Pádraig Flynn

Pádraig Flynn
European Commissioner representing Ireland
In office 1993–1999
Preceded by	Ray MacSharry
Succeeded by	David Byrne
Teachta Dála
In office 1977–1993
Preceded by	Myles Staunton
Succeeded by	Michael Ring
Constituency	Mayo West
Personal details
Born	9 May 1939 (1939-05-09) Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Children	4
Alma mater	St Patrick's College of Education

Pádraig "Pee" Flynn (born 9 May 1939) is a former Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) in 1977. He was returned at each subsequent election until 1993. During this time he served as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism (1982), Minister for the Environment (1987–91), Minister for Justice (1992–93) and Minister for Industry and Commerce (1992–93). Flynn served as European Commissioner from 1993 until 1999.

Early life

Flynn was born in Castlebar, County Mayo. He is the son of Patrick and Anne Flynn. He was educated in St. Gerald's College, Castlebar and qualified as a teacher from St Patrick's College of Education in Dublin. His mother owned a small shop in Castlebar. He was married in 1963. His wife's name is Dorothy. They have four children – one son and three daughters. One daughter, Beverley Flynn was also a Fianna Fáil politician.

He first held political office in 1967 when he became a member of Mayo County Council. Ten years later, in the 1977 general election, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Mayo West constituency. On the day the 21st Dail convened in Leinster House, Frank Dunlop described Flynn's encounter with the then Taoiseach Jack Lynch:

“

There was a particular hullabaloo as a man in a white suit and polka-dot shirt was shouldered to the front door. "Who in the name of God is that?" asked an incredulous Lynch. "That," I said, "is the one and only Pádraig Flynn from Mayo" ... Though he would never have believed it that day, Jack was looking at one of those who would soon change the profile, and in some instances, the nature of Fianna Fáil for ever.

”

Ministerial career

Flynn was a supporter of Charles Haughey in the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest. His loyalty was rewarded when he became a Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Power. Flynn joined the Cabinet table for the first time in 1982 when in October he was appointed Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. However, his time in office was brief, since Fianna Fáil lost the November 1982 general election.

Fianna Fáil was returned to power in the 1987 general election and Flynn became Minister for the Environment. Two years later he opposed the formation of the coalition government with the Progressive Democrats, describing it "as hitting at Fianna Fáil core values." In 1990, he attacked the opposition presidential candidate Mary Robinson on a radio show, accusing her of "having a new-found interest in her family" for the purposes of her election campaign.

This attack backfired drastically, causing many women to back Robinson, who won the election. In 1991, Flynn was sacked from the Cabinet because of his support for a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. Then in 1992, Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach and Flynn was rewarded for supporting Reynolds by becoming Minister for Justice. In 1993, he retired from domestic politics when he was appointed Ireland's European Commissioner. He was reappointed by the Fine Gael government in 1995 and, on both of these occasions, served in the social affairs portfolio.

Late Late Show controversy

On 15 January 1999 Flynn made comments on a live chat show (The Late Late Show) regarding Tom Gilmartin and a donation of £50,000 to the Fianna Fáil party. On the same programme, Flynn made comments about his own lifestyle (following a question by journalist Barry O'Halloran); he boasted of having a salary of £100,000 (Punts) together with three houses, cars and housekeepers and travelled regularly, yet complained about the hassle involved. The performance which was seen as eccentric and out of touch – at a time when house prices were rising significantly. In effect, Flynn was interpreted as behaving in a manner more befitting the Irish stereotype known as the Dublin 4 mentality, complaining of the costs incurred in the pursuit of extravagance.

The show presenter Gay Byrne then asked Flynn if he knew of Gilmartin. Flynn responded that he knew him well. Flynn seemed to be making an attack of Gilmartin's emotional stability, based on the effect of sickness of Gilmartin's wife. This hurt Gilmartin a great deal, while also bringing the illness of his wife into the picture as the real driving force behind Gilmartin's testimony against Flynn. If it was to be interpreted as an attack of Gilmartin's credibility, then it backfired in a spectacular manner against Flynn. Also, unknown to Flynn, Gilmartin was actually watching the Late Late on Tara Television at his home in Luton. Gilmartin responded by releasing details of meetings he held with Flynn to the McCracken Tribunal of Inquiry. This was seen as the end of any possible return to politics in Ireland, although this was previously expected.

Retirement from politics

Flynn's second term as Commissioner ended early in September 1999 when the entire commission resigned due to allegations of malpractice by the European Parliament. He was not reappointed to the Commission and retired from politics completely. He is a member of the Comite d'Honneur of the Institute of European Affairs. Flynn's daughter Beverley Flynn is a former Fianna Fáil TD for the Mayo constituency. She was readmitted to the party on 8 April 2008 having previously been expelled after failing in a libel action against RTÉ which claimed she was involved in selling bogus non-resident accounts to customers while she worked for National Irish Bank.

He receives annual pension payments of €87,129 from his time as a TD and minister, but this does not include payments for his time as a European Commissioner.

Allegations of corruption

Flynn has been cited in the Mahon Tribunal for having received £50,000 from Frank Dunlop intended for Fianna Fáil, but diverted to Flynn's personal use.

See also

• Deposit Interest Retention Tax

References

Oireachtas
Preceded by Myles Staunton (Fine Gael)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Mayo West 1977–1993	Succeeded by Michael Ring (Fine Gael)
Political offices
Preceded by Paddy Power	Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism 1982	Succeeded by Frank Cluskey
Preceded by John Boland	Minister for the Environment 1987–1991	Succeeded by John Wilson
Preceded by Ray Burke	Minister for Justice 1992–1993	Succeeded by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Preceded by Desmond O'Malley	Minister for Industry and Commerce 1992–1993	Succeeded by Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Ray MacSharry	Irish European Commissioner 1993–1999	Succeeded by David Byrne