Séamus Pattison | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pattison in 1982 | |
| Leas-Cheann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann | |
| In office 18 June 2002 – 14 June 2007 | |
| Ceann Comhairle | Rory O'Hanlon |
| Preceded by | Rory O'Hanlon |
| Succeeded by | Brendan Howlin |
| Ceann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann | |
| In office 26 June 1997 – 6 June 2002 | |
| Deputy | Rory O'Hanlon |
| Preceded by | Seán Treacy |
| Succeeded by | Rory O'Hanlon |
| Minister of State | |
| 1983–1987 | Social Welfare |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office October 1961 – June 2007 | |
| Constituency | Carlow–Kilkenny |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 1981 – 17 December 1983 | |
| Constituency | Leinster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1936-04-19)19 April 1936 Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Died | 4 February 2018(2018-02-04) (aged 81) Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
Séamus Pattison (19 April 1936 – 4 February 2018) was an IrishLabour Party politician who served asLeas-Cheann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann from 2002 to 2007,Ceann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann from 1997 to 2002,Minister of State for Social Welfare from 1983 to 1987 andFather of the Dáil from 1995 to 2007. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theCarlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1961 to 2007. He was aMember of the European Parliament (MEP) for theLeinster constituency from 1981 to 1983.
Séamus Pattison was born inKilkenny in 1936.[1] His father wasLabour PartyTDJames Pattison, who representedCarlow–Kilkenny from 1933 to 1957.[1] After his education atUniversity College Cork, Pattison became a full-time trade union official, serving with theIrish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU).[2]
Pattison unsuccessfully contested theCarlow–Kilkenny by-election for Labour in June 1960, but was elected at the1961 general election to the17th Dáil, and held the seat at eleven further general elections.[3]
He served asMayor of Kilkenny on three occasions; 1967, 1976 and 1992.[4] He became anMEP forLeinster in 1981, to replaceLiam Kavanagh who becameMinister for Labour following the1981 general election.[1] Pattison resigned as an MEP in 1983, following his appointment asMinister of State at the Department of Social Welfare, in which position he served until Labour left the government in January 1987.[5]
He was unanimously electedCeann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann on 26 June 1997, serving for the28th Dáil.[6] When the29th Dáil assembled after the2002 general election he was succeeded byRory O'Hanlon, but was appointed asLeas-Cheann Comhairle (deputy chairperson) for the 29th Dáil.[3]
Pattison was also a member of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.[2]
In September 2005, he announced he would retire at thefollowing general election, and his nephew Eoin Pattison unsuccessfully sought the nomination.[7] Labour county councillor Michael O'Brien was selected in February 2006 to contest the seat, but was unsuccessful in the2007 general election.[1]
When Pattison retired from politics at the 2007 election he had served in Dáil Éireann for 45 years and 7 months, making him thefifth-longest serving TD ever, and the longest-ever-serving Labour Party TD.[5] He was the longest-serving sitting TD from 1995 to 2007, and had the informal title ofFather of the Dáil.[6]
Pattison died fromParkinson's disease at his home in Kilkenny on 4 February 2018, aged 81.[6]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Ceann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann 1997–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leas-Cheann Comhairle ofDáil Éireann 2002–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Father of the Dáil 1995–2007 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
