John O'Donoghue (politician)

John O'Donoghue (Seán Ó Donnchú; born 28 May 1956) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is the current Ceann Comhairle (speaker) of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas and a Teachta Dála for Kerry South. He was Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism (2002–2007) and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (1997–2002).

Early & private life

John O'Donoghue was born in Cahirciveen, County Kerry in 1956. He was educated locally at Cahirciveen CBS and later attended University College Cork where he studied law. He graduated from UCC in 1976 with a BCL (Hons) and in 1977 with a LLB (Hons). O'Donoghue later attended the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland from where he graduated as a solicitor in 1978. Once qualified he practised as a solicitor in his home town of Cahirciveen 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.

Early political career

O'Donoghue first became involved in politics in the early 1980s. He first ran for the Dáil as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the 1981 general election, however, in spite of polling over 3,700 he failed to be elected. O'Donoghue contested both the in February and November general elections in 1982 but, in spite of increasing his vote, he still failed to be elected. Building on his electoral profile O'Donoghue was elected to Kerry County Council in 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. 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 on 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. While in opposition, he also drafted the bill which was to be the foundation for the highly successful Criminal Assets Bureau. A similar bill was eventually introduced by the government.

Cabinet career: 1997-2007

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 & Law Reform, one of the most senior government positions. In this capacity he was heavily 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 & 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.

Ceann Comhairle

Following the 2007 general election, he was elected Ceann Comhairle by 90 votes to 75. O'Donoghue was nominated for the position by Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte said that for the first time in almost 20 years there would be an alternative and nominated Ruairi Quinn. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny seconded Mr Quinn's nomination but the nomination was not put to a vote.

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

External links

• John O'Donoghue's website
• Video of John O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle
• Fianna Fáil website
• John O'Donoghue's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)

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