Gay Mitchell
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| Gay Mitchell | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Mary Banotti |
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| Born | 12 June 1951 Dublin Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
Gabriel "Gay" Mitchell (born December 30, 1951 in Dublin) is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament for Dublin since 2004. He is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party, and a former Teachta Dála for Dublin South Central from 1981–2007.
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Gay Mitchell was born in Inchicore, Dublin in 1951. He was educated at St. Michael's Christian Brothers School, Emmet Road Vocational School, DIT College of Commerce and Queen's University Belfast.
Mitchell first became involved in politics in 1979 as a member of Dublin City Council. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as Fine Gael TD at the 1981 general election for the Dublin South Central constituency. Since then he has served as a Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. He was the Irish Representative on the Reflection Group which prepared the Amsterdam Treaty.
Mitchell is also a former Lord Mayor of Dublin and, while never holding full cabinet rank, has served on the opposition front bench as spokesperson on Health (2000–2002), Foreign Affairs (1997–2000), Justice (1993–1994), Public Service and Constitutional Reform (1991–1992), Tourism and Transport (1989–1991), European Integration (1988–1989), Urban Renewal (1987–1988) and Health Board Reform (1981–1982).
Following Michael Noonan's resignation as Fine Gael leader in 2002, Mitchell was a challenger in the subsequent leadership election, losing out to the victor, Enda Kenny. Before his election to the European Parliament, Mitchell had been party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, writing the party's "Beyond Neutrality" policy document. In November 2006, Mitchell announced that he had taken the difficult decision not to contest the 2007 general election and concentrate on his European seat.[1]
Mitchel is a Vice Chair of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
His late brother Jim was a long-serving Fine Gael TD and former government minister.
During the 2008 referendum campaign on the Lisbon Treaty, Mr. Mitchell supported the Yes campaign.
[edit] References
- ^ Fox & Mitchell not standing in election – RTÉ News article, 24 November 2006.
- This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Gay Mitchell's page on the Fine Gael website
- Gay Mitchell's page on the European Parliament website
- Gay Mitchell's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)
| Oireachtas | ||
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| Preceded by Newly created seat in constituency |
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Dublin South Central 1981–2007 |
Succeeded by Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael) |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by Seán Kenny |
Lord Mayor of Dublin 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Tomás Mac Giolla |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Tom Kitt |
Minister of State (with special responsibility for European Affairs) 1994–1997 |
Succeeded by Office abolished (Minister of State for Europe was reinstated in 2002) |
| Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1994–1997 |
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| Preceded by Ray Burke |
Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs 1997–2000 |
Succeeded by Jim O'Keeffe |
| Preceded by Alan Shatter |
Opposition Spokesperson on Health & Children 2000–2002 |
Succeeded by Olivia Mitchell |
| Preceded by Jim O'Keeffe |
Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs 2002–2004 |
Succeeded by Bernard Allen |
| European Parliament | ||
| Preceded by Mary Banotti |
Member of the European Parliament for Dublin 2004 – present |
Incumbent |
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