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Richard Burke (Irish politician)

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Richard Burke
Burke in 1983
European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Administration
In office
1 April 1982 – 5 January 1985
PresidentGaston Thorn
Preceded byMichael O'Kennedy
Succeeded byHenning Christophersen
European Commissioner for Taxation, Consumer Affairs, Transport and Parliamentary Relations
In office
6 January 1977 – 6 January 1981
PresidentRoy Jenkins
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Minister for Education
In office
14 March 1973 – 2 December 1976
TaoiseachLiam Cosgrave
Preceded byPádraig Faulkner
Succeeded byPeter Barry
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1981 – 30 March 1982
ConstituencyDublin West
In office
June 1969 – June 1977
ConstituencyDublin County South
Personal details
Born(1932-03-29)29 March 1932
New York City, US
Died15 March 2016(2016-03-15) (aged 83)
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Mary
​
(m. 1968)​
Children6
Alma mater

Richard Burke (29 March 1932 – 15 March 2016) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Administration from 1982 to 1985, European Commissioner for Taxation, Consumer Affairs, Transport and Parliamentary Relations from 1977 to 1981 and Minister for Education from 1973 to 1976. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1969 to 1976 and from 1981 to 1982.[1]

Early life and education

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Burke was born in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1932. He was raised in Upperchurch, County Tipperary, and educated at the Christian Brothers School, Thurles.[2] He went on to study at University College Dublin (UCD) and King's Inns.[3] He worked as a teacher before embarking on a political career.[2]

Political career

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His first political involvement was with the Christian Democrat Party founded by Seán Loftus. However, he soon became a member of Fine Gael, becoming a member of Dublin County Council in 1967. Two years later, in 1969, he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time, becoming a TD for Dublin County South.[4] He was immediately appointed Fine Gael Chief Whip by party leader Liam Cosgrave.

In 1973, a new Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government was formed, and Burke was appointed Minister for Education. He joined the Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, in voting against the government's own Control of Importation, Sale and Manufacture of Contraceptives Bill 1974.[5] In December 1976, he was nominated as Ireland's European Commissioner, chosen ahead of fellow minister Justin Keating of Labour to succeed Patrick Hillery, who returned to become President of Ireland.[6] Burke resigned his seat in the Dáil in January 1977 to take up his position.[7]

He took office in the Jenkins Commission as commissioner for taxation, consumer affairs, transport. On the completion of his four-year term as a European commissioner, he accepted an invitation to stand at the 1981 general election for Fine Gael in June, on returning to Ireland from Harvard University after his fellowship year at Leverett House from 1980 to 1981. He was elected a TD for Dublin West.[8]

However, Burke was not appointed to the short-lived cabinet of Garret FitzGerald. At the February 1982 election, he retained his seat,[4] but Fine Gael lost office. Charles Haughey formed a minority Fianna Fáil government with the support of independent deputies. Haughey's government nominated Burke for acceptance by the European Council and European Parliament as a European commissioner, avoiding a depletion of the government's numbers.[9] Being appointed for the second time his seniority resulted in his nomination as a vice-president of the Commission.

Later life and death

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After Burke left politics at the Irish and European levels, he became president and chief executive officer of the Stichting Canon Foundation[clarification needed] in Europe, roles he held until his retirement in 1998.[citation needed]

Burke married Mary in 1968, and they had six children. Burke died on 15 March 2016 in Dublin.[10] He was predeceased by his son Joseph.[11]

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References

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  1. ^ "Richard Burke". Oireachtas Members Database. December 1976. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Richard Burke: Twice-appointed EEC commissioner". The Irish Times. 19 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Former minister and commissioner Burke dies". RTÉ News. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b Walker, Brian M., ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
  5. ^ "Control of Importation, Sale and Manufacture of Contraceptives Bill, 1974: Second Stage (Resumed) – Votes – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 July 1974. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: Statement by the Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 2 December 1976. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Resignation of Member – Dáil Éireann (20th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 1977. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Richard Burke". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Appointment of European Commissioner – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 31 March 1982. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Death notice of Richard Burke". RIP.ie. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Dick Burke, former minister for education, dies aged 83". The Irish Times. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Education
1973–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Irish European Commissioner
1977–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Irish European Commissioner
1982–1984 		Succeeded by
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