Pádraig Flynn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Flynn in 1994 | |
| European Commissioner for Social Affairs | |
| In office 1 February 1993 – 12 September 1999 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | Vasso Papandreou |
| Succeeded by | Anna Diamantopoulou |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | |
| In office 5 November 1992 – 4 January 1993 | |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Desmond O'Malley |
| Succeeded by | Bertie Ahern |
| Minister for Justice | |
| In office 11 February 1992 – 4 January 1993 | |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Ray Burke |
| Succeeded by | Máire Geoghegan-Quinn |
| Minister for the Environment | |
| In office 10 March 1987 – 3 April 1991 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | John Boland |
| Succeeded by | John Wilson |
| Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | |
| In office 11 October 1982 – 14 December 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Paddy Power |
| Succeeded by | Frank Cluskey |
| Minister for the Gaeltacht | |
| In office 9 March 1982 – 11 October 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Paddy O'Toole |
| Succeeded by | Denis Gallagher |
| Minister of State | |
| 1980–1981 | Transport |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1977 – 12 June 1994 | |
| Constituency | Mayo West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-05-09)9 May 1939 (age 86) Castlebar,County Mayo, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil (until 2012) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, includingBeverley |
| Education | St. Gerald's College |
| Alma mater | St Patrick's College, Dublin |
Pádraig Flynn (born 9 May 1939) is an Irish formerFianna Fáil politician who served asEuropean Commissioner for Social Affairs from 1993 to 1999,Minister for Industry and Commerce andMinister for Justice from 1992 to 1993,Minister for the Environment from 1987 to 1991,Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from October 1982 to December 1982,Minister for the Gaeltacht from March 1982 to October 1982 andMinister of State at the Department of Transport from 1980 to 1981. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theMayo West constituency from 1977 to 1994.[1][2]
Flynn was born inCastlebar,County Mayo, in 1939.[1] He is the son of Patrick and Anne Flynn.[3] He was educated inSt. Gerald's College, Castlebar[3] and qualified as a primary school teacher fromSt Patrick's College of Education inDublin. His mother owned a small shop in Castlebar. He was married in 1963,[3] to Dorothy and they have four children, one son and three daughters.[4] One daughter,Beverley Flynn was also a Fianna Fáil politician.
He first held political office in 1967, when he became a member ofMayo County Council. Ten years later, at the1977 general election, he was elected toDáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for theMayo West constituency.[5] On the day the21st Dail convened inLeinster House,Frank Dunlop described Flynn's encounter with the thenTaoiseachJack Lynch:[6]
There was a particular hullabaloo as a man in a white suit and polka-dot shirt was shouldered to the front door. "Who in the name of God is that?" asked an incredulous Lynch. "That," I said, "is the one and only Pádraig Flynn from Mayo" ... Though he would never have believed it that day, Jack was looking at one of those who would soon change the profile, and in some instances, the nature of Fianna Fáil for ever.
He was known by the nickname "Pee Flynn"[7][8] or "Pee Flynnstone", as popularised byDermot Morgan".[9][10]
Flynn was a supporter ofCharles Haughey in the1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest. His loyalty was rewarded when he became aMinister of State at the Department of Transport and Power. Flynn joined theCabinet for the first time following theFebruary 1982 general election, when he was appointedMinister for the Gaeltacht. In October 1982, in a minor reshuffle, he becameMinister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. However, his time in this office was brief, since Fianna Fáil lost theNovember 1982 general election.
Fianna Fáil was returned to power in the1987 general election and Flynn becameMinister for the Environment. Two years later he opposed the formation of the coalition government with theProgressive Democrats, describing it "as hitting at Fianna Fáil core values." In 1990, he attacked the opposition presidential candidateMary Robinson on a radio show, accusing her of "having a new-found interest in her family" for the purposes of her election campaign.[11] This attack backfired drastically, causing many women who initially supported Lenihan to back Robinson.[12] Lenihan's campaign never recovered, and Robinson became Ireland's first female President. In 2010 theIrish Independent listed Flynn's diatribe against Robinson as one the biggest gaffes in Irish political history.[12]
In 1991, Flynn was sacked from the Cabinet because of his support for amotion of no confidence in theTaoiseach, Charles Haughey. Then in 1992,Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach and Flynn was rewarded for supporting Reynolds by becomingMinister for Justice. In 1993, he retired from domestic politics when he was appointedIreland'sEuropean Commissioner. He was reappointed by theFine Gael-Labour Party government in 1995 and, on both of these occasions, served in the social affairs portfolio.
On 15 January 1999, Flynn made comments on a live chat show (The Late Late Show) regarding businessmanTom Gilmartin and a donation ofIR£50,000 to theFianna Fáil party. On the same programme, following a question by journalist Barry O'Halloran on EC Commissioners' remuneration, Flynn described his salary and lifestyle as a European Union Commissioner as being "about IR£140,000, paying 33% tax, which works out to IR£100,000 net. [...] It's a well-paid job." He said the position meant he had the added expense of maintaining three houses, cars, and housekeepers and regular travel, and described the hassle involved. The performance was seen aseccentric and out of touch at a time when house prices were rising significantly.[7][8]
The show's presenterGay Byrne then asked Flynn if he knew of Gilmartin. Flynn responded that he knew him well. Flynn seemed to be making an attack of Gilmartin's emotional stability, stating that "He's not well", based on the effect of sickness of Gilmartin's wife. If it was to be interpreted as an attack of Gilmartin's credibility, then it backfired in a spectacular manner against Flynn. Also, unknown to Flynn, Gilmartin was watchingThe Late Late Show onTara Television at his home inLuton. This hurt Gilmartin a great deal, while also bringing the illness of his wife into the picture as the real driving force behind Gilmartin's testimony against Flynn. Gilmartin responded by releasing details of meetings he held with Flynn to theMcCracken Tribunal.
The interview is widely described as the end of Flynn's political career.[8][13][14][15][16]
Flynn's second term as European Commissioner ended early in September 1999, when the entire commission resigned due to allegations of malpractice by theEuropean Parliament. He was not reappointed to the commission and retired from politics completely. He is a member of the Comite d'Honneur of theInstitute of International and European Affairs. Flynn's daughter Beverley Flynn is a former Fianna Fáil TD for theMayo constituency. She was readmitted to the party on 8 April 2008, having previously been expelled after failing in a libel action against RTÉ which claimed she was involved in selling bogus non-resident accounts to customers while she worked for National Irish Bank.
He receives annual pension payments of €87,129 from his time as a TD and Minister, but this does not include payments for his time as a European Commissioner.[17]
Flynn was cited in theMahon Tribunal for having received money fromFrank Dunlop intended for Fianna Fáil, but diverted to Flynn's personal use.[18][19] On 22 March 2012, the final report of the Mahon Tribunal was published. It found that Flynn "wrongly and corruptly" sought a substantial donation from Tom Gilmartin for the Fianna Fáil party. It also found that having been paid IR£50,000 by Gilmartin, for that purpose, Flynn proceeded to use that money for his personal benefit, and that the donation funded at least a significant portion of the purchase of a farm in County Mayo.
Flynn had to pay nearly IR£23,000 to the Revenue Commissioners from the IR£50,000 he got from Tom Gilmartin in 1989.[20]
Flynn made his first public appearance since the publication of the Mahon Report by attending noon Mass in the Holy Rosary Church in Castlebar.[2]
On 26 March 2012, facing expulsion following the Mahon Tribunal, Flynn resigned in disgrace from Fianna Fáil before he could be ousted.[21]
But, ultimately, openly admitting that he owned three houses when house prices were rising, and personalising the Tom Gilmartin issue proved fatal, if unpremeditated errors – and brought the curtain down on Pee's colourful political career.
European Commissioner Padraig "Pee" Flynn appeared on the show in 1999, in what was a spectacular and career-ending interview for the charismatic Mayo man. He made several out-of-touch comments about the size of his salary and the difficulty of managing three houses at once, telling an audience member he should "try it sometime".
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Minister of State at the Department of Transport 1980–1981 | Office abolished |
| Preceded by | Minister for the Gaeltacht Mar.–Oct. 1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Oct.–Dec. 1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for the Environment 1987–1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Justice 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Industry and Commerce 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Irish European Commissioner 1993–1999 | Succeeded by |
Pádraig Flynn navigational boxes | |
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