Frank Flannery
Encyclopedia
Frank Flannery is a political consultant and Fine Gael
's current Director of Organisation and Strategy.
Born and raised in Kiltullagh in County Galway
, he studied at University College Galway, where he joined Fine Gael
. He served as President of the Union of Students in Ireland
between 1971 to 1972. After he finished his degree, he worked for the Rehab Group, a non-governmental organization
, involved with providing care and education for people with disabilities. He became Chief Executive Officer of the group in 1981. He retired from the position in 2006.
Originally working as an activist within Fine Gael
, he became one of Garret Fitzgerald
's handlers and chief strategists during the three elections between 1981 and 1982.
In the aftermath of the 2002 general election
, which was a disastrous election for Fine Gael
, he authored the Flannery Report which proposed a series of changes in the organization and structure of the party. In 2002 he was made Fine Gael
's director of Organisation and Strategy and was charged with implementing the report. The restructuring bore fruit for Fine Gael
in the 2004 local elections and the 2007 general election, both of which saw gains for Fine Gael
.
He served as National Director of Elections for Fine Gael in the 2009 local elections
, which resulted in the party becoming the largest party of local government for the first time in its history. In June 2009 in the run up to the Europe
an and local elections, he caused controversy when he stated that Fine Gael
would be willing to take part in a coalition government which would include Sinn Féin
in order put Fianna Fáil
out of government, a comment which was criticized within the party and led to his temporary demotion by party leader Enda Kenny
.
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...
's current Director of Organisation and Strategy.
Born and raised in Kiltullagh in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, he studied at University College Galway, where he joined 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...
. He served as President of the Union of Students in Ireland
Union of Students in Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland is the sole national representative body for students in Ireland but does not represent students from two of the seven Irish Universities, namely...
between 1971 to 1972. After he finished his degree, he worked for the Rehab Group, a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, involved with providing care and education for people with disabilities. He became Chief Executive Officer of the group in 1981. He retired from the position in 2006.
Originally working as an activist within 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...
, he became one of Garret Fitzgerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
's handlers and chief strategists during the three elections between 1981 and 1982.
In the aftermath of the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
, which was a disastrous election for 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...
, he authored the Flannery Report which proposed a series of changes in the organization and structure of the party. In 2002 he was made 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...
's director of Organisation and Strategy and was charged with implementing the report. The restructuring bore fruit for 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...
in the 2004 local elections and the 2007 general election, both of which saw gains for 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...
.
He served as National Director of Elections for Fine Gael in the 2009 local elections
Irish local elections, 2009
The 2009 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009, on the same day as the European Parliament election and two by-elections .-Overview:...
, which resulted in the party becoming the largest party of local government for the first time in its history. In June 2009 in the run up to the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and local elections, he caused controversy when he stated that 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...
would be willing to take part in a coalition government which would include Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
in order put 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...
out of government, a comment which was criticized within the party and led to his temporary demotion by party leader Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
.