1. Mervyn Taylor was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Equality and Law Reform from 1993 to 1994 and from 1994 to 1997.
19 Facts About Mervyn Taylor
1. 2.
Mervyn Taylor served as a Teachta Dala for the Dublin South-West constituency from 1981 to 1997.
3.
Mervyn Taylor was the first ever Jewish cabinet minister in Ireland.
4.
Mervyn Taylor was educated at Zion School in Rathgar, Wesley College, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin.
5.
Mervyn Taylor worked for Herman Good Solicitors, alongside Herman Good and future district judge Hubert Wine.
6.
Good's involvement in the Labour Party was instrumental in Taylor getting involved in politics.
7.
Mervyn Taylor later established his own firm of Mervyn Taylor and Buchalter Solicitors with Don Buchalter, and practised as a solicitor for over 50 years before retiring from active practice in his 70s.
8.
Mervyn Taylor continued as a consultant to the firm of Taylor and Buchalter Solicitors for most of his 70s.
9.
Mervyn Taylor was elected to Dublin County Council in the 1970s, and became cathaoirleach of the council.
10.
Mervyn Taylor was elected to Dail Eireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dala for Dublin South-West at the 1981 general election, on his third attempt.
11.
Mervyn Taylor then held the seat at every election until his retirement from politics in 1997.
12.
Mervyn Taylor was Chairman of the Labour Party from 1987 to 1991, and Labour chief whip, from 1981 to 1988.
13.
Mervyn Taylor was assistant government chief whip from 1981 to 1982, and again from 1982 to 1987.
14.
Mervyn Taylor was a strong supporter of Israel, an unpopular cause in the Labour Party.
15.
Mervyn Taylor was again appointed as Minister for Equality and Law Reform.
16.
In 1995 Mervyn Taylor was in charge of the government proposal to legislate to remove the prohibition of divorce from the constitution; he steered the relevant bills through Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann.
17.
Mervyn Taylor introduced two wide-ranging anti-discrimination measures: the Employment Equality Bill and the Equal Status Bill.
18.
Mervyn Taylor was married to Marilyn Mervyn Taylor, who is the author of numerous books for young people.
19.
Tributes to Taylor were led by President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, describing him as "one of the most gracious, unselfish and kindest members ever to serve in the Dail".