Ned O'Keeffe

Ned O'Keeffe
Minister of State for Food
In office 8 July 1997 – 17 February 2001
Preceded by	Jimmy Deenihan
Succeeded by	Éamon Ó Cuív
Teachta Dála
In office December 1982 – February 2011
Preceded by	Joe Sherlock
Constituency	Cork East
Senator
In office May 1982 – November 1982
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born	1 August 1942 (1942-08-01) Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s)	Ann Buckley
Children	5
Alma mater	University College Cork

Edward "Ned" O'Keeffe (born 1 August 1942) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 1982 to 2011.

O'Keeffe was born in Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, County Cork in 1942. He was educated at Darra College, Clonakilty where he received a diploma in Social and Rural Science. O'Keeffe was a pig farmer before becoming involved in politics. In 1982 O'Keeffe nominated by the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to the 16th Seanad. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election. He retained his seat at each subsequent general election until his retirement in 2011.

Since his election in 1982, O'Keeffe has served in a number of positions. He was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Industry from 1982 until 1987. While Fianna Fáil were in power between 1987 and 1994, O'Keeffe remained on the backbenches. When Bertie Ahern became party leader in 1994 O'Keeffe was appointed Deputy spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science, Technology and Small Business. He served in that position until 1997 when he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food. He served in that position until February 2001 when he had to resign due to his voting on a Dáil motion without declaring that he had a beneficial interest in the subject matter.

On 28 November 2007, during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, O'Keeffe resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip when forced to vote his confidence in the Minister. On 26 February 2008 he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

He was a member of Cork County Council from 1985–97.

He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the South constituency. In the pre-election debate on Today FM he voiced his support for the use of Nuclear power and an incinerator in Cork Harbour.

He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.

References

Oireachtas
Preceded by Joe Sherlock (Workers' Party)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Cork East 1982–2011	Succeeded by Tom Barry (Fine Gael)
Political offices
Preceded by Jimmy Deenihan	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Food) 1997–2001	Succeeded by Éamon Ó Cuív