Michael Smith (Irish politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Smith
|
|
|---|---|
Smith in 1990
|
|
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 8 October 1997 – 29 September 2004 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | David Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Willie O'Dea |
| Minister for Education | |
| In office 18 November – 15 December 1994 |
|
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Niamh Bhreathnach |
| Succeeded by | Niamh Bhreathnach |
| Minister for the Environment | |
| In office 14 February 1992 – 14 December 1994 |
|
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Rory O'Hanlon |
| Succeeded by | Brendan Howlin |
| Minister for Energy | |
| In office 24 November 1988 – 12 July 1989 |
|
| 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 |
|
| In office June 1977 – February 1982 |
|
| In office June 1969 – February 1973 |
|
| Constituency | Tipperary North |
| Senator | |
| In office 23 February 1983 – 17 February 1987 |
|
| Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
| In office 13 May 1982 – 23 February 1983 |
|
| 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 politician who is now retired. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil political party. He served in important government roles, including Minister for Defence and Minister for Education. He was also a Teachta Dála (TD), which is like a member of parliament in Ireland, for the Tipperary North area.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Smith was born in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1940. He went to school at CBS Templemore in County Tipperary. Before he became a politician, he worked as a farmer.
In 1969, he was first elected as a TD for the Tipperary North area. This was after the 1969 Irish general election. He lost his seat in the 1973 Irish general election but was elected again in the 1977 Irish general election.
Political Career Highlights
Serving in the 1980s
In 1980, Charles Haughey, who was the leader of the government (called the Taoiseach), made Michael Smith a junior minister. This role was called Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.
Michael Smith lost his TD seat again in the February 1982 Irish general election. He tried to get it back later that year but did not succeed. For the next five years, he served as a Senator in the Irish parliament's upper house. He was elected by different groups, first the farming group and then the education and culture group. He was re-elected as a TD in the 1987 Irish general election.
When he returned to the Irish parliament in 1987, he became a junior minister again, this time for energy. In 1988, he was promoted to a full cabinet minister as Minister for Energy. His time as a full minister was short. After the 1989 Irish general election, he became a junior minister again, helping with industry and trade.
From 1992 to 2007
In February 1992, Michael Smith returned to the main cabinet. He served for two years as Minister for the Environment. He held this job 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 made a junior minister for education and science. Then, in October 1997, he became Minister for Defence. He stayed in this important role until 2004, when there was a change in government ministers. During his time as Defence Minister, he worked on a big issue involving claims from soldiers about hearing loss.
In the 2007 Irish general election, Michael Smith lost his seat as a TD to Noel Coonan from the Fine Gael party.
