Anne Colley
Encyclopedia
Anne Colley is a former Irish
Progressive Democrats
politician who represented Dublin South
from 1987 to 1989.
and qualified as a solicitor. Colley's father, George
, who was a senior Fianna Fáil
politician, was closely aligned with PD founder Desmond O'Malley
in the anti-Charles Haughey
wing of the party prior to his sudden death in 1983. Her grandfather, Henry Colley
, was also a TD.
s elected to Dáil Éireann
in the 1987 general election
, the first election after the party was founded. The party proved hugely popular, surpassing the Labour Party as the third biggest party in the Dáil.
Colley was appointed party spokesperson on Institutional Reform, Labour & the Public Service and in 1988 became spokesperson on Justice. She lost her seat at the 1989 general election
and retired from politics.
to chair a working group on Civil Unions in Ireland
. Officially called the Options Paper on Cohabiting Couples, (2006) (Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform), the paper became known as the Colley Report
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
politician who represented Dublin South
Dublin South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
from 1987 to 1989.
Background
Anne Colley was born in Dublin in 1951. She read Law at University College DublinUniversity College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and qualified as a solicitor. Colley's father, George
George Colley
George Colley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide number of Cabinet poistions, most notably as Minister for Finance and Tánaiste. He was twice defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1966 and 1979.-Early life:Colley was born in Fairview, on the northside of Dublin...
, who was a senior Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician, was closely aligned with PD founder Desmond O'Malley
Desmond O'Malley
Desmond Joseph "Des" O'Malley is a former Irish politician.Born in Limerick, O'Malley was raised in a local political dynasty that had a strong association with Fianna Fáil. Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1968, he quickly became a trusted confidante of Taoiseach Jack Lynch...
in the anti-Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
wing of the party prior to his sudden death in 1983. Her grandfather, Henry Colley
Henry Colley
Henry Colley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician from Dublin.Colley was first elected to Dáil Éireann on his second attempt in the 1944 general election...
, was also a TD.
Career
She first entered national politics as one of 14 Progressive Democrat TDTeachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
in the 1987 general election
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
, the first election after the party was founded. The party proved hugely popular, surpassing the Labour Party as the third biggest party in the Dáil.
Colley was appointed party spokesperson on Institutional Reform, Labour & the Public Service and in 1988 became spokesperson on Justice. She lost her seat at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
and retired from politics.
Colley Report
In 2006 she was appointed by Minister for Justice Michael McDowellMichael McDowell
Michael McDowell is a Senior Counsel in the Bar Council of Ireland and a former politician. A grandson of Irish revolutionary Eoin MacNeill, McDowell was a founding member of the Progressive Democrats political party in the mid-1980s...
to chair a working group on Civil Unions in Ireland
Civil unions in the Republic of Ireland
Civil partnerships in Ireland, granted under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, give same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal to, civil marriage...
. Officially called the Options Paper on Cohabiting Couples, (2006) (Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform), the paper became known as the Colley Report
Colley Report
The Colley Report is a 2006 paper on same-sex marriage and civil partnership produced for the Irish Government. Formally known as the Options Paper on Cohabiting Couples, , the report was named after its chair, Anne Colley.-Background:...
.