1. Bartholomew O'Keeffe was born on 2 April 1945 and is an Irish former Fianna Fail politician who served as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation from 2010 to 2011, Minister for Education and Science from 2008 to 2010 and a Minister of State from 2004 to 2008.
Batt O'Keeffe served as a Teachta Dala from 1987 to 1989 and from 1992 to 2011.
Batt O'Keeffe was a Senator for the Labour Panel from 1989 to 1992.
Batt O'Keeffe was educated at St Brendan's College, Killarney and at University College Cork, where he received a Bachelor of Arts.
Batt O'Keeffe worked as a lecturer in the Cork Institute of Technology before becoming involved in politics.
Batt O'Keeffe had a sporting career, being the holder of three Munster football Gaelic Athletic Association medals with Cork GAA at Under 21, Junior and Senior level.
Batt O'Keeffe was formerly chairman of the Southern Health Board.
Batt O'Keeffe is married to Mary Murphy; they have three daughters and one son.
Batt O'Keeffe was first elected to the Dail at the 1987 general election as a Fianna Fail TD for the Cork South-Central constituency.
Batt O'Keeffe lost his seat to Micheal Martin at the 1989 general election, but he was elected to Seanad Eireann on the Labour Panel where he was Fianna Fail Spokesperson for Finance.
At the 1992 general election, Batt O'Keeffe was re-elected to the Dail and was re-elected at each subsequent election until his retirement in 2011.
Between 1995 and 1997, Batt O'Keeffe was Opposition Spokesperson on Transport and Communications.
Batt O'Keeffe has served on a number of committees including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Public Accounts Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee.
In 2006, Batt O'Keeffe was selected unopposed to contest the 2007 general election in the re-drawn Cork North-West constituency, along with Michael Moynihan and Donal Moynihan.
Batt O'Keeffe was elected, although his party colleague Donal Moynihan lost his seat.
In 2007, Batt O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal.
When Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in 2008, Batt O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister for Education and Science.
Batt O'Keeffe accused the opposition parties of whipping up "hysteria" and said they were being dishonest with the Irish people.
On 11 August 2008, Batt O'Keeffe proposed the re-introduction of third-level fees which had been abolished in Ireland since 1995.
Batt O'Keeffe stated that he wanted to increase third-level participation, and claimed that the "free fees" scheme had not accomplished this.
Batt O'Keeffe resigned his position as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on 20 January 2011.
Batt O'Keeffe retired from politics at the 2011 general election.