Michael O'Leary | |
---|---|
Tánaiste | |
In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 |
|
Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
Preceded by | George Colley |
Succeeded by | Ray MacSharry |
Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office 17 June 1981 – 1 November 1982 |
|
Preceded by | Frank Cluskey |
Succeeded by | Dick Spring |
Minister for Energy | |
In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 |
|
Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
Preceded by | George Colley |
Succeeded by | Albert Reynolds |
Minister for Labour | |
In office 14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977 |
|
Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave |
Preceded by | Joseph Brennan |
Succeeded by | Gene Fitzgerald |
Teachta Dála | |
In office November 1982 – February 1987 |
|
Constituency | Dublin South-West |
Member of the European Parliament | |
In office June 1979 – June 1984 |
|
Constituency | Dublin |
Teachta Dála | |
In office June 1981 – February 1982 |
|
Constituency | Dublin Central |
Teachta Dála | |
In office April 1965 – June 1977 |
|
Constituency | Dublin North-Central |
Personal details | |
Born |
Cork, Ireland |
8 May 1936
Died | 11 May 2006 Saint-Sever-de-Rustan, France |
(aged 70)
Nationality | Irish |
Political party | Labour Party |
Other political affiliations |
Fine Gael |
Michael O'Leary (8 May 1936 – 11 May 2006) was an Irish politician and barrister. He was Minister for Labour and while leader of the Labour Party became Minister for Energy and Tánaiste. He later became a member of the Fine Gael party.
Born in Cork, the son of a publican, O'Leary was educated at Presentation College, University College Cork, Columbia University, New York and King's Inns. On returning to Ireland, he became involved in Labour politics and was employed as Education Officer for the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU). In this rôle he was instrumental in establishing the Universities Branch, affiliated to Dublin North-Central Constituency, bringing together Dublin University Fabian Society and University College Dublin Labour Party students.
O'Leary was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin North-Central at the 1965 general election. His agent was Bob Mitchell, Chairman of Dublin University Fabian Society, who could claim credit in a dirty campaign for picking up transfers to squeeze out the Labour Party front-runner on the 11th Recount.
When first elected to the Dáil, O'Leary encouraged the Labour Party to take a more left-wing stance in its policies. He was initially strongly opposed to the idea of a coalition with Fine Gael but after the 1969 general election he believed that there was a need for a new approach. When the Labour Party and Fine Gael formed the National Coalition government following the 1973 general election he was appointed Minister for Labour.