G. V. Wright
Encyclopedia
Thomas Wright, usually referred to by the nickname G.V., (born 3 August 1947) is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Dublin North constituency.
Wright was born in Dublin in 1947. He was educated Chanel College
, Coolock
in Dublin before becoming a food retailer. In his youth Wright was a Gaelic football
er with Dublin GAA
and a former international basketball player and coach. In 1982 he first became involved in politics when he was nominated by the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann
. He remained there until 1983, however, he returned to politics in 1985 as a member of Dublin County Council
. He remained there until 2004 and is among those named by lobbyist Frank Dunlop
at the investigating Mahon Tribunal as receiving donations from property developers.
Wright was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1987 general election
. He lost his seat at the 1989 general election
but again nominated to the Seanad where he served as Leader of Seanad Éireann (1991–1994) and Leader of Fianna Fáil
in Seanad Éireann (1994–1997). During this time he failed again to get back to the Dáil. Wright was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1997 general election
and held his seat in another election in 2002.
In September 2003 a car driven by Wright, on his way home from Leinster House
collided with a woman pedestrian at North Strand
in Dublin, causing multiple fractures to her leg. Tests confirmed that Wright's blood alcohol content
was above the legal limit. As a result he was fined and banned from driving for two years.
In January 2006, Wright announced that he would not be seeking re-election at the 2007 general election.
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,...
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. He 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) for the Dublin North constituency.
Wright was born in Dublin in 1947. He was educated Chanel College
Chanel College (Dublin)
Chanel College is a Catholic boys' secondary school in Coolock, Dublin, Ireland. The Principal is Mr. Declan Mowlds. The college has approximately 400 pupils.-History:...
, Coolock
Coolock
Coolock is a large suburban area, centred on a village, on Dublin city's Northside in Ireland. Coolock is crossed by the Santry River, a prominent feature in the middle of the district, with a linear park and ponds...
in Dublin before becoming a food retailer. In his youth Wright was a Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er with Dublin GAA
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
and a former international basketball player and coach. In 1982 he first became involved in politics when he was nominated by the Taoiseach to 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...
. He remained there until 1983, however, he returned to politics in 1985 as a member of Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council was a local authority for the administrative county of County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1898....
. He remained there until 2004 and is among those named by lobbyist Frank Dunlop
Frank Dunlop
Frank Dunlop is an Irish lobbyist and former broadcast journalist with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . Originally from County Kilkenny, he is a key witness to the Mahon Tribunal which is investigating improper payments by property developers to Irish politicians and will be a key witness in pending...
at the investigating Mahon Tribunal as receiving donations from property developers.
Wright 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 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...
. He lost his 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 again nominated to the Seanad where he served as Leader of Seanad Éireann (1991–1994) and Leader of 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...
in Seanad Éireann (1994–1997). During this time he failed again to get back to the Dáil. Wright was re-elected to the Dáil 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....
and held his seat in another election in 2002.
In September 2003 a car driven by Wright, on his way home from Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
collided with a woman pedestrian at North Strand
North Strand
North Strand is an area of the inner city on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. The area is bounded roughly by East Wall to the east, Ballybough to the northwest, and Fairview to the north...
in Dublin, causing multiple fractures to her leg. Tests confirmed that Wright's blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
was above the legal limit. As a result he was fined and banned from driving for two years.
In January 2006, Wright announced that he would not be seeking re-election at the 2007 general election.