Michael Smith (Irish politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Smith
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Smith in 1990
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| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 8 October 1997 – 29 September 2004 |
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| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | David Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Willie O'Dea |
| Minister for Education | |
| In office 18 November – 15 December 1994 |
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| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Niamh Bhreathnach |
| Succeeded by | Niamh Bhreathnach |
| Minister for the Environment | |
| In office 14 February 1992 – 14 December 1994 |
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| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Rory O'Hanlon |
| Succeeded by | Brendan Howlin |
| Minister for Energy | |
| In office 24 November 1988 – 12 July 1989 |
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| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Minister of State | |
| July–Oct. 1997 | Education and Science |
| July–Oct. 1997 | Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
| 1989–1991 | Industry and Commerce |
| 1987–1988 | Energy |
| March 1987 | Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry |
| 1980–1981 | Agriculture |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 1987 – May 2007 |
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| In office June 1977 – February 1982 |
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| In office June 1969 – February 1973 |
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| Constituency | Tipperary North |
| Senator | |
| In office 23 February 1983 – 17 February 1987 |
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| Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
| In office 13 May 1982 – 23 February 1983 |
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| Constituency | Agricultural Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 November 1940 Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse |
Mary Smith
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 7 |
| Education | CBS Templemore |
Michael Smith (born 8 November 1940) is an Irish former politician. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil political party. He held important roles in the Irish government for many years.
He served as the Minister for Defence from 1997 to 2004. Before that, he was the Minister for Education for a short time in 1994. He also worked as the Minister for the Environment from 1992 to 1994. Michael Smith was also a junior minister in different governments.
He was a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Irish Parliament. He represented the Tipperary North area for several terms: from 1969 to 1973, 1977 to 1981, and 1987 to 2002. He also served as a Senator in the Irish Senate from 1982 to 1987.
Early Life and Education
Michael Smith was born in Roscrea, a town in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1940. He went to school at CBS Templemore in County Tipperary.
Before he became a politician, Michael Smith worked as a farmer. He first became a TD in the Irish Parliament after the general election in 1969. He represented the Tipperary North area.
He lost his seat in the Parliament in the 1973 election. However, he was elected back into Parliament in the 1977 general election.
Starting in Politics
In 1980, Charles Haughey, who was the Taoiseach (the leader of the Irish government) at the time, made Michael Smith a junior minister for Agriculture.
Michael Smith lost his seat in Parliament again in the February 1982 election. He tried to get it back later that year but was not successful. For the next five years, he worked as a Senator in the Seanad Éireann (the Irish Senate). He was elected to the Senate twice before he was elected back to Parliament in the 1987 general election.
When he returned to Parliament in 1987, he was appointed as a junior minister for Energy. In 1988, he became a full Minister, taking on the role of Minister for Energy. His time as a full Minister was short. After the 1989 general election, he became a junior minister for Industry and Commerce.
Key Government Roles
In February 1992, Michael Smith returned to a full ministerial role. He became the Minister for the Environment. He held this position for two years, until his party, Fianna Fáil, left the government in December 1994.
After the 1997 election, Fianna Fáil was back in government. Michael Smith was first appointed as a junior minister for Education and Science.
Minister for Defence
In October 1997, Michael Smith took over from David Andrews as the Minister for Defence. This meant he was in charge of Ireland's defence forces. He stayed in this important role until 2004.
During his time as Minister for Defence, he dealt with a significant issue. This involved many claims from soldiers about hearing problems, which led to large amounts of money being claimed from the government.
In the 2007 general election, Michael Smith lost his seat in Parliament to Noel Coonan.
