John O'Donoghue (politician)
John O'Donoghue (born 28 May 1956) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2007 to 2009, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism from 2002 to 2007, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 1997 to 2002 and Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 1991 to 1992. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry South constituency from 1987 to 2011.[1]
John O'Donoghue
Bertie Ahern
28 May 1956
Cork, Ireland
3
Michael Pat Murphy (father-in-law)
Early and private life[edit]
O'Donoghue was born in Cork in 1956, but is a native of Cahersiveen, County Kerry. He was educated locally at Cahersiveen CBS and later attended University College Cork (UCC) where he studied law. He graduated from UCC in 1976 with a BCL and in 1977 with a LLB. O'Donoghue attended the Law Society of Ireland from where he graduated as a solicitor in 1978. He practised as a solicitor in his Cahersiveen before entering political life.
O'Donoghue is married to Kate Ann Murphy and they have two sons and one daughter. His father-in-law Michael Pat Murphy was a Labour Party TD for Cork South-West from 1951 until 1981.[2]
Early political career[edit]
O'Donoghue first became involved in politics in the early 1980s. He first ran for the Dáil as a Fianna Fáil candidate at the 1981 general election, however, in spite of polling over 3,700 he failed to be elected. O'Donoghue contested both the February and November general elections in 1982 but, although he increased his vote, he still failed to be elected. Building on his electoral profile O'Donoghue was elected to Kerry County Council following the 1985 local elections. Both his mother and his father had served on the council before him. He served on that authority until 1997 and was elected chairman in 1990.
O'Donoghue was finally elected to the Dáil on his fourth attempt at the 1987 general election.[3] A supporter of the party leader, Charles Haughey, he remained on the backbenches until 1991 when he became Minister of State at the Department of Finance following Albert Reynolds's failed attempt to oust Haughey as Taoiseach. In this capacity O'Donoghue was in charge of the Office of Public Works. He returned to the backbenches again when Reynolds finally became leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in February 1992. Two years later Fianna Fáil were back in opposition and Bertie Ahern was the new party leader. O'Donoghue was appointed to the front bench as spokesperson for Justice. In this capacity, he constantly criticised the incumbent Minister for Justice, Nora Owen of Fine Gael. He demanded 'zero tolerance' for criminals, and campaigned for harsher sentencing and increased prison places.
Cabinet career: 1997–2007[edit]
When Fianna Fáil returned to power with the Progressive Democrats following the 1997 general election, O'Donoghue joined the cabinet as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In this capacity, he was involved in the British-Irish negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
In 2002, Fianna Fáil again failed to obtain an overall majority and formed a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats. O'Donoghue, in what was seen as a demotion, was appointed Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. He was involved in the finalisation of details for the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road. In mid-2004, Ahern announced that he would be reshuffling his cabinet in September, prompting speculation over O'Donoghue's cabinet position, and a possible move to another portfolio. O'Donoghue, however, retained his post.
2011 general election and aftermath[edit]
O'Donoghue lost his seat in the 2011 general election, to former Fianna Fáil councillor Tom Fleming who ran as an Independent. In his concession speech O'Donoghue remarked "I hope that the irony will not be lost upon you that I stand here, on my evening of defeat, in a hall – this magnificent sports complex – which I helped to build".[21] He received a lump sum of €237,000 and an annual pension of €128,000.
Since losing office, he repeatedly signalled his intention to contest the next Irish general election. However, internal party figures dismissed this, with one describing him as "political toast as far as the party is concerned".[22]
In July 2014, he qualified for the bar, and now practices as a barrister.[23]