Frank Cluskey

Frank Cluskey (8 April 1930 – 7 May 1989) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 1982 to 1983, Leader of the Labour Party from 1977 to 1981 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency from 1965 to 1969, 1977 to 1981 and 1982 to 1989.[1]

Frank Cluskey
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
In office
14 December 1982  8 December 1983
TaoiseachGarret FitzGerald
Preceded byPádraig Flynn
Succeeded byGarret FitzGerald
Leader of the Labour Party
In office
1 July 1977  12 June 1981
Preceded byBrendan Corish
Succeeded byMichael O'Leary
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare
In office
14 March 1973  25 May 1977
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byJohnny Geoghegan
Succeeded byThomas Hussey
Teachta Dála
In office
February 1982  June 1989
In office
June 1977  June 1981
In office
April 1965  June 1969
ConstituencyDublin South-Central
Member of the European Parliament
In office
1 July 1981  24 November 1982
ConstituencyDublin
Personal details
Born(1930-04-08)8 April 1930
Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
Died7 May 1989(1989-05-07) (aged 59)
Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyLabour Party
Spouse(s)Phylis Ryan (m. 1961; d. 1989)
Children3
EducationSt. Vincent's C.B.S.
Alma materUniversity College Dublin

Cluskey was born on 8 April 1930 in Dublin, and was educated at St. Vincent's C.B.S. in Glasnevin. He worked as a butcher and then joined the Labour Party. He quickly became a branch secretary in the Workers' Union of Ireland. At the 1965 general election he was elected as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency. In 1968 he was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. In 1973 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare, Brendan Corish. He introduced sweeping reforms to the area while he held that position. He played a leading role in initiating the EU Poverty Programmes.

The Fine GaelLabour Party coalition was defeated at the 1977 general election resulting in the resignation of Brendan Corish as Labour Party leader. Cluskey was elected the new leader of the Labour Party. In 1981, the Labour Party entered into a coalition government with Fine Gael. However Cluskey had lost his seat in Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election and with it the party leadership. He was appointed on 1 July 1981 as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Dublin, replacing Michael O'Leary, who had resigned the seat after succeeding Cluskey as Labour leader.

The coalition government fell in January 1982 over a budget dispute, and Cluskey was re-elected to the Dáil at the February 1982 general election.[2] When the coalition returned to office after the November 1982 election, Cluskey was appointed as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. He then resigned from the European Parliament, to be replaced by Brendan Halligan.

On 8 December 1983 he resigned as Minister due to a fundamental disagreement over government policy about the Dublin Gas Company. He retained his Dáil seat in the 1987 general election.

Following his re-election his health deteriorated. He died on 7 May 1989 after a long battle with cancer.

References

  1. "Frank Cluskey". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  2. "Frank Cluskey". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Thomas Stafford
Lord Mayor of Dublin
1968–1969
Vacant
Corporation suspended
Political offices
Preceded by
Johnny Geoghegan
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare
1973–1977
Succeeded by
Office abolished
Preceded by
Pádraig Flynn
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
1982–1983
Succeeded by
Garret FitzGerald
Party political offices
Preceded by
Brendan Corish
Leader of the Labour Party
1977–1981
Succeeded by
Michael O'Leary
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