Robert Molloy (9 July 1936 – 2 October 2016) was an Irish politician who served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal and Minister of State to the Government from 1997 to 2002, Minister for Energy from 1989 to 1992, Minister for Defence from 1977 to 1979, Minister for Local Government from 1970 to 1973, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education from 1969 to 1970 and Mayor of Galway from 1968 to 1969. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency from 1965 to 2002.[1]
Bobby Molloy | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State | |
| 1997–2002 | Environment and Local Government |
| 1997–2002 | Government |
| Minister for Energy | |
| In office 12 July 1989 – 4 November 1992 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Michael Smith |
| Succeeded by | Albert Reynolds |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 5 July 1977 – 11 December 1979 | |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | Oliver J. Flanagan |
| Succeeded by | Pádraig Faulkner |
| Minister for Local Government | |
| In office 9 May 1970 – 14 March 1973 | |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | Kevin Boland |
| Succeeded by | James Tully |
| Parliamentary Secretary | |
| 1969–1970 | Education |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office April 1965 – May 2002 | |
| Constituency | Galway West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 July 1936 Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 2 October 2016 (aged 80) Galway, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Spouse |
Phyllis Molloy (m. 1967) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Coláiste Iognáid |
| Alma mater | University College Galway |
Molloy was born in Galway and was educated at Coláiste Iognáid and University College Galway.[2] Molloy was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Galway West constituency at the 1965 general election.[3] In 1968, he was also elected Mayor of Galway. The following year he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education. From 1970 to 1973, he served as Minister for Local Government. When Fianna Fáil returned to office in 1977, he became Minister for Defence in the final government of Jack Lynch.
Molloy supported George Colley in the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election. Charles Haughey won the contest and dropped Molloy from cabinet. Molloy became a member of the Gang of 22 who opposed Haughey's leadership of the party. In 1986, Molloy resigned from Fianna Fáil and joined the newly formed Progressive Democrats. In 1989, he contested the European Parliament elections but was unsuccessful in his attempt. That same year the party entered into coalition with Fianna Fáil, and Molloy was appointed as Minister for Energy. He served in that portfolio until the party left government in November 1992. He stood at the European Parliament elections again in 1994, but was again unsuccessful.
Following the 1997 general election, Molloy was part of the negotiations that led to the formation of a coalition government between the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil. On that occasion he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government and sat at cabinet as Minister of State to the Government. Molloy resigned as a minister just before the 2002 general election amid controversy regarding constituency letters intervening in the rape case of Barbara Naughton. He retired from politics at that election.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Robert Molloy". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ Collins, Stephen (2 October 2016). "Former Galway TD Bobby Molloy dies at the age of 80: Long serving minister and founder of Progressive Democrats was TD for four decades". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Molloy". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ "Rape victim settles action against hospital". RTÉ News. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
Sources
edit- Henry, William (2002). Role of Honour: The Mayors of Galway City 1485-2001. Galway: Galway City Council. OCLC 51023721 ASIN B003NECRYW