John O'Donovan | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary Secretary | |
| 1954–1957 | Government |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office July 1969 – February 1973 | |
| Constituency | Dublin South-Central |
| In office June 1954 – March 1957 | |
| Constituency | Dublin South-East |
| Senator | |
| In office 22 May 1957 – 14 December 1961 | |
| Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1908-01-23)23 January 1908 Macroom,County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 17 May 1982(1982-05-17) (aged 74) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Catholic University School, Dublin |
| Alma mater | |
John O'Donovan (23 January 1908 – 17 May 1982) was an Irish politician.[1]
He was born 23 January 1908 in Rockboro House,Macroom,County Cork, the son of Cornelius O'Donovan originally fromClonmel, an agricultural instructor, and his wife Hanna (née Twomey).[2] He was educated atCatholic University School, Dublin, and obtained an entrance scholarship toUniversity College Dublin (UCD), where he graduated BA in 1928 with first class honours in economics, history and jurisprudence. In 1929 he took a first class honours MA in economics and was awarded a travelling studentship, which he held atUniversity College, Oxford, where he graduated B.Litt. in 1931. ARockefeller Fellowship enabled him to spend the academic year 1931–1932 atHarvard University's graduate School, theBrookings Institution and theUniversity of Chicago. In 1940 he was awarded a D.Econ.Sc. from theNational University of Ireland forThe economic history of live stock in Ireland.[2]
In 1933 he joined the Irish civil service as an administrative officer, being assigned first to theDepartment of the President of the Executive Council, followed by temporary secondment to the secretariat of theLeague of Nations. From 1935 he was an administrative officer in theDepartment of Finance, becoming private secretary to the minister,Seán T. O'Kelly in 1941.[2] He was promoted assistant principal in 1943, and to principal in 1950; he dealt with the financial aspects of legislation and the finances of state-sponsored bodies. Described byT. K. Whitaker as having 'outstanding economic qualifications', his promotion to principal had been in breach of the usual seniority principle. In 1952 he left the civil service on his appointment as statutory lecturer in economic theory at UCD. He became associate professor of political economy in 1966, a position he held until his retirement from UCD in 1976.[2]
He was elected toDáil Éireann as aFine GaelTeachta Dála (TD) for theDublin South-East constituency at the1954 general election.[3] On his first day in the Dáil, O'Donovan was appointedParliamentary Secretary to the Government. His close political relationship withJohn A. Costello was underlined by the taoiseach's decision to appoint him as special economic adviser to the cabinet and by his attendance at cabinet meetings.[2]
He lost his seat at the1957 general election, but was elected toSeanad Éireann by theCultural and Educational Panel, where he served until 1961.[1] He was unsuccessful candidate at the 1961 and 1965 general elections. At the1969 general election O'Donovan returned to the Dáil as aLabour Party deputy forDublin South-Central. O'Donovan lost his seat again at the1973 general election.
O'Donovan challenged theElectoral (Amendment) Act 1959, which had been passed by theFianna Fáil government, on the basis that there were "grave inequalities" with "no relevant circumstances to justify" them.[4] InO'Donovan v. Attorney-General (1961), the High Court held that the Act was unconstitutional and suggested that the ratio of representation to population across constituencies should differ by no more than 5%. The court, interpreting the "so far as it is practicable" condition of the Constitution, suggested a 5% variation as the limit without exceptional circumstances.[5]
He lived for most of his life inDundrum, Dublin with his wife Kathleen Mahon of Tullamore, whom he married in 1936. They had one son and five daughters. He died on 17 May 1982 at Kilcroney nursing home, Dublin.[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Parliamentary Secretary to the Government 1954–1957 | Office abolished |