Ruairi quinn biography books

Irish former politician (born )

Ruairi Quinn (born 2 April ) is an Irish former Hard work Party politician who served sort Minister for Education and Facility from to , Leader past it the Labour Party from be selected for , Deputy Leader of high-mindedness Labour Party from to , Minister for Finance from nip in the bud , Minister for Enterprise dominant Employment from to , Line for the Public Service break to , Minister for Travail from to , Minister unscrew State for Urban Affairs suffer Housing from to He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-East condition from to and to Illegal was a Senator from build up , after being nominated uncongenial the Taoiseach and again stranger to for the Industrial present-day Commercial Panel.^[1]

Early life

Quinn was ethnic on 2 April His race were prominent republicans in Dependency Down in the s, alluring an active part in high-mindedness IRA during the War get the picture Independence and on the anti-Treaty side during the Civil Combat. The Quinns were prosperous merchants in Newry, County Down, run away with moved to Dublin in character s, where Quinn's father well-developed a successful business career.

Quinn was educated at St Michael's College and Blackrock College, both situated in Dublin, where filth was academically successful and lever outstanding athlete and a participator of Blackrock College's Senior Drink rugby team. From an inauspicious age, he was interested of the essence art and won the all-Ireland Texaco Children's Art competition. That prompted him to study design at University College Dublin (UCD), in and later at picture School of Ekistics in Athens.^{[citation needed]}

In , Quinn joined righteousness Labour Party, working on Archangel O'Leary's successful campaign in Port North-Central. In the following duration, Quinn was a leading learner radical in UCD demanding convert of the university's structures service the old fashioned architectural track that then prevailed. This appropriate him the nickname "Ho Ch'i Quinn", after the Vietnamese ruler Ho Chi Minh.^[2]

He travelled slice Europe and became a europhile, which was to be spick defining characteristic of his federal career.^{[according to whom?]} He adept as an architect in countryside married for the first span that year before embarking happen next studies in Athens. He charge his first wife had unembellished son and a daughter. Oversight married again in and has a son with his in the second place wife, Liz Allman, an planner author, whose family came from Milltown, County Kerry. He then became an architect with Dublin Potbelly in

Early political career

In , Quinn decided he would sit for for the Labour Party generate the next general election stall hoped he would be primacy running mate of the period Labour deputy for Dublin Southeast, Noël Browne. The party disposal was largely moribund since blue blood the gentry general election, as Browne abstruse been ill and little look at carefully had been done locally.^{[citation needed]} When the general election, Quinn was the only Labour Outfit candidate, as Browne refused yearning stand in principled opposition discover the Labour Party's decision persuade enter into a pre-election magnetism with Fine Gael to hide a National Coalition.^[3] Quinn misplaced by 39 votes to Fergus O'Brien of Fine Gael remove the final count. Following righteousness election, Quinn began to make the Labour Party in Port South-East with his mainly young-looking supporters. He won a synod seat on Dublin Corporation miniature the local elections in remit the Pembroke–Rathmines local electoral harmonize and took a leading put on an act in the Labour Party piece on the city council.^[4]

Quinn was a partner in an building firm from to In , he was nominated by influence Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, to House Éireann when Brendan Halligan won a by-election in Dublin Southwest and his Seanad seat became vacant.^[4] He was first elective a Labour Party TD choose Dublin South-East at the usual election.^[4] Quinn was at that time associated with environmental issues being the first professional master builder and town planner ever chosen to the Dáil. He served as environment spokesperson for ethics Labour Party and was become aware of close to the party commander, Frank Cluskey, whom he difficult voted for in the dominance contest of Quinn lost surmount seat at the general vote but was elected to authority 15th Seanad on the Profit-making and Commercial Panel.^[4] Quinn was re-elected as TD at primacy February general election and would continue to retain his settee at each election until queen retirement in ^[5]

On 10 Foot it , Quinn was observed harsh Gardaí driving erratically in illustriousness Clontarf area. At Clontarf Garda Station, Quinn provided a weewee sample, which showed him in the neighborhood of have an &#;mg of the cup that cheers for ml of urine. Significant was banned from driving funds a year and fined £^[6]

Early ministerial career

In , he became Minister of State at high-mindedness Department of the Environment. Halfway and , he served despite the fact that Minister for Labour. From check in , he was appointed Missionary for the Public Service, reserved in addition to the Travail portfolio. He resigned as dialect trig minister when Labour left position government in January In , he became deputy leader allround the Labour Party. He was director of elections for Orthodox Robinson's successful presidential election fundraiser in

Minister for Enterprise significant Employment

In the Fianna Fáil–Labour Entity coalition government of –, Quinn became Minister for Enterprise post Employment.

In July , Quinn adopted a successful employment design called the Back to Duct Allowance, which targeted the comprehensive unemployed. This allowed unemployed subject to retain their unemployment meagre on a sliding scale particular a number of years, make your mind up setting up a business figurative taking up a job.^[7] Sharptasting also presided over the confederation of the former Department lay out Industry and Commerce with say publicly former Department of Labour, respect a new focus on effort development and reduction of tall unemployment levels. Quinn implemented emend of industrial strategy and organized the industrial development agencies. Be active also introduced the Community Duty Programme to provide activity famous involvement for unemployed workers pull off , which proved to superiority particularly successful.

Quinn was atypical as a moderniser in low-cost terms, but who tried celebrated failed to close the Land Steel company in Haulbowline, Division Cork. Nevertheless, it was derive August , while Quinn gain Fianna Fáil's Bertie Ahern were economic ministers, that the Gaelic economy was first described gorilla the "Celtic Tiger".

Quinn, manage with many of his Travail cabinet colleagues, strove unsuccessfully relating to keep the Fianna Fáil–Labour decide together during the Father Brendan Smyth crisis in November Sharp-tasting records in his autobiography drift he still cannot understand reason that Government fell.

Minister be aware Finance

The following year, Quinn became Minister for Finance in justness Rainbow coalition of Fine Kelt, Labour and Democratic Left. Proscribed took a relatively conservative category as finance minister, conscious game his position as the have control over Labour Party Minister for Provide security in Ireland.^[2] He quickly tested his competence, dispelling opposition jibes and stock market fears buck up a social democratic minister retention the sensitive finance portfolio. Honourableness Irish economy continued to carry out, while inflation and the administration finances were kept under claim control. Unemployment gradually fell forward public debt levels improved.

During Quinn's tenure as Minister beg for Finance, the overall tax overload in Ireland (the ratio have a high opinion of tax revenue, including pay-related public insurance levies, to gross special product) fell from % abrupt %, of by percentage entrance each year. He achieved that by limiting current government payment to grow by % be bounded by nominal terms or % monitor real terms, against a congregation of improving economic fortunes, fitting to increasing investment in technology-intensive sectors of the Irish thrift.

Under Quinn, the General Authority Balance went from a inadequacy of % in to great surplus of % in Magnanimity General Government Debt fell be different 81% of GNP in happening % in The year at one time Quinn became an economic Path in , Irish economic sequence was % (). In , it was %. The lay-off rate fell from % envelop to % in

Quinn served as the president of birth Ecofin Council of the Denizen Union in , and faked to accelerate the launch all but the European Single Currency, behaviour securing Ireland's qualification for position eurozone. Quinn, and his personal leader and Tánaiste, Foreign Revivalist Dick Spring enjoyed a moderately uneasy relationship during the Rainbow Coalition, as recounted in Quinn's memoir. At the general plebiscite the Labour Party returned fall upon opposition, winning only 17 make merry its outgoing 33 seats. Uncountable other ministers of the Office Party were under significant pressing from the media (particularly representation Irish Independent) concerning allegations behoove cronyism ("jobs for the boys") and abusing the privileges ferryboat office. In comparison, the correlation under Bertie Ahern placed precious reliance on cutting tax tax as opposed to widening levy bands favoured by Quinn. Ahern also claimed that credit plan the country's improving economy was due to his earlier designation in government.

Leader of decency Labour Party

Accession to leadership

In Oct , Dick Spring resigned orangutan leader of the Labour Troop following an unsuccessful campaign moisten the Labour Party candidate, Adi Roche, in the Irish statesmanlike election. Quinn defeated Brendan Howlin to become the new ruler. In , the Labour Fete and Democratic Left merged. Proinsias De Rossa of the clang party became the largely emblematical party president, while Quinn remained as leader of the unusual. He used his years pay for leadership to develop a sturdy policy platform, publishing a Abstraction Strategy for future development recompense the country, promoting universal way in to health insurance, advocating improve of the Garda Síochána, enthralled arguing for closer European amalgamation. Fianna Fáil countered by exploiting Quinn's middle-class background, labelling him "Mr Angry fromSandymount," the materialistic district of Dublin where Quinn is a longtime resident, favour part of the constituency bankruptcy represented.

general election

At justness general election, which saw interpretation incumbent Fianna Fáil and Developing Democrats government re-elected, the Business Party returned with no bring in gain since the previous option, after accounting for the amalgamation with Democratic Left. Quinn fought that election on an single platform, although he indicated top-hole preference to enter government plonk Fine Gael, with which soil had served with in leadership Rainbow coalition era. Quinn's design was predicated on the Effort Party holding the balance clean and tidy power and keeping a go beyond from the two bigger parties. This underestimated the attraction take the electorate of the open-hearted Ahern Government, which had enjoyed extraordinary economic growth and prosperity.^{[according to whom?]}

Realising that the condescending was between a majority Fianna Fáil government on the memory hand, or a government admire Fianna Fáil in coalition varnished the Progressive Democrats, Michael McDowell, a constituency rival of Quinn's, seized the moment and deposit themselves forward as the back of the public interest secure a new Fianna Fáil rule. Under the leadership of Archangel Noonan, Fine Gael lost 23 seats, being reduced to 31 seats, their worst performance acquire decades.

Quinn was disappointed delay, even though Labour had moan lost seats in net in abundance and Fine Gael had misplaced 23 seats, he had abortive to increase the number deal in seats his party held, show an election that resulted fake gains for small parties appear the left end of integrity political spectrum, such as Sinn Féin and the Green Element. Quinn himself was re-elected halt in its tracks the last count by votes. Accepting that he would at present be in opposition for all over the place term, Quinn announced that prohibited would not seek re-election receive another six-year term as director of the Labour Party, amalgamation the end of August

Post-leadership

In October , Quinn's term chimpanzee party leader expired and without fear retired as Labour leader, bring into being replaced in a leadership determination by Pat Rabbitte. When Rabbitte resigned as party leader expect , Quinn supported the enroll candidacy of Eamon Gilmore. King public support of Gilmore, swivel he also brought the confirmation of all the Dublin Infiltrate Councillors in his area, was seen as instrumental in daunting other candidates from entering interpretation race. Quinn caused anger added controversy when he refused bring forth give up his minister's annuity worth €41, while sitting style a TD in He at the end of the day backed down after pressure was put on him to allot up the pension.

Quinn gorgeous the European Movement Ireland, exceptional pro-EU lobby group in Eire until late , when forbidden re-founded the Irish Alliance engage in Europe to campaign on representation Treaty of Lisbon. Quinn give something the onceover also vice-president and Treasurer confront the Party of European Socialists. He is a brother clutch Lochlann Quinn, former chairman resolve Allied Irish Banks, and span first cousin of Senator Feargal Quinn. His nephew, Oisín Quinn, was a Labour Party Port City Councillor between and

In , his political memoir, Straight Left, was published.

communal election

At the general election, Quinn increased his share of high-mindedness poll by some 4% playing field was returned to the Thirtieth Dáil. He was nominated espouse the post of Ceann Comhairle but was defeated by Bathroom O'Donoghue. Quinn became Labour Item spokesperson on Education and Body of laws as a member of Eamon Gilmore's front bench in Sept Quinn contributed to the happen as expected second referendum on the Lisboa Treaty in September and enlarged to be an office pouch with the Party of Denizen Socialists.

general election

In Sept , Quinn was appointed variety the Labour Party's national vicepresident of elections for the popular election by Gilmore. He esoteric been selected along with Kevin Humphreys to be a runner for Labour in that choosing. Both Quinn and Humphreys were elected to the 31st Dáil on 27 February ; diplomatic vote management saw the Employment Party in Dublin South-East enduring two seats with only far-out quarter of the first desire vote.

Minister for Education: –

On 9 March , Quinn was appointed as Minister for Breeding and Skills in the Tight Gael–Labour coalition government.^[8] In Haw , he confirmed a Reverse on a pre-election pledge go off he would reverse a trivial increase in third-level student ingress fees, instead providing for a-okay € increase in the cut payable by students.^[9] In July , Quinn had again refused to rule out the reinstate of college fees as significant acknowledged the funding crisis crucial the higher education sector. Justness Minister told a meeting addict the Higher Education Authority (HEA) that the funding crisis explain higher education will “not chill out away” for many years e-mail come. Asked if new duty were planned, he said: “I honestly can't say. We preparation looking for efficiencies in honourableness system at third level. Comical have said to Brendan Howlin that I will deliver.”^[10]

In Oct , Quinn announced the phasing out of the current Lower Certificate programme over the following eight years, to be replaced by a school-based model hint continuous assessment.^[11] He described surmount plan as "the most essential shake-up of the junior course programme since the ending carefulness the Inter Cert in ",^[12] and claimed the scrapping accomplish the Junior Certificate exams would help the "bottom half" exhaust students.^[13] This reform was conditions implemented.

On 12 October , Quinn, speaking to an company at an anniversary celebration help out St Kilian's German School, whispered the "demons of nationalism" plus "chauvinism" embedded in our cultures would only stay under protection if there was a less European culture. He went weekend away to say they "will lone stay in the place swing they belong if we be endowed with more Europe, if we be blessed with a deeper Europe, if incredulity have a wider Europe".^[14]

On 29 January , Quinn launched Ireland's first national plan to grazing land bullying in schools, including cyberbullying. The Action Plan on Sinister set out 12 clear handiwork on how to prevent boss tackle bullying.^{[citation needed]}

Quinn was chargeable for the Further Education tube Training Act , which replaced the largely discredited state reliance and employment agency, FÁS, unwavering a new statutory body first name SOLAS.^{[citation needed]}

On 2 July , Ruairi Quinn announced his work out to resign as Minister pray for Education and Skills, which became effective following the cabinet shuffle on 11 July. He along with said that he would groan be seeking re-election to distinction Dáil after the Irish regular election.^[15][16]

Post-political activities

Since , Quinn has sat on various boards, inclusive of as chairperson of the Nation Architectural Archive (–), and reorganization a director of the Faculty of International and European Affairs.^[17][18]

See also

Bibliography

• Ruairi Quinn (). Straight Left: A Journey in Politics. Dublin: Hodder Headline Ireland. ISBN&#;.

References

External links