as Ceann Comhairle) at every election until 1989 when he retired from politics.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas J. Fitzpatrick. Oireachtas Members Database. 25 May 1989. 16 October 2012. 8 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108144447/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Thomas-J-Fitzpatrick.S.1961-12-14. live.
  2. News: Former Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil dies. RTÉ News. 2 October 2006. 8 January 2008. 14 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314032406/http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1002/fitzpatrickt.html. live.
  3. Web site: Fitzpatrick, Thomas Joseph. Dictionary of Irish Biography. White. Lawrence William. 25 January 2023.
  4. Web site: Thomas J. Fitzpatrick. ElectionsIreland.org. 16 October 2012. 19 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120919160410/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6657. live.
  5. "Influential behind scenes during FG turmoil", The Irish Times obituary, 7 October 2006.
  6. News: Former ceann comhairle Tom Fitzpatrick dies. The Irish Times. 2 October 2006. 5 August 2019. 23 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923185504/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/former-ceann-comhairle-tom-fitzpatrick-dies-1.797472. live.