Ned O'Keeffe
| Ned O'Keeffe | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State for Food | |
|
In office 8 July 1997 – 17 February 2001 |
|
| Preceded by | Jimmy Deenihan |
| Succeeded by | Éamon Ó Cuív |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office December 1982 – February 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Cork East |
| Senator | |
|
In office May 1982 – November 1982 |
|
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 August 1942 Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Buckley |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
Edward "Ned" O'Keeffe (born 1 August 1942) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 1982 to 2011.
O'Keeffe was born in Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, County Cork in 1942. He was educated at Darra College, Clonakilty where he received a diploma in Social and Rural Science. O'Keeffe was a pig farmer before becoming involved in politics.
In 1982 he was nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, to the 16th Seanad. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election. He retained his seat at each subsequent general election until his retirement in 2011.
O'Keeffe served in a number of frontbench positions. He was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Industry from 1982 until 1987. While Fianna Fáil were in power between 1987 and 1994, O'Keeffe remained on the backbenches. When Bertie Ahern became party leader in 1994 O'Keeffe was appointed Deputy spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science, Technology and Small Business. He served in that position until 1997 when he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food. He served in that position until February 2001 when he had to resign due to his voting on a Dáil motion without declaring that he had a beneficial interest in the subject matter.
On 28 November 2007, during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, O'Keeffe resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip when forced to vote his confidence in the Minister. On 26 February 2008 he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
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