Avril Doyle
Avril Doyle (née Belton; born 18 April 1949) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician.[1]
Avril Doyle | |
|---|---|
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office June 2004 – June 2009 | |
| Constituency | East |
| In office June 1999 – June 2004 | |
| Constituency | Leinster |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office November 1982 – June 1989 | |
| In office November 1992 – June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Wexford |
| Senator | |
| In office October 1989 – December 1992 | |
| In office September 1997 – June 2002 | |
| Constituency | Agricultural Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Avril Belton 18 April 1949 Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
She was born on the day the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, came into effect - which saw the inauguration of the Republic of Ireland as an independent republic outside the British Commonwealth.
Early life
Avril Belton was born in Dublin; she was educated at Holy Child Killiney secondary school. She went on to study at University College, Dublin (UCD). Her father Richard Belton was a Senator and her grandfather Patrick Belton was a Teachta Dála (TD).
Political career
In 1974, aged 25, she was elected to Wexford County Council and to Wexford Corporation; she was Mayor of Wexford town from 1975 to 1976.[2] She was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a Fine Gael TD for the Wexford constituency. She lost her seat at the 1989 general election but was re-elected at the 1992 general election, again losing her seat at the 1997 general election to party colleague Michael D'Arcy. She was a member of the Seanad from 1989 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2002. She was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) at the 1999 election and re-elected at the 2004 election.[3] She served as a Minister of State in the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition governments of 1982–87 and 1994–97.
Doyle made news during a debate in the European Parliament in June 2008 after the rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon by Irish voters. A group of British Eurosceptic MEPs wore green hats and T-shirts, encouraging the EU to respect the Irish 'no' vote. However, many Irish MEPs saw this as self-serving and felt that there would be no Eurosceptic support for Irish opinion had the treaty been accepted; and Doyle was both lauded and criticised for the following comment, which is a reference to the forceful occupation of Ireland by Britain; "How the history books could have been written differently, if respect for the Irish vote from some of our British colleagues was always there."[4]
She announced on 7 January 2009 that she would not be seeking re-election to the European Parliament at the 2009 election.[5]
On 21 June 2011 she announced her intention to seek the Fine Gael party nomination to run for President of Ireland.[6] She withdrew from the nomination process in October 2011.[7]
See also
References
- "Avril Doyle". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- Kenny, Shane and Keane, Fergal, Irish Politics Now: 'This Week' Guide to the 25th Dáil, Dingle, Co. Kerry: Brandon/RTÉ, 1987, page 221
- "Avril Doyle". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- Avril Doyle's comments in European Parliament. RTÉ News. June 2008.
- "Avril Doyle declines to contest European election". The Irish Times. 7 January 2007.
- "Higgins wins Labour presidential nomination". RTÉ News. 19 October 2011.
- "Doyle withdraws from FG Presidential race". RTÉ News. 19 October 2011.
External links
- Personal profile of Avril Doyle in the European Parliament's database of members
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Bermingham |
Minister of State at the Department of Finance 1986–1987 |
Succeeded by Noel Treacy |