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Patrick McGilligan (Fine Gael politician)

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Patrick McGilligan (12 April, 1889 – 15 November, 1979) was an Irish lawyer and Cumann na nGaedhael/Fine Gael politician.

McGilligan was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry. He was educated in Derry, at Clongowes Wood in Dublin and at University College Dublin.

He joined Sinn Féin but was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected as a MP in 1918. McGilligan was called to the bar in 1921.

He was elected as a Cumann na nGaedhael TD for the National University of Ireland at a by-election held on 3 November 1923. Between 1924 and 1932 McGilligan served as Minister for Industry & Commerce. In 1927 he set up the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), and also the Agricultural Credit Corporation. That same year McGilligan also took over the External Affairs portfolio following the assassination of Kevin O'Higgins by the anti-Treaty elements of the IRA as revenge for O'Higgins' support for the execution of Republican prisoners during the Irish Civil War (1922-23). In this position he was hugely influential at the Committee on the Operation of Dominion Legislation and at the Imperial Conference in 1930 (jointly with representatives of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom). The Statute of Westminster that emerged from these meetings gave greater power to dominions in the Commonwealth like the Irish Free State.

During his period in opposition from 1932 to 1948 he built up a law practice and became professor of constitutional and international law at University College, Dublin. In 1948 McGilligan was appointed Minister for Finance in the first Inter-Party Government. As Minister for Finance he undertook some major reforms. He instigated a new approach where Governemnt invested readically in capital projects. Between 1954 and 1957 he served as Attorney-General. He retired from Dáil Éireann at the 1965 general election, having served for over 40 years.

Patrick McGilligan died in Dublin on 15 November 1979.

Political career

Political offices
Preceded byJoseph McGrath Minister for Industry & Commerce
1924–1932 		Succeeded bySeán Lemass
Preceded byKevin O'Higgins Minister for External Affairs
1927–1932 		Succeeded byÉamon de Valera
Preceded byFrank Aiken Minister for Finance
1948–1951 		Succeeded bySeán Lemass
Preceded byAindrias Ó Caoimh Attorney-General of Ireland
1954–1957 		Succeeded byAindrias Ó Caoimh

External links

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database

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