Noel Treacy
Minister of State
2004–2007Foreign Affairs
2004–2007Taoiseach
2002–2004Agriculture and Food
1997–2002Enterprise, Trade and Employment
1997–2002Education and Science
1993–1994Taoiseach
1993–1994Finance
1993–1994Transport, Energy and Communication
1992–1993Finance
Feb.–Nov. 1991Justice
1989–1991Health
1988–1989Taoiseach
1987–1989Finance
Teachta Dála
In office
July 1982 – February 2011
ConstituencyGalway East
Personal details
Born(1951-12-18)18 December 1951
Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland
Died2 February 2022(2022-02-02) (aged 70)
Galway, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
SpouseMary Cloonan
Children4
EducationSt. Joseph's College

Noel Treacy (18 December 1951 – 2 February 2022)[1] was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Minister of State in various government departments and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 1982 to 2011.[2]

Early life

Treacy was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway, in 1951. He was educated at Gurteen National School and St. Joseph's College, Garbally Park in Ballinasloe. He worked as an auctioneer and financial services manager before entering public life. He was married to Mary Cloonan and had three daughters and one son.

Political career

Treacy joined Fianna Fáil at 17 in 1969.[3] Treacy was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election in July 1982 caused by the death of Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Callanan and was re-elected at each election until his retirement in 2011.[4] His election marked the last time a government party was successful in winning a by-election until the election of Patrick Nulty of the Labour Party in the Dublin West by-election in 2011. He was a member of Galway County Council from 1985 to 1991.

In March 1987, Fianna Fáil returned to government under Charles Haughey, and Treacy was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Finance, with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and the Central Development Committee.[5] The following year he was appointed to an additional role as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, with responsibility for Heritage, the first minister assigned with this responsibility.[6]

After the 1989 general election, Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats. Treacy was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Children.[7] In February 1991, he was reassigned as Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for Law Reform.[8] He was sacked by Haughey in November 1991.[9]

In February 1992, Albert Reynolds succeeded Haughey as Taoiseach, and Treacy was appointed again as Minister of State at the Department of Finance, with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and the Central Development Committee.[10] In January 1993, Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government with the Labour Party. Treacy was appointed as Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach, at the Department of Finance and at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications with responsibility for Energy.[11] This government lost office in December 1994.

Fianna Fáil returned to government in June 1997 under Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. In October 1997, Treacy was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and at the Department of Education and Science with responsibility for science and technology, replacing Michael Smith who had been promoted to cabinet following the resignation of Ray Burke.[12] Following the 2002 general election, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food and Horticulture.[13]

He unsuccessfully contested the 1999 European Parliament election in Connacht–Ulster.

In reshuffle in September 2004, Treacy was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and at the Department of the Taoiseach, with special responsibility for European Affairs.[14]

Treacy was returned to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. This was his eighth successive time being elected.

Following 17 years as a Minister of State in various governments, Treacy was not reappointed to a junior ministerial post by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of Joint Oireachtas Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.[15]

He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[16]

Personal life

Treacy served as the chairman of Galway County GAA Board for five years and, afterwards, served on the Connacht Council.[17] He died on 2 February 2022, at the age of 70.[3][18]

References

  1. ^ "Death notice of Noel Treacy". RIP,ie. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Noel Treacy". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b Mannion, Teresa (2 February 2022). "Death of former Fianna Fáil Galway East TD Noel Treacy". RTÉ News.
  4. ^ "Noel Treacy". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  5. ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (25th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 24 March 1987. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Twenty-Fifth Dáil (10.3.1987 - 25.5.1989) – Twentieth Government (10.3.1987 - 12.7.1989)". Government of Ireland. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State. – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 July 1989. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Appointment of Member of Government: Statement – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 February 1991. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 November 1991. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Members of Government and Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 February 1992. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 February 1993. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Appointment of Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 October 1997. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 18 June 2002. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 September 2004. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Fahey left out of junior ministers line-up". The Irish Times. 6 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  16. ^ Carr, Aoife (25 January 2011). "FF's Noel Treacy to stand down". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  17. ^ "Obituary: Noel Treacy, Fianna Fáil stalwart who as junior minister played vital roles in science, EU affairs". Sunday Independent. 6 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Galway political giant Noel Treacy dies at the age of 70". Galway Bay FM. 2 February 2022.
Political offices Preceded byAvril Doyle Minister of State at the Department of Finance 1987–1989 Succeeded byBrendan Daly Preceded byVincent BradyMáire Geoghegan-Quinn Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1988–1989 With: Vincent BradyMáire Geoghegan-Quinn Succeeded byVincent BradyBrendan Daly Preceded byTerry Leyden Minister of State at the Department of Health 1989–1991 Succeeded byChris Flood Preceded byJohn O'Donoghue Minister of State at the Department of Finance 1992–1993 Succeeded byNoel Dempsey Preceded byBrendan Kenneallyas Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications 1993–1994 Succeeded byEmmet Stagg Preceded byTom KittMichael Smith Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 1997–2002 With: Tom Kitt Succeeded byMichael AhernFrank Fahey Preceded byÉamon Ó Cuívas Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food 2002–2004 With: Liam Aylward Succeeded byJohn BrowneBrendan Smith Preceded byDick Roche Minister of State for European Affairs 2004–2007 Succeeded byDick Roche
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