Michael Noonan
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For other people with similar names, including Michael J. Noonan (Fianna Fáil), see Michael Noonan (disambiguation)
Michael Noonan (Irish: Micheál Ó Nuanáin; born 21 May 1943) is an Irish politician and was Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael from February 2001 to June 2002. He is currently a Teachta Dála for Limerick East. Noonan previously held a variety of positions in the governments of Garret FitzGerald and John Bruton.
Michael Noonan was born in Limerick. He was educated locally and at University College Dublin where he qualified as a teacher. He taught for many years at the Crescent College in Limerick. He first became involved in politics in 1974 he was elected to Limerick County Council. He served on that authority until 1981. In that year he was elected as a Fine Gael TD for Limerick East. He has been re-elected at every election since.
Although Fine Gael was out of power, Noonan became spokesperson on Education. After just 18 months in the Dáil he was appointed Minister for Justice by Garret FitzGerald As Minister he revealed the illegal phone-tapping of journalists phones, carried out by the Fianna Fáil administration that preceded it in power. In 1986 he became Minister for Industry, Commerce and Trade. He took responsibility of the Energy portfolio when the Labour Party withdrew from the government. Fine Gael lost power in 1987 and were confined to the opposition benches for another seven years. In opposition he became Party spokesperson on Fiannce, and later on Transport, Energy & Communications. Between 1991 and 1994 Noonan served on Limerick County Council again.
In 1994 the 'Rainbow Coalition' was formed and Noonan became Minister for Health. The department was embroiled in a scandal at the time regarding blood products contaminated with hepatitis C virus. He refused to resign and remained as Minister until the election in 1997. Fine Gael lost that election and Noonan became opposition spokesman for Finance. In 2001 Noonan and his colleague, Jim Mitchell, tabled a motion of no confidence in the leader, John Bruton. The motion was successful in ousting Bruton as leader, with Noonan becoming leader of Fine Gael and Jim Mitchell became deputy-leader. Noonan effectively became Leader of the Opposition, a largely ceremonial title.
Noonan was an effective opposition speaker, however, he wasn't so successful in his role as party leader. In the 2002 general election Fine Gael had a disastrous result. The party dropped from 54 TDs to 31 TDs. Noonan resigned as Fine Gael leader on the night of the election. He was replaced by Enda Kenny, the loser to Noonan in his original leadership battle to replace Bruton in 2001. Noonan is still a TD in Dáil Éireann and has served on Kenny's Front bench.
[edit] Political career
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Newly created seat in constituency |
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Limerick East 1981– |
Succeeded by: Current Incumbent |
| Political Offices | ||
| Preceded by: Seán Doherty |
Minister for Justice 1982–1986 |
Succeeded by: Alan Dukes |
| Preceded by: John Bruton |
Minister for Industry & Commerce 1986–1987 |
Succeeded by: Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by: Michael O'Kennedy |
Opposition Spokesperson on Finance 1987–1990 |
Succeeded by: Ivan Yates |
| Preceded by: Michael Woods |
Minister for Health 1994–1997 |
Succeeded by: Brian Cowen |
| Preceded by: Charlie McCreevy |
Opposition Spokesperson on Finance 1997-2001 |
Succeeded by: Jim Mitchell |
| Preceded by: John Bruton |
Leader of the Fine Gael Party 2001–2002 |
Succeeded by: Enda Kenny |
| Leader of the Opposition 2001–2002 |
||
| Leaders of Fine Gael |
|---|
| General Eoin O'Duffy (1933-1934) | William T. Cosgrave (1934-1944) | General Richard Mulcahy (1944-1959) | James Dillon (1959-1965) | Liam Cosgrave (1965-1977) | Garret FitzGerald (1977-1987) | Alan Dukes (1987-1990) | John Bruton (1990-2001) | Michael Noonan (2001-2002) | Enda Kenny (2002-) |
Categories: Articles lacking sources | 1943 births | Living people | Leaders of Fine Gael | Teachtaí Dála | Irish Fine Gael Party politicians | Natives of County Limerick | Members of the 22nd Dáil | Members of the 23rd Dáil | Members of the 24th Dáil | Members of the 25th Dáil | Members of the 26th Dáil | Members of the 27th Dáil | Members of the 28th Dáil | Members of the 29th Dáil
