Avril Doyle
Encyclopedia
Avril Doyle is a former Irish
politician. She was a member of Fine Gael
, part of the European People's Party
.
Avril Belton was born in Dublin and was educated at University College Dublin
. Her father Richard Belton
was a Senator
and her grandfather Patrick Belton
was a Teachta Dála
(TD). She was a member of Wexford County Council
, including a term as Mayor of Wexford Town. She was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the November 1982 general election as a Fine Gael TD for the Wexford constituency
. She lost her seat at the 1989 general election
but was re-elected at the 1992 general election
, again losing her seat at the 1997 general election
to party colleague Michael D'Arcy
. She was a member of the Seanad
from 1989–1992 and from 1997–2002. She was elected as an Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) at the 1999 election
and re-elected at the 2004 election
. She served as a Minister of State
in the Fine Gael-Labour Party
coalition governments of 1982–87 and 1994–97.
Doyle made news during debate in the European Parliament
in June 2008 after the rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon
by Irish voters. A group of British Eurosceptic
MEPs wore green hats and T-shirts, encouraging the EU to respect the Irish no vote. However, many Irish MEPs saw this as self-serving and felt that there would be no Eurosceptic support for Irish opinion had the treaty been accepted; and Doyle was both lauded and criticised for the following comment, which is a reference to the forceful occupation of Ireland by Britain; "How the history books could have been written differently, if respect for the Irish vote from some of our British colleagues was always there."
She announced on 7 January 2009 that she would not be seeking re-election to the European Parliament at the 2009 election
.
On 21 June 2011 she announced her intention to seek the Fine Gael party nomination to run for President of Ireland
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
politician. She was a member of Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
, part of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
.
Avril Belton was born in Dublin and was educated at University College Dublin
University 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...
. Her father Richard Belton
Richard Belton
Richard Belton was an Irish politician and medical doctor. He was elected to Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel at the 1969 election, for Fine Gael...
was a Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
and her grandfather Patrick Belton
Patrick Belton
Patrick Belton was an Irish politician, anti-communist and leader of the Irish Christian Front. Belton provided a strong Catholic voice in an Irish nationalist context throughout his 20th century career...
was a Teachta Dála
Teachta 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...
(TD). She was a member of Wexford County Council
Wexford County Council
Wexford County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wexford in Ireland. The Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The head of the council has the title of Chairman...
, including a term as Mayor of Wexford Town. She was first 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...
at the November 1982 general election as a Fine Gael TD for the Wexford constituency
Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
. 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...
but was re-elected at the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
, again losing her seat at the 1997 general election
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
to party colleague Michael D'Arcy
Michael D'Arcy
Michael D'Arcy is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician, and a former TD for the Wexford constituency.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1977 general election and held it until the 1987 general election when he lost it to Brendan Howlin of the Labour Party...
. She was a member of the Seanad
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
from 1989–1992 and from 1997–2002. She was elected as an Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) at the 1999 election
European Parliament election, 1999 (Ireland)
The 1999 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1999 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details :-See also:...
and re-elected at the 2004 election
European Parliament election, 2004 (Ireland)
The 2004 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 2004 European Parliament election. The voting was held on Friday, 11 June 2004. The election coincided with the 2004 local elections...
. She served as a Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
in the Fine Gael-Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
coalition governments of 1982–87 and 1994–97.
Doyle made news during debate in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in June 2008 after the rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon
Treaty of Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain, concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668, through the mediation of England, in which Spain recognized the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza....
by Irish voters. A group of British Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
MEPs wore green hats and T-shirts, encouraging the EU to respect the Irish no vote. However, many Irish MEPs saw this as self-serving and felt that there would be no Eurosceptic support for Irish opinion had the treaty been accepted; and Doyle was both lauded and criticised for the following comment, which is a reference to the forceful occupation of Ireland by Britain; "How the history books could have been written differently, if respect for the Irish vote from some of our British colleagues was always there."
She announced on 7 January 2009 that she would not be seeking re-election to the European Parliament at the 2009 election
European Parliament election, 2009 (Ireland)
The 2009 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 2009 European Parliament election and was held on Friday, 5 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections...
.
On 21 June 2011 she announced her intention to seek the Fine Gael party nomination to run for President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
.