Jimmy Devins
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Devins is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician and medical doctor. He served as a Teachta Dála
(TD) from 2002 to 2011.
He is a medical doctor by profession, and worked as a GP
in Sligo
town from 1975. His grandfather James Devins
served a Sinn Féin
TD for Sligo–Mayo East from 1921–22. He was elected to Sligo County Council
in 1991 and re-elected in 1999. Devins was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2002 general election
for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency. At the 2007 general election, he was elected for the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency.
In June 2007, he was appointed as Minister of State
with special responsibility for Disability Issues and Mental Health. On 13 May 2008, shortly after Brian Cowen
became Taoiseach
, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science
and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
with special responsibility for Science, Technology and Innovation. He served in this position until April 2009 when he was dropped in a reshuffle.
On 5 August 2009, he (along with fellow Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon
) he resigned the party whip over his opposition to cuts in breast cancer services at Sligo General Hospital. He stated that he would remain a member of the Fianna Fáil party. He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 25 January 2011, a day before the leadership election
.
He retired from politics at the 2011 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 and medical doctor. He served as 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 2002 to 2011.
He is a medical doctor by profession, and worked as a GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
town from 1975. His grandfather James Devins
James Devins (Sinn Féin)
James Devins was an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála to the 2nd Dáil at the 1921 elections for the Sligo–Mayo East constituency. He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and voted against it. He was re-elected as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin TD to the 3rd...
served a 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...
TD for Sligo–Mayo East from 1921–22. He was elected to Sligo County Council
Sligo County Council
Sligo County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Sligo in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment....
in 1991 and re-elected in 1999. Devins 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 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...
for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency. At the 2007 general election, he was elected for the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency.
In June 2007, he was appointed as 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....
with special responsibility for Disability Issues and Mental Health. On 13 May 2008, shortly after Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
became 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...
, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science
Department of Education and Science (Ireland)
The Department of Education and Skills is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Education and Skills who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
with special responsibility for Science, Technology and Innovation. He served in this position until April 2009 when he was dropped in a reshuffle.
On 5 August 2009, he (along with fellow Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon
Eamon Scanlon
Eamon Scanlon is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency from 2007 to 2011.-Personal life:...
) he resigned the party whip over his opposition to cuts in breast cancer services at Sligo General Hospital. He stated that he would remain a member of the Fianna Fáil party. He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 25 January 2011, a day before the leadership election
Fianna Fáil leadership election, 2011
The 2011 Fianna Fáil leadership election was called by party leader Brian Cowen on 22 January 2011, when he announced that he was resigning as president and leader of the party. He remained as Taoiseach until after the 2011 general election....
.
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.