Paddy Donegan

Patrick Sarsfield Donegan (29 October 1923 – 26 November 2000) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a government minister from 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1954 to 1957 and 1961 to 1981. He also served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 1957 to 1961.^[1]

He was born on 29 October 1923 in Monasterboice, County Louth, son of Thomas Francis Donegan, a publican and farmer, and Rose Ann Donegan (née Butterly).^[2] He was educated at a Christian Brothers School in Drogheda, County Louth, and at the Vincentian Castleknock College, Dublin.

Donegan was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Louth constituency at the 1954 general election.^[3] He lost his seat at the 1957 general election, but was elected to Seanad Éireann as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel. He regained his Dáil seat at the 1961 general election.

In the Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government which took office after the 1973 general election Donegan was appointed as Minister for Defence. In October 1976, Donegan made a speech on an official visit to the opening of new kitchen facilities in an army barracks at Mullingar, County Westmeath in which he described as a "thundering disgrace" President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's refusal to sign the Emergency Powers Bill 1976. Ó Dálaigh had instead exercised his powers under Article 26 of the Constitution to refer it to the Supreme Court.^[4] The Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, refused Donegan's resignation. On 21 October, Fianna Fáil proposed a motion in the Dáil calling on the minister to resign, which was defeated.^[5] Ó Dálaigh viewed the refusal to remove the minister as an affront to his office by the government and resigned on 22 October 1976.

In December 1976, Donegan was appointed as Minister for Lands.^[6] In February 1977, this office was restructured as the Minister for Fisheries.^[7] He served in cabinet until the government lost office after the 1977 general election.

Donegan retired from politics at the 1981 general election, and died in 2000. Tributes in the Dáil were led by John Bruton as Fine Gael leader.^[8] He was buried in his home town of Monasterboice, County Louth.