Paddy Donegan

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Paddy Donegan
Minister for Fisheries
In office
9 February 1977 – 5 July 1977
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byBrian Lenihan
Minister for Lands
In office
2 December 1976 – 9 February 1977
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byTom Fitzpatrick
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Minister for Defence
In office
14 March 1973 – 2 December 1976
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byJerry Cronin
Succeeded byLiam Cosgrave
Teachta Dála
In office
October 1961 – June 1981
In office
May 1954 – March 1957
ConstituencyLouth
Senator
In office
1 April 1957 – 30 October 1961
ConstituencyAgricultural Panel
Personal details
Born
Patrick Sarsfield Donegan

(1923-10-29)29 October 1923
Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland
Died26 November 2000(2000-11-26) (aged 77)
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse(s)Olivia Donegan
(m. 1949; d. 2000)
Children4
EducationCastleknock 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 educated at a Christian Brothers School in Drogheda, County Louth and at the Vincentian Castleknock College, Dublin. Donegan was first elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Louth constituency at the 1954 general election.[2] 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 controversial speech on an official visit to the opening of new kitchen facilities in an army barracks at Mullingar, County Westmeath. He described as a "thundering disgrace" (in some accounts what he said was 'thundering bollox and a fucking disgrace') President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's refusal to sign the Emergency Powers Act, 1976, instead using his powers under Article 26 of the Constitution to refer it to the Supreme Court.[3] 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 1976, Donegan became Minister for Lands, and in 1977, he served briefly as Minister for Fisheries. Donegan retired from politics at the 1981 general election, and died in 2000. He was buried in his home town of Monasterboice, County Louth.

References[]

  1. ^ "Patrick S. Donegan". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Patrick S. Donegan". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Politicians pay tribute to Paddy Donegan". RTÉ News. 26 November 2000. Archived from the original on 25 July 2003. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Defence
1973–1976
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Lands
1976–1977
Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""