Jim O'Keeffe

Irish former Fine Gael politician (b. 1941)

1986–1987Public Service1982–1986Foreign Affairs1981–1982Foreign AffairsTeachta DálaIn office
June 1977 – February 2011ConstituencyCork South-West Personal detailsBorn (1941-03-31) 31 March 1941 (age 83)
Skibbereen, County Cork, IrelandPolitical partyFine GaelAlma mater
  • University College Cork
  • University College Dublin

Jim O'Keeffe (born 31 March 1941) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1982 to 1987. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-West constituency from 1977 to 2011.[1]

O'Keeffe was born in Skibbereen, County Cork, in 1941. He was educated at St. Fachtna's High School, Skibbereen; University College Cork; University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law School of the Incorporated Law Society. He practised as a solicitor before entering public office. O'Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1977 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Cork South-West and retained his seat at each general election until his retirement in 2011.[2]

In June 1981, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for overseas development by the Fine Gael–Labour Party government led by Garret FitzGerald.[3] This government lasted until March 1982. After a brief period in opposition, the two parties formed a new coalition government in December 1982. O'Keeffe was appointed to the same position.[4] In a reshuffle in February 1986, he was moved and appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service.[5] He retained this position until March 1987, when Fine Gael returned to opposition.

He held numerous Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Foreign Affairs; Social, Community and Family Affairs; Social Welfare; Agriculture and Health; and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In 1996–97, he was the first chair of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. He is a former vice-chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.

O'Keeffe retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[6]

He was a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission from 11 February 2014 until 10 February 2020.

References

  1. ^ "Jim O'Keeffe". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Jim O'Keeffe". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 1981. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 December 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Ministerial Assignments and Titles: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 February 1986. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Political change for West Cork". The Southern Star. 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
Political offices
Vacant Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs
1981–1982
Vacant
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs
1982–1986
Succeeded by
Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service
1986–1987
Office abolished
  • v
  • t
  • e
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for the Cork South-West constituency
This table is transcluded from Cork South-West (Dáil constituency). (edit | history)
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
17th 1961 Seán Collins
(FG)
Michael Pat Murphy
(Lab)
Edward Cotter
(FF)
18th 1965
19th 1969 John O'Sullivan
(FG)
Flor Crowley
(FF)
20th 1973
21st 1977 Jim O'Keeffe
(FG)
Joe Walsh
(FF)
22nd 1981 P. J. Sheehan
(FG)
Flor Crowley
(FF)
23rd 1982 (Feb) Joe Walsh
(FF)
24th 1982 (Nov)
25th 1987
26th 1989
27th 1992
28th 1997
29th 2002 Denis O'Donovan
(FF)
30th 2007 P. J. Sheehan
(FG)
Christy O'Sullivan
(FF)
31st 2011 Jim Daly
(FG)
Noel Harrington
(FG)
Michael McCarthy
(Lab)
32nd 2016 Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
(FF)
Michael Collins
(Ind)
33rd 2020 Holly Cairns
(SD)
Christopher O'Sullivan
(FF)