Ned O'Keeffe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ned O'Keeffe
Minister of State for Food
In office
8 July 1997 – 17 February 2001
TaoiseachBertie Ahern
Preceded byJimmy Deenihan
Succeeded byÉamon Ó Cuív
Teachta Dála
In office
November 1982 – February 2011
ConstituencyCork East
Senator
In office
12 May 1982 – 3 November 1982
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born
Edward O'Keeffe

(1942-08-01) 1 August 1942 (age 79)
Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse(s)Ann Buckley (m. 1965; d. 2017)
Children5, including Kevin
Alma materUniversity College Cork

Ned O'Keeffe (born 1 August 1942) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister of State for Food from 1997 to 2001. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 1982 to 2011. He was a Senator from May 1982 to November 1982, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[1]

Early life[]

O'Keeffe was born in Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, County Cork, in 1942. He was educated at Darra College, Clonakilty, where he received a diploma in Social and Rural Science. O'Keeffe was a pig farmer before becoming involved in politics.

Political career[]

In 1982, he was nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, to the 16th Seanad. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election. He retained his seat at each subsequent general election until his retirement in 2011.[2] He was also a member of Cork County Council from 1985 to 1997.

O'Keeffe served in a number of frontbench positions. He was Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Industry from 1982 until 1987. While Fianna Fáil were in power between 1987 and 1994, O'Keeffe remained on the backbenches. When Bertie Ahern became party leader in 1994, O'Keeffe was appointed deputy Spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment, with responsibility for Commerce, Science, Technology and Small Business. He served in that position until 1997, when he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food with responsibility for Food. He served in that position until February 2001, when he had to resign due to his voting on a Dáil motion without declaring that he had a beneficial interest in the subject matter.

On 28 November 2007, during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, O'Keeffe resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip when forced to vote his confidence in the Minister.[3] On 26 February 2008, he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.[4]

He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the South constituency. In the pre-election debate on Today FM he voiced his support for the use of Nuclear power and an incinerator in Cork Harbour.[5] He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[6]

O’Keeffe’s son, Kevin, was a member of Cork County Council and was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2011 general election. Both Kevin and his other son, Ciarán, a solicitor based in Mitchelstown, sought to be added to the Fianna Fáil party ticket for Cork East in 2015. However, Ciarán later withdrew his attempt. News that they were going head to head surprised party supporters in the constituency and it was seen in some quarters as being a potentially divisive battle which could have undermined the party.[7] Kevin O’Keeffe was elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2016 general election.[8]

His wife, Anna O’Keeffe, died in 2017.[9]

Arrest[]

He was arrested on 27 April 2012, by members of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI) on suspicion of using a false invoice to claim for mobile phone expenses while he was a member of the Oireachtas.[10] He was held for a number of hours at Cobh Garda station under section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.[11]

On the 1 December 2014, O'Keeffe was found guilty of fraudulently claiming in excess of €3,700 in mobile phone usage expenses. He was fined €3,500 and given a 7-month suspended jail sentence for his crime.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ned O'Keeffe". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Ned O'Keeffe". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  3. ^ Sheahan, Fionnan; Brennan, Michael (29 November 2007). "Harney survives confidence vote as rebel FF TD quits". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Ned O'Keeffe readmitted to FF Dáil party". RTÉ News. 26 February 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  5. ^ European Elections Debate, South – The Last Word with Matt Cooper, Today FM, 25 May 2009
  6. ^ "Ahern, O'Keeffe not contesting election". RTÉ News. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  7. ^ O’Riordan, Sean (27 May 2015). "Fianna Fáil avoids battle of the brothers in Cork". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Kelleher, Olivia. "Profile: Kevin O'Keeffe (FF)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Thousands pay respects to late wife of former TD Ned O'Keeffe". independent. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Former TD Ned O'Keeffe arrested in false invoice inquiry". RTÉ News. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Ex-FF TD Ned O'Keeffe arrested". The Irish Times. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Ned O'Keeffe given suspended jail term for false invoices". The Irish Times. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
Oireachtas
Preceded by Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Cork East
1982–2011 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State for Food
1997–2001 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""