Thomas J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan politician)

Not to be confused with Dublin Fianna Fáil politician Thomas J. Fitzpatrick.

Tom Fitzpatrick
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office 14 December 1982 – 10 March 1987
Preceded by	John O'Connell
Succeeded by	Seán Treacy
Teachta Dála
In office June 1977 – June 1989
Constituency	Cavan–Monaghan
In office April 1965 – June 1977
Constituency	Cavan
Personal details
Born	(1918-02-14)14 February 1918 Clones, County Monaghan
Died
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse(s)	Carmel Fitzpatrick
Children	2

Thomas J. "Tom" Fitzpatrick (14 February 1918 – 2 October 2006) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1982 to 1987.

Fitzpatrick was born at Scotshouse, Clones, County Monaghan in 1918. He was educated at St. Macartan's College, the Incorporated Law Society and University College Dublin where he qualified as a solicitor, and then entered practice as a solicitor in Cavan town.

Fitzpatrick first held political office in 1950, when he was elected to Cavan Urban District Council. In 1961, he moved to national politics when he was elected to Seanad Éireann. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan constituency at the 1965 general election. He held many Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Defence, Health and Social Welfare, Justice and the Environment, as well as being Fine Gael Chief Whip from 1979 to 1981.

Fitzpatrick served in the Irish Government on several occasions under Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald. His first government post was in 1973, when he was appointed Minister for Lands. After Fine Gael lost power in 1977, he was mentioned as a possible leader of the party if a compromise were needed between FitzGerald and Cosgrave. Following the November 1982 general election, he was elected as Ceann Comhairle, a post which he held until 1987. Fitzpatrick was re-elected to the Dáil (or automatically returned as Ceann Comhairle) at every election until 1989 when he retired from politics.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Seán Flanagan	Minister for Lands 1973–1976	Succeeded by Paddy Donegan
Preceded by Peter Barry	Minister for Transport and Power 1976–977	Succeeded by Pádraig Faulkner
Preceded by Paddy Power	Minister for Fisheries and Forestry 1981–1982	Succeeded by Brendan Daly
Preceded by John O'Connell	Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann 1982–1987	Succeeded by Seán Treacy