Jimmy Devins
Minister of State
2007–2009Enterprise, Trade and Employment
2007–2009Education and Science
2007–2008Justice, Equality and Law Reform
2007–2008Health and Children
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
ConstituencySligo–North Leitrim
In office
May 2002 – May 2007
ConstituencySligo–Leitrim
Personal details
Born (1948-09-20) 20 September 1948 (age 75)
Sligo, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
Mary Devins
​
(m. 1975)​
RelativesJames Devins (grandfather)
Alma mater

James Devins (born 20 September 1948) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Minister of State in various government departments from 2007 to 2009. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 2002 to 2011.[1]

Early and personal life

Devins is a medical doctor by profession, and worked as a GP in Sligo from 1975. His grandfather, James Devins, served a Sinn Féin TD for Sligo–Mayo East from 1921 to 1922.[2] He is married to Judge Mary Devins.[3]

Political career

Devins was elected to Sligo County Council in 1991 and re-elected in 1999.[4] He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency.[4] At the 2007 general election, he was elected for the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency.[1]

In July 2007, legislation was passed to increase the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20, and Devins was nominated by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to be appointed by the government to be Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with special responsibility for disability issues and mental health, and excluding discrimination.[5][6][7][8]

In May 2008, Brian Cowen succeeded Ahern as Taoiseach, and nominated Devins to be appointed by the government to be Minister of State at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Education and Science, with special responsibility for science, technology and innovation.[9][10] In April 2009, Cowen sought the resignation of all Ministers of State in order to reduce the number from 20 to 15. Devins was not one of those reappointed.[11]

On 5 August 2009, Devins (along with fellow Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon) resigned the party whip over his opposition to cuts in services at Sligo General Hospital. He stated that he would remain a member of the Fianna Fáil party.[12] He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 25 January 2011, a day before the leadership election.[13]

Devins did not contest the 2011 general election.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Jimmy Devins". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  2. ^ "Devins salutes Liam Mellowes as a 'great champion of Irish freedom'". The Irish Times. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Judge apologises for calling social welfare a Polish charity". Irish Independent. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Jimmy Devins". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Vol. 637 No. 2". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. ^ Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007, s. 1: Increase in number of Ministers of State appointed by Government (No. 33 of 2007, s. 1). Enacted on 9 July 2007. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  7. ^ Health and Children (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 4) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 717 of 2007). Signed on 26 September 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
  8. ^ Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 556 of 2007). Signed on 25 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Vol. 654 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  10. ^ Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 288 of 2008). Signed on 15 July 2008. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Vol. 680 No. 3". Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  12. ^ "FF TDs resign whip over cuts". The Irish Times. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  13. ^ "FF leadership candidates address party". RTÉ News. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  14. ^ "FF's Devins to step down at next election". 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
Political offices Preceded byBrian LenihanSeán Power Minister of State at the Department of Health 2007–2008 With: Brendan SmithPat "the Cope" GallagherMáire Hoctor Succeeded byBarry AndrewsMáire HoctorJohn MoloneyMary Wallace Preceded byMichael AhernTony Killeen Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 2007–2009 With: Michael Ahern (2007–2008)Billy KelleherJohn McGuinnessJohn Moloney (2008–2009) Succeeded byConor LenihanDara Calleary
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