Frank Cluskey
Frank Cluskey | |
---|---|
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | |
In office 14 December 1982 – 8 December 1983 | |
Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
Preceded by | Pádraig Flynn |
Succeeded by | Garret FitzGerald |
Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office 1 July 1977 – 12 June 1981 | |
Preceded by | Brendan Corish |
Succeeded by | Michael O'Leary |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare | |
In office 14 March 1973 – 25 May 1977 | |
Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave |
Preceded by | Johnny Geoghegan |
Succeeded by | Thomas Hussey |
Teachta Dála | |
In office February 1982 – June 1989 | |
In office June 1977 – June 1981 | |
In office April 1965 – June 1969 | |
Constituency | Dublin South-Central |
Member of the European Parliament | |
In office 1 July 1981 – 24 November 1982 | |
Constituency | Dublin |
Personal details | |
Born | Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland | 8 April 1930
Died | 7 May 1989 Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland | (aged 59)
Nationality | Irish |
Political party | Labour Party |
Spouse(s) | Phylis Ryan (m. 1961; d. 1989) |
Children | 3 |
Education | St. Vincent's C.B.S. |
Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Frank Cluskey (8 April 1930 – 7 May 1989) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 1982 to 1983, Leader of the Labour Party from 1977 to 1981 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency from 1965 to 1969, 1977 to 1981 and 1982 to 1989.[1]
Cluskey was born on 8 April 1930 in Dublin, and was educated at St. Vincent's C.B.S. in Glasnevin. He worked as a butcher and then joined the Labour Party. He quickly became a branch secretary in the Workers' Union of Ireland. At the 1965 general election he was elected as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency. In 1968 he was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. In 1973 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare, Brendan Corish. He introduced sweeping reforms to the area while he held that position, pushing through legislation introducing a 'single-mothers' welfare allowance and managing with his colleagues to triple welfare spending between 1973-1977.[2] He played a leading role in initiating the EU Poverty Programmes.
The Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition was defeated at the 1977 general election resulting in the resignation of Brendan Corish as Labour Party leader. Cluskey was elected the new leader of the Labour Party. In 1981, the Labour Party entered into a coalition government with Fine Gael. However Cluskey had lost his seat in Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election and with it the party leadership. He was appointed on 1 July 1981 as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Dublin, replacing Michael O'Leary, who had resigned the seat after succeeding Cluskey as Labour leader.
The coalition government fell in January 1982 over a budget dispute, and Cluskey was re-elected to the Dáil at the February 1982 general election.[3] When the coalition returned to office after the November 1982 election, Cluskey was appointed as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. He then resigned from the European Parliament, to be replaced by Brendan Halligan.
On 8 December 1983 he resigned as Minister due to a fundamental disagreement over government policy about the Dublin Gas Company. He retained his Dáil seat in the 1987 general election.
Following his re-election his health deteriorated. He died on 7 May 1989 after a long battle with cancer.
References[]
- ^ "Frank Cluskey". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
- ^ "Cluskey's memory shines through from this very grim Mother and Baby report". independent.
- ^ "Frank Cluskey". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
External links[]
- Personal profile of Frank Cluskey in the European Parliament's database of members
- 1930 births
- 1989 deaths
- Deaths from cancer in the Republic of Ireland
- Labour Party (Ireland) MEPs
- Leaders of the Labour Party (Ireland)
- Local councillors in Dublin (city)
- Lord Mayors of Dublin
- Members of the 18th Dáil
- Members of the 19th Dáil
- Members of the 20th Dáil
- Members of the 21st Dáil
- Members of the 23rd Dáil
- Members of the 24th Dáil
- Members of the 25th Dáil
- MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1979–1984
- Parliamentary Secretaries of the 20th Dáil
- Politicians from County Dublin
- Labour Party (Ireland) TDs
- Ministers for Enterprise, Trade and Employment