Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald Michael (Irish Gearóid Mícheál Mac Gearailt; born February 9, 1926 in Dublin, † May 19, 2011 ) was an Irish politician and twice Prime Minister ( Taoiseach ).
Studies and professional activities
Garret FitzGerald was born into a political family and was the son of the former Minister, Sinn Féin activist and longtime deputies Desmond FitzGerald. He holds a degree in economics at University College Dublin ( UCD). This he completed in 1946 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
After graduation, he was 1947 Employees of the airline Aer Lingus. There he became a recognized expert of strategic airlift planning and also wrote several articles in the daily newspaper The Irish Times. He was also since 1950 Ireland correspondent for the BBC, the weekly newspaper The Economist and the Financial Times.
In 1959 he returned to the UCD, where he was a lecturer in economics.
Since 1997, FitzGerald was Chancellor of Ireland's largest university, the National University of Ireland, are among the four universities and five colleges. On 22 September 2005 he was also elected President of the Institute of European Affairs.
Political career
Senator and Deputy
FitzGerald's political career began in 1965 with the appointment as a member of the upper house ( Seanad Éireann ) of the Irish Parliament ( Oireachtas ) as representing the interests of economy and trade. In 1969, he was first a deputy of the lower house ( Dáil Éireann ) is selected and represented there until 1992, the interests of the Christian Democrat - Liberal- dominated conservative Fine Gael constituency of Dublin - South - East.
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1973-1977
After the election victory of Fine Gael in 1973 Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave appointed him on March 14, 1973 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. During his tenure, until July 5, 1977, he improved the reputation of the European Communities in 1973 joined Ireland and was one of the main staff of the Lomé Convention of 28 February 1975 which regulated the relations of the EC to the ACP countries. At the height of his tenure as Foreign Minister, he was in the first half of 1975 the first Irish President of the Council of the European Union. During this tenure, he was also the initiator of several decisions to strengthen the mechanisms of the European Communities.
Opposition leader and Prime Minister
Power struggle with the Fianna Fáil 1981-1982
After the defeat in the parliamentary elections of 1977 against the longtime ruling party Fianna Fáil FitzGerald was the Fine Gael and thus Leader of the Opposition as the successor to President Cosgrave. Over the next four years was an extensive and thorough renovation of the party.
For the general elections of 1981, the Fine Gael emerged as the winner, so FitzGerald succeeded his university friend Charles J. Haughey ( Fianna Fáil ) first became Prime Minister on 30 June 1981. However Haughey succeeded him already on 9 March 1982 after another election again after FitzGerald did not get approval to its budget and President Patrick Hillery asked for the dissolution of parliament.
Prime Minister 1982-1987
However, Fine Gael from the third parliamentary election was the winner within 18 months of the end of 1982. On December 14, 1982 FitzGerald was the second time Haughey 's successor as Prime Minister, and together with the Irish Labour Party, a coalition government.
In his last until March 10, 1987 reign, he issued a series of laws to liberalize the Irish law, particularly in the area of abortion, divorce and contraception. At the same time he strove to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland and a settlement with the British government. On November 15, 1985, he signed with the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the Anglo - Irish Agreement, the Republic of Ireland conceded a certain say in the administration of Northern Ireland, but on the other hand, recognized the status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. For his contributions to this understanding, and his life's work to him in law from the University of Ulster was awarded in July 2003, the Doctor honoris causa.
These positions, however, were not supported by much of the electorate. In the parliamentary elections of March 1987, the Fine Gael suffered another defeat. FitzGerald resigned as prime minister and was again succeeded by Charles Haughey. At the same time he resigned as Leader of the Fine Gael down after ten years and was replaced by the former Justice Minister Alan Dukes.
1991 FitzGerald published his autobiography All in Life and retired the following year finally from political life back.
FitzGerald is the last rest after a state funeral at the cemetery in Shanganagh Shankill in Dublin.
Publications
- Garret FitzGerald: Factors Influencing air transport rates and fares. In: Journal of The Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland. Vol XXVIII, Part V, 1951/1952, ISSN 00814776
Biographical sources
- Biographical Notes on the Irish Parliament website
- Biography on the website of the National University of Ireland
Background information
- List of ministers of the Cabinet 1981-1982
- List of ministers of the Cabinet 1982-1987
- Articles about Garret FitzGerald in village.ie