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15 Facts About Gene Fitzgerald

1.

Eugene Fitzgerald was an Irish Fianna Fail politician who served as Minister for Finance from 1980 to 1981, Minister for the Public Service from 1980 to 1981 to March 1982 to December 1982, Minister for Labour from 1977 to 1980 and March 1982 to December 1982.

2.

Gene Fitzgerald served as a Teachta Dala from 1972 to 1987.

3.

Gene Fitzgerald was a Member of the European Parliament for the Munster constituency from 1984 to 1994.

4.

Gene Fitzgerald was born in Crookstown, County Cork in August 1932.

5.

Gene Fitzgerald was educated nearby in Cork at the Presentation Brothers College.

6.

Gene Fitzgerald remained as a Fianna Fail TD for the constituency of Cork South-Central for 15 years.

7.

Gene Fitzgerald was involved in local politics, serving as a member of Cork County Council from 1974 until 1977.

8.

Gene Fitzgerald was vice-president of the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

9.

Gene Fitzgerald was first appointed to the Irish Government in 1977 when he became minister for labour under Jack Lynch.

10.

Gene Fitzgerald backed George Colley in the 1979 Fianna Fail leadership election but retained his office under the eventual victor, Charles Haughey.

11.

In Haughey's second government, Gene Fitzgerald returned to the position of minister for labour.

12.

Gene Fitzgerald contested the 1984 European election in the Munster constituency and won a seat.

13.

Gene Fitzgerald remained a TD until he stood down at the 1987 general election to concentrate on European politics instead of national politics.

14.

Gene Fitzgerald was re-elected as an MEP in the 1989 elections.

15.

Gene Fitzgerald retired from public office at the 1994 election, although he remained involved in the Fianna Fail party as a treasurer and subsequently as honorary secretary.