Neil Blaney
Irish politician (1922–1995) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Neil Terence Columba Blaney (1 October 1922 – 8 November 1995)[1] was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) representing Donegal East.[2] A high-profile member of the party, Blaney served as a government minister several times; he was Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1957), Minister for Local Government (1957–1966) and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (1966–1970). In 1970 Blaney's career was radically altered when, alongside Charles Haughey, he was involved in the Arms Crisis and stood accused of clandestinely arranging to provide weapons to the newly-emergent Provisional Irish Republican Army. Although later acquitted of wrongdoing in an Irish court, Blaney involvement in the crisis saw him stripped of his ministries and eventually forced his expulsion from Fianna Fáil. A dogged political campaigner, Blaney managed to retain his seat in Donegal and remained a TD for another two decades, running under the banner of "Independent Fianna Fáil". In addition to being a TD, Blaney also entered into European politics, becoming a member of the European Parliament in 1979. Blaney was a holder of both offices when he died in 1995. Entering the Dáil as its youngest member, he left it as the oldest member.
Neil Blaney | |
|---|---|
 Blaney in 1990 | |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | |
| In office 11 November 1966 – 7 May 1970 | |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | Charles Haughey |
| Succeeded by | Jim Gibbons |
| Minister for Local Government | |
| In office 27 November 1957 – 10 November 1966 | |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Paddy Smith |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Boland |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | |
| In office 20 March 1957 – 4 December 1957 | |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Michael Keyes |
| Succeeded by | John Ormonde |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1977 – June 1981 | |
| Constituency | Donegal |
| In office June 1981 – 8 November 1995 | |
| In office October 1961 – June 1977 | |
| Constituency | Donegal North-East |
| In office December 1948 – October 1961 | |
| Constituency | Donegal East |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office June 1989 – June 1994 | |
| In office June 1979 – June 1984 | |
| Constituency | Connacht–Ulster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1922 Fanad, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | 8 November 1995 (aged 73) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | Eva Corduff |