For the British soldier, see George Pomeroy Colley

George Pomeroy Colley

Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley KCSI CB CMG was a British Army officer who became Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Natal and High Commissionerfor South Eastern Africa....

George Colley (18 October 1925 – 17 September 1983) was an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 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, who served in a wide number of Cabinet poistions, most notably as Minister for Finance

Minister for Finance (Ireland)

The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance and is considered one of the most important members of the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Finance is...

 and Tánaiste

Tánaiste

The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...

. He was twice defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1966

Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1966

The 1966 Fianna Fáil leadership election in the Republic of Ireland began in October 1966 following the decision of Seán Lemass to resign as party leader and Taoiseach. Lemass had occupied both posts for over seven years and, while there was no pressure on him to resign, he felt that the time was...

 and 1979

Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1979

The 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in December 1979, when Jack Lynch resigned as party leader and Taoiseach. Lynch had been party leader for thirteen years and Taoiseach for over nine years. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 7 December...

.

Early life

Colley was born in Fairview

Fairview, Dublin

Fairview is a coastal district on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council. Part of the area forms Fairview Park, on land reclaimed from the sea.-Location and access:...

, on the northside

Northside (Dublin)

The Northside is the area in County Dublin, Ireland bounded to the south by the River Liffey to the east by Dublin Bay, to the north and west by the boundaries of County Dublin.- Introduction :...

 of Dublin. The son of Henry

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...

 and Christina Colley, his father was a veteran of the 1916 Easter Rising

Easter Rising

The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...

 and a former adjutant in the Irish Republican Army

Irish Republican Army

The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...

 who was subsequently 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 1944 as a Fianna Fáil candidate.

Colley was educated at St. Joseph's Christian Brothers School, Fairview, where one of his classmates and closest friends was his arch rival, 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...

. He subsequently studied law 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...

 and qualified as a solicitor in the mid 1940s. He remained friends with Haughey after leaving school and, ironically, encouraged him to become a member of Fianna Fáil in 1951. Haughey was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1957 general election

Irish general election, 1957

The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 20 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place...

, ousting Colley's father in the process. This put some strain on the relationship between the two young men.

Poltical career

Colley was elected to the Dáil at the 1961 general election

Irish general election, 1961

The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took...

, reclaiming his father's old seat
. Furthermore, he was elected in Dublin North East

Dublin North East (Dáil Éireann constituency)

Dublin North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...

, the same constituency as Haughey, thereby accentuating the rivalry. Thereafter Colley progressed rapidly through the ranks of Fianna Fáil. He became a member of the Dáil at a time when a change from the older to the younger generation was taking place. This was facilitated in no small part by the Taoiseach

Taoiseach

The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

, Seán Lemass

Seán Lemass

Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....

.

Colley was active in 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...

 as chairman of some of the Joint Labour Committees set up under the Labour Court to fix legally enforceable wages for groups of workers who had not been effectively organised in trade unions. He was also leader of the Irish Parliamentary Deelegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. Colley's good work as a backbencher was rewarded by being appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands in October 1964.

Minister for Education (1965–66)

Following the re-election of Lemass's government in 1965

Irish general election, 1965

The Irish general election of 1965 was held on 7 April 1965. The newly elected members of the 18th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 21 April when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....

 Colley joined the government

Irish Government

The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...

 as Minister for Education, where he was described as active and progressive. He introduced the plan for establishing comprehensive schools, set up an advisory council on post-primary school accommodation in Dublin and also introduced the school psychological service.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (1966–70)

In July 1966 a cabinet reshuffle saw Colley promoted to the position of Minister for Industry & Commerce where he continued the policy of econimic expansion that had prevailed since the late 1950s.

In November 1966 Seán Lemass suddenly resigned as Taoiseach. Colley immediately threw his hat into the ring and identified himself as a candidate in the subsequent leadership election

Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1966

The 1966 Fianna Fáil leadership election in the Republic of Ireland began in October 1966 following the decision of Seán Lemass to resign as party leader and Taoiseach. Lemass had occupied both posts for over seven years and, while there was no pressure on him to resign, he felt that the time was...

. His childhood friend, and now his political rival, Charles Haughey, also announced his intention to stand.

Colley's rise through politics was remarkable, particularly since after only five years in the Dáil, he was in a position to challenge for the leadership of Fianna Fáil. He was the favoured candidate of party elders such as Seán MacEntee

Seán MacEntee

Seán MacEntee was an Irish politician. In a career that spanned over forty years as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála, MacEntee was one of the most important figures in post-independence Ireland. He served in the governments of Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass in a range of ministerial positions,...

 and Frank Aiken

Frank Aiken

Frank Aiken was a commander of the Irish Republican Army and later an Irish politician. A founding-member of Fianna Fáil, Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973...

, the latter managing Colley's campaign and was annoyed with Lemass's quick decision to retire before Colley had built up his support. He was considered to be in the same mould as the party founders, concerned with such issues as the peaceful re-unification of the country and the Irish language

Irish language

Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...

 cause. A third candidate, Neil Blaney

Neil Blaney

Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries...

, also indicated his wishes to run for the leadership if a suitable candidate could not be found. However, both Haughey and Blaney withdrew when the Minister for Finance, Jack Lynch

Jack Lynch

John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....

, announced his candidacy. Colley however did not back down and the leadership issue went to a vote for the first time in the history of the Fianna Fáil party.

On 9 November 1966, the election of the new leader took place. Lynch easily beat Colley by 59 votes to 19. When the new Taoiseach announced his new cabinet no hard feelings were shown between the two men. Colley retained his Industry and Commerce portfolio in the subsequent reshuffle of the cabinet.

Following Fianna Fáil's success at the 1969 general election

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...

, Colley, in addition to his existing cabinet post, also took charge of the Gaeltacht

Gaeltacht

is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...

 portfolio, an area where he had a personal interest. He used this dual position to direct industrial investment to Gaeltacht areas. He set about changing the traditional backward view of the native Irish-speaking area and promoted it as having equal claim to the more sophisticated idustries brought in by foreign investment.

Minister for Finance (1970–73)

In the wake of the Arms Crisis

Arms Crisis

The Arms Crisis or Arms Trial was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland in 1970, when two cabinet ministers — Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney — were sacked for allegedly attempting to illegally import arms for the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.-Background:The...

 in 1970 a major reshuffle of the cabinet took place. Four ministers, Charles Haughey, Neil Blaney, Kevin Boland

Kevin Boland

Kevin Boland , was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1957 as a Fianna Fáil TD. He served as Minister for Defence , Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Local Government...

 and Micheál Ó Móráin

Micheál Ó Móráin

Micheál Ó Móráin was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide number of Cabinet minister from 1957 until 1970, most notably as Minister for Justice and Minister for the Gaeltacht....

, were either sacked, resigned or simply retired from the government due to the scandal that was about to take place. Colley, in spite of being defeated by Jack Lynch in the leadership contest four years earlier, had remained loyal to the party leader and had become a close political ally. He was rewarded for his loyalty by being appointed Minister for Finance, the second most important position in the government, while also retaining the Gaeltacht portfolio.

Colley was regarded as a predictable minister and the ultimate safe man who was a highly orthodox Keynsian. His decision to introduce budget deficits in his first three budgets was even welcomed by the opposition. The most important event of his tenure as minister was the transition to decimalisation of the Irish currency in 1971. Colley, as minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, also championed the introduction of Radio na Gaeltachta and argued the financial case for it in 1972.

In opposition (1973–77)

In 1973 Fianna Fáil were ousted after sixteen years in government as the National Coalition

Government of the 20th Dáil

The 20th Dáil was elected at the 1973 general election on 28 February 1973 and first met on 14 March when the 14th Government of Ireland was appointed...

 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...

 and the 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...

 came to power. Colley was subsequently appointed spokesperson on finance in the new Fianna Fáil front bench. He came to be regarded as a hard-working spokesperson and was a constant critic of what he viewed as the coalition government's restrictive economic policy and of the capital taxation which he believed acted as a discentive to investment.

As the 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...

 approached Colley and Martin O'Donoghue

Martin O'Donoghue

Martin O'Donoghue is a former Irish politician and economist. He also served as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála and holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil...

 were the main architects of Fianna Fáil's controversial election manifesto. The party's programme for government included a number of inducements, including the aboloition of car tax and rates on houses, as it was believed that the national coalition would retain office.

Tánaiste and Minister (1977–81)

In defiance of the opinion polls and political commentators Fianna Fáil swept to power with a huge 20-seat Dáil majority. Colley was re-appointed as Minister for Finance and the Public Service while also being named as Tánaiste

Tánaiste

The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...

. The latter appointment firmly established him as the heir-apparent to Taoiseach Jack Lynch.

Colley's second term as Minister for Finance was dominated by economic matters as he implemented the controversial econmic policies from the election manifesto. He immediately set about dismnantling the previous government's capital taxation programme while also abolishing the wealth tax and diluting the capital gains and capital acquisitions taxes. His policy of low taxation and continued government investment resulted in massive foreign borrowing and a balance of payments deficit. In 1979 Fianna Fáil's econmic policies were derailed due to strikes, higher wage demands and the oil crisis. The introduction of a 2% levy on agricultural production angered some rural backbench TDs and resulted in party tensions emerging.

In December 1979 Jack Lynch unexpectedly resigned as Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader. It is said that Colley and his supporters encouraged Lynch to retire one month earlier than planned because he felt that he had the necessary numbers to win a leadership contest and that the quick decision would catch Charles Haughey and his supporters off guard. The battle that the party was denied 13 years earlier was now a reality.

The support for both candidates was about even throughout the leadership contest

Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1979

The 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in December 1979, when Jack Lynch resigned as party leader and Taoiseach. Lynch had been party leader for thirteen years and Taoiseach for over nine years. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 7 December...

. Colley had the backing of the majority of the Cabinet and the party hierarchy, while Haughey relied on support from the first-time backbenchers. On Friday 7 December 1979 the secret ballot vote was taken. On the eve of the election the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michael O'Kennedy

Michael O'Kennedy

Michael O'Kennedy is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Finance and Irish European Commissioner.-Early life:...

, came out and announced his support for Haughey. This was believed to have swung the vote in favour of Colley's rival. When the vote was taken Haughey beat Colley by 44 votes to 38.

For the second time Colley was defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil. Colley remained as Tánaiste, but demanded and got a veto on Haughey's ministerial appointments to the Departments of Justice and Defence. Colley was relieved from his position as Minister for Finance and the Public Service. He declined the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs, preferring instead a domestic portfolio which resulted in a demotion. He was temporarily appointed Minister for Transport and Tourism before taking charge of the new Department of Energy

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Ireland)

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the Government of Ireland.The current minister is Jimmy Deenihan, TD. He is assisted by:...

. During his brief tenure he suspended the Nuclear Energy Board

Nuclear Energy Board

The Nuclear Energy Board was an Irish agency charged with developing nuclear power in Ireland. It was established in Ireland on November 30, 1973 by the ....

's controversial plans for Carnsore Point

Carnsore Point

Carnsore Point is a headland in the very South East corner of County Wexford, Ireland. This headland is Ireland's southern limit point of the Irish Sea....

.

Later career

Fianna Fáil lost power at the 1981 general election

Irish general election, 1981

The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....

 as a short-lived Fine Gael-Labour coalition government took office. Haughey delayed naming a new opposition front bench, however, Colley was still regarded as key member of the Fianna Fáil hierarchy.

Following the February 1982 general election Fianna Fáil were back in power, however, there was disquiet regarding Haughey's leadership and the failure to secure an overall majority. Colley demanded the same veto on the Defence and Justice appointments of Haughey, however, this time he was refused. When it was revealed that he was not going to be appointed Tánaiste, in favour of Ray MacSharry

Ray MacSharry

Raymond MacSharry is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a range of cabinet positions, most notably as Tánaiste, Minister for Finance and European Commissioner.-Early life:...

, he declined another ministerial position. This effectively brought his front bench political career to an end, however, he remained a vocal critic of the party leadership from the backbenches.

When the Fianna Fáil government collapsed and a new coalition government took over following the November 1982 general election, a number of TDs again expressed their lack of confidence in the continued leadership of Haughey. Several leadership heaves took place throughout late 1982 and early 1983 with Colley, having already been denied the leadership twice, now throwing his support behind 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...

 and the Gang of 22

Gang of 22

The "Gang of 22" was a group of Fianna Fáil Teachtaí Dála who were opposed to the leadership of Charles Haughey in the early 1980s...

 who opposed Haughey. All of these leadership heaves were unsuccessful.

Death

While receiving treatment for a heart condition at Guys Hospital in London, Colley died suddenly on 17 September 1983, aged 57. He was survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters, one of whom, Anne Colley

Anne Colley

Anne Colley is a former Irish Progressive Democrats politician who represented Dublin South from 1987 to 1989.-Background:Anne Colley was born in Dublin in 1951. She read Law at University College Dublin and qualified as a solicitor...

, became a TD as a member of the 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...

.