Charles McDonald (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" McDonald (born 16 September 1935) is a former Fine Gael
politician from County Laois
in Ireland
. He was a senator
from 1961 to 1973 and from 1977 to 1992 (serving as Cathaoirleach
(speaker) of Seanad Éireann
from 1981 to 1982), a Teachta Dála
(TD) from 1973 to 1977, and a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) from 1973 to 1979.
A farmer before entering politics, he was elected in 1961 to the 10th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel, and held his Seanad seat until the 1973 general election
, when he was elected to the 20th Dáil for the Laois–Offaly constituency (which he had contested unsuccessfully in 1969
). He lost his seat in Dáil Éireann
at 1977 general election
, and although he stood in the next four general elections, he never returned to the Dáil.
However, after his 1977 defeat, he was elected to the 14th Seanad Éireann (again on the Agricultural Panel), and remained in the Seanad until his defeat at the 1993 election, serving as Cathaoirleach
(speaker) of the 15th Seanad (1981–1982) and as Leas Cathaoirleach (deputy speaker) in the 16th and 18th Seanads. He stood again in the 1997 election to the 21st Seanad, this time on the Administrative Panel, but was not elected.
McDonald was an appointed as a Member of the European Parliament
in 1973, one Ireland's first delegation of MEPs
, who at that time MEPs were appointed as a delegation from by national parliaments. He was re-appointed to the second
and third
delegations, but at the first direct election
in 1979, he did not win a seat when he stood in the Leinster constituency
. He did not contest the 1984 election
, and was unsuccessful again in the 1989 European election
.
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...
politician from County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
in 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,...
. He 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...
from 1961 to 1973 and from 1977 to 1992 (serving as Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
(speaker) of Seanad Éireann
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 1981 to 1982), 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) from 1973 to 1977, and a 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) from 1973 to 1979.
A farmer before entering politics, he was elected in 1961 to the 10th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel, and held his Seanad seat until the 1973 general election
Irish general election, 1973
The Irish general election of 1973 was held on 28 February 1973. The newly elected 144 members of the 20th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 4 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, when he was elected to the 20th Dáil for the Laois–Offaly constituency (which he had contested unsuccessfully in 1969
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
). He lost his seat in 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 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
, and although he stood in the next four general elections, he never returned to the Dáil.
However, after his 1977 defeat, he was elected to the 14th Seanad Éireann (again on the Agricultural Panel), and remained in the Seanad until his defeat at the 1993 election, serving as Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
(speaker) of the 15th Seanad (1981–1982) and as Leas Cathaoirleach (deputy speaker) in the 16th and 18th Seanads. He stood again in the 1997 election to the 21st Seanad, this time on the Administrative Panel, but was not elected.
McDonald was an appointed as a 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,...
in 1973, one Ireland's first delegation of MEPs
MEPs for Ireland 1973
This is a list of the 10 Members of the European Parliament for Ireland appointed to the delegation from the Oireachtas as a result of the Irish accession to the European Economic Community on 1 January 1973. The first delegation, served only two months, from 1 January 1973 until the 1973 general...
, who at that time MEPs were appointed as a delegation from by national parliaments. He was re-appointed to the second
MEPs for Ireland 1973-1977
This is a list of the 10 Members of the European Parliament for Ireland appointed to the delegation from the Oireachtas following the 1973 general election. The second delegation served from March 1973 until the 1977 general election.*Denotes outgoing MEP...
and third
MEPs for Ireland 1973-1977
This is a list of the 10 Members of the European Parliament for Ireland appointed to the delegation from the Oireachtas following the 1973 general election. The second delegation served from March 1973 until the 1977 general election.*Denotes outgoing MEP...
delegations, but at the first direct election
European Parliament election, 1979 (Ireland)
The 1979 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1979 European Parliament election. These were the first direct elections to the European Parliament...
in 1979, he did not win a seat when he stood in the Leinster constituency
Leinster (European Parliament constituency)
-1999 election:Alan Gillis lost his seat to his party running mate Avril Doyle.-1994 election:Alan Gillis replaced his party colleague Patrick Cooney who had stepped down...
. He did not contest the 1984 election
European Parliament election, 1984 (Ireland)
The 1984 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1984 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details:-See also:...
, and was unsuccessful again in the 1989 European 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:...
.