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Pádraig Flynn

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Pádraig Flynn
Flynn in 1994
European Commissioner for Social Affairs
In office
1 February 1993 – 12 September 1999
President
Preceded byVasso Papandreou
Succeeded byAnna Diamantopoulou
Minister for Industry and Commerce
In office
5 November 1992 – 4 January 1993
TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds
Preceded byDesmond O'Malley
Succeeded byBertie Ahern
Minister for Justice
In office
11 February 1992 – 4 January 1993
TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds
Preceded byRay Burke
Succeeded byMáire Geoghegan-Quinn
Minister for the Environment
In office
10 March 1987 – 3 April 1991
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byJohn Boland
Succeeded byJohn Wilson
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
In office
11 October 1982 – 14 December 1982
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byPaddy Power
Succeeded byFrank Cluskey
Minister for the Gaeltacht
In office
9 March 1982 – 11 October 1982
TaoiseachCharles Haughey
Preceded byPaddy O'Toole
Succeeded byDenis Gallagher
Minister of State
1980–1981Transport
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1977 – 12 June 1994
ConstituencyMayo West
Personal details
Born (1939-05-09) 9 May 1939 (age 85)
Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil (until 2012)
Spouse
Dorothy Flynn
​
(m. 1971)​
Children4, including Beverley
EducationSt. Gerald's College
Alma materSt Patrick's College, Dublin

Pádraig Flynn (born 9 May 1939) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as European Commissioner for Social Affairs from 1993 to 1999, Minister for Industry and Commerce and Minister for Justice from 1992 to 1993, Minister for the Environment from 1987 to 1991, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism from October 1982 to December 1982, Minister for the Gaeltacht from March 1982 to October 1982 and Minister of State at the Department of Transport from 1980 to 1981. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo West constituency from 1977 to 1994.[1][2]

Early life

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Flynn was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, in 1939.[1] He is the son of Patrick and Anne Flynn.[3] He was educated in St. Gerald's College, Castlebar[3] and qualified as a primary school teacher from St Patrick's College of Education in Dublin. His mother owned a small shop in Castlebar. He was married in 1963,[3] to Dorothy and they have four children, one son and three daughters.[4] One daughter, Beverley Flynn was also a Fianna Fáil politician.

He first held political office in 1967, when he became a member of Mayo County Council. Ten years later, at the 1977 general election, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Mayo West constituency.[5] On the day the 21st Dail convened in Leinster House, Frank Dunlop described Flynn's encounter with the then Taoiseach Jack Lynch:[6]

There was a particular hullabaloo as a man in a white suit and polka-dot shirt was shouldered to the front door. "Who in the name of God is that?" asked an incredulous Lynch. "That," I said, "is the one and only Pádraig Flynn from Mayo" ... Though he would never have believed it that day, Jack was looking at one of those who would soon change the profile, and in some instances, the nature of Fianna Fáil for ever.

He was known by the nickname "Pee Flynn".[7][8]

Ministerial career

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Flynn was a supporter of Charles Haughey in the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest. His loyalty was rewarded when he became a Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Power. Flynn joined the Cabinet for the first time following the February 1982 general election, when he was appointed Minister for the Gaeltacht. In October 1982, in a minor reshuffle, he became Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. However, his time in this office was brief, since Fianna Fáil lost the November 1982 general election.

Fianna Fáil was returned to power in the 1987 general election and Flynn became Minister for the Environment. Two years later he opposed the formation of the coalition government with the Progressive Democrats, describing it "as hitting at Fianna Fáil core values." In 1990, he attacked the opposition presidential candidate Mary Robinson on a radio show, accusing her of "having a new-found interest in her family" for the purposes of her election campaign.[9] This attack backfired drastically, causing many women who initially supported Lenihan to back Robinson. Lenihan's campaign never recovered, and Robinson became Ireland's first female President.

In 1991, Flynn was sacked from the Cabinet because of his support for a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. Then in 1992, Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach and Flynn was rewarded for supporting Reynolds by becoming Minister for Justice. In 1993, he retired from domestic politics when he was appointed Ireland's European Commissioner. He was reappointed by the Fine Gael-Labour Party government in 1995 and, on both of these occasions, served in the social affairs portfolio.

The Late Late Show controversy

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On 15 January 1999, Flynn made comments on a live chat show (The Late Late Show) regarding businessman Tom Gilmartin and a donation of IR£50,000 to the Fianna Fáil party. On the same programme, following a question by journalist Barry O'Halloran on EC Commissioners' remuneration, Flynn described his salary and lifestyle as a European Union Commissioner as being "about IR£140,000, paying 33% tax, which works out to IR£100,000 net. [...] It's a well-paid job." He said the position meant he had the added expense of maintaining three houses, cars, and housekeepers and regular travel, and described the hassle involved. The performance was seen as eccentric and out of touch at a time when house prices were rising significantly.[7][8]

The show's presenter Gay Byrne then asked Flynn if he knew of Gilmartin. Flynn responded that he knew him well. Flynn seemed to be making an attack of Gilmartin's emotional stability, stating that "He's not well", based on the effect of sickness of Gilmartin's wife. If it was to be interpreted as an attack of Gilmartin's credibility, then it backfired in a spectacular manner against Flynn. Also, unknown to Flynn, Gilmartin was watching The Late Late Show on Tara Television at his home in Luton. This hurt Gilmartin a great deal, while also bringing the illness of his wife into the picture as the real driving force behind Gilmartin's testimony against Flynn. Gilmartin responded by releasing details of meetings he held with Flynn to the McCracken Tribunal.

The interview is widely described as the end of Flynn's political career.[8][10][11][12][13]

Retirement from politics

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Flynn's second term as European Commissioner ended early in September 1999, when the entire commission resigned due to allegations of malpractice by the European Parliament. He was not reappointed to the commission and retired from politics completely. He is a member of the Comite d'Honneur of the Institute of International and European Affairs. Flynn's daughter Beverley Flynn is a former Fianna Fáil TD for the Mayo constituency. She was readmitted to the party on 8 April 2008, having previously been expelled after failing in a libel action against RTÉ which claimed she was involved in selling bogus non-resident accounts to customers while she worked for National Irish Bank.

He receives annual pension payments of €87,129 from his time as a TD and Minister, but this does not include payments for his time as a European Commissioner.[14]

Mahon Tribunal report

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Flynn was cited in the Mahon Tribunal for having received money from Frank Dunlop intended for Fianna Fáil, but diverted to Flynn's personal use.[15][16] On 22 March 2012, the final report of the Mahon Tribunal was published. It found that Flynn "wrongly and corruptly" sought a substantial donation from Tom Gilmartin for the Fianna Fáil party. It also found that having been paid IR£50,000 by Gilmartin, for that purpose, Flynn proceeded to use that money for his personal benefit, and that the donation funded at least a significant portion of the purchase of a farm in County Mayo.

Flynn had to pay nearly IR£23,000 to the Revenue Commissioners from the IR£50,000 he got from Tom Gilmartin in 1989.[17]

Flynn made his first public appearance since the publication of the Mahon Report by attending noon Mass in the Holy Rosary Church in Castlebar.[2]

Resignation from Fianna Fáil

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On 26 March 2012, facing expulsion following the Mahon Tribunal, Flynn resigned in disgrace from Fianna Fáil before he could be ousted.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Pádraig Flynn". Oireachtas members database. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  2. ^ a b Doyle, Kevin (26 March 2012). "Corrupt: Ex-minister Flynn braves storm for Mass". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Quinlan, Ronald (1 July 2007). "The Mighty Flynns and their dogged belief that they are always in the right". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  4. ^ "Profile of Pádraig Flynn". Europa (web portal). Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Pádraig Flynn". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  6. ^ Sweeney, Eamonn. Down Down Deeper and Down: Ireland in the 70's and 80's, pg 126.
  7. ^ a b Lifestyle Of Pee Flynn 1999. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Duffy, Michael (13 January 2009). "When Flynn met Gaybo". Mayo News. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2020. But, ultimately, openly admitting that he owned three houses when house prices were rising, and personalising the Tom Gilmartin issue proved fatal, if unpremeditated errors – and brought the curtain down on Pee's colourful political career.
  9. ^ Shiel, Tom (22 December 2008). "Robinson has no hard feelings over Flynn jibe". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  10. ^ "10 times The Late Late Show made the nation shout "WTF"". Joe.ie. 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020. European Commissioner Padraig "Pee" Flynn appeared on the show in 1999, in what was a spectacular and career-ending interview for the charismatic Mayo man. He made several out-of-touch comments about the size of his salary and the difficulty of managing three houses at once, telling an audience member he should "try it sometime".
  11. ^ "'Late Late Show' appearance beginning of the end for Flynn". BreakingNews.ie. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Late Late Show appearance infuriated developer". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  13. ^ O’Brien, Paul (27 March 2012). "Flynn has fallen far since heyday". irishexaminer.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  14. ^ Kelly, Fiach (10 November 2011). "Thanks big fellas: Ahern and Cowen get massive pensions". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  15. ^ "P. Flynn's day of reckoning". Western People. 14 July 2004. Archived from the original on 20 September 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  16. ^ "Flynn due back in Mahon Tribunal witness box today". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  17. ^ "In brief: The 16 key findings in the Mahon Tribunal Report". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Pádraig Flynn resigns from Fianna Fáil". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
Political offices
New office Minister of State at the Department of Transport
1980–1981 		Office abolished
Preceded by Minister for the Gaeltacht
Mar.–Oct. 1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism
Oct.–Dec. 1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Environment
1987–1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Justice
1992–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Industry and Commerce
1992–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Irish European Commissioner
1993–1999 		Succeeded by
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