Jim O'Keeffe

Jim O'Keeffe
O'Keeffe in 1984
Minister of State
1986–1987Public Service
1982–1986Foreign Affairs
1981–1982Foreign Affairs
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1977 – February 2011
ConstituencyCork South-West
Personal details
Born (1941-03-31) 31 March 1941
Ireland
PartyFine Gael
Education

Jim O'Keeffe (born 31 March 1941)[1] is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1982 to 1987. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-West constituency from 1977 to 2011.[2]

O'Keeffe was born in 1941. He was educated at St. Fachtna's High School, Skibbereen; University College Cork; University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law School of the Incorporated Law Society. He practised as a solicitor before entering public office. O'Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1977 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Cork South-West and retained his seat at each general election until his retirement in 2011.[3]

In June 1981, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for overseas development by the Fine Gael–Labour Party government led by Garret FitzGerald.[4] This government lasted until March 1982. After a brief period in opposition, the two parties formed a new coalition government in December 1982. O'Keeffe was appointed to the same position.[5] In a reshuffle in February 1986, he was moved and appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service.[6] He retained this position until March 1987, when Fine Gael returned to opposition.

He held numerous Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Foreign Affairs; Social, Community and Family Affairs; Social Welfare; Agriculture and Health; and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In 1996–97, he was the first chair of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. He is a former vice-chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.

O'Keeffe retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[7]

He was a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission from 11 February 2014 until 10 February 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "Mr. Jim O'Keeffe". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Jim O'Keeffe". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  3. ↑ "Jim O'Keeffe". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  4. ↑ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 1981. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 December 1982. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Ministerial Assignments and Titles: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 February 1986. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. ↑ "Political change for West Cork". The Southern Star. 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
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