Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher (Irish: Pádraig Ó Gallchóir; born 10 March 1948), is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal South West.[1]
Gallagher was born in Burtonport, County Donegal. He was educated at Roshine N.S Dungloe, Luinneach N.S. Gweedore, Dungloe Secondary School, St Enda's College, Galway and University College, Galway where he graduated with a B. Comm in 1970.[2] Gallagher worked as a fish exporter until 1982,[2] becoming involved in local politics in 1979. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1981 general election, retaining his seat until retiring at the 1997 general election. Gallagher was appointed Minister of State for Marine & Gaeltacht in 1987, serving in that post until 1994.
In 1994 he was elected to the European Parliament as an MEP for Connacht-Ulster and was re-elected in the 1999 European elections. During his period in Europe, Gallagher was a member of a number of committees including Fisheries, Economic & Monetary and Industry & Energy. He returned to domestic politics to successfully contest the 2002 general election and he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In Bertie Ahern's Cabinet reshuffle in 2004 he received the portfolio of Minister of State for the Marine. Following a period in this role, Gallagher was moved to the Department of Transport in February 2006 where he served as Minister of State until May 2007. In June 2007 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety. He was not re-appointed as a Minister of State after Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in May 2008.
His somewhat unusual nickname "The Cope" refers to his family connection to The Cope agricultural co-operative which operates in The Rosses area of Donegal. This nickname is even used officially, in his profile on the Fianna Fáil website.
[edit] References
- ^ Mr. Pat (The Cope) Gallagher. Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ a b Pat The Cope Gallagher's website. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
[edit] External links
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Newly created constituency |
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Donegal South West 1981 – present |
Incumbent |
| European Parliament | ||
| Preceded by Neil Blaney |
Member of the European Parliament for Connacht-Ulster 1994–2002 |
Succeeded by Seán Ó Neachtain |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Newly created office |
Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) 1987–1989 |
Succeeded by Michael J. Noonan |
| Preceded by Denis Gallagher |
Minister of State at the Department of the Gaeltacht (with special responsibility for the Gaeltacht) 1989–1994 |
Succeeded by Office abolished |
| Preceded by Michael J. Noonan |
Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Gerry O'Sullivan |
| Preceded by Dan Wallace |
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (with special responsibility for Environmental Protection) 2002–2004 |
Succeeded by Batt O'Keeffe |
| Preceded by John Browne |
Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) 2004–2006 |
Succeeded by John Browne |
| Preceded by Ivor Callely |
Minister of State at the Department of Transport (with special responsibility for Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority) 2006–2007 |
Succeeded by Office abolished |
| Preceded by Seán Power |
Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (with special responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety) 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Mary Wallace |
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