Michael Hilliard
Encyclopedia
Michael Hilliard was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
Party politician.
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1943 general election
, as a TD
for Meath–Westmeath. During his career he served in the governments of Seán Lemass
and Jack Lynch
. During his tenure as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Hilliard oversaw the introduction of a television service in Ireland, Radio Telefís Éireann
.
He retained his Dáil seat at eight further general elections, switching to the new Meath constituency after constituencies were revised for the 1948 general election
. However, at the 1973 general election
, he lost his seat to his party colleague Brendan Crinion
. He did not contest any further Dáil elections.
While a TD in 1973, Hilliard was appointed a Member of the European Parliament
as part of Ireland's short-lived first delegation
.
His son Colm Hilliard
was Fianna Fáil TD for Meath from 1982–1997.
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...
Party politician.
He 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 1943 general election
Irish general election, 1943
The Irish general election of 1943 was held on 23 June 1943. The 138 newly elected members of the 11th Dáil assembled on 1 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, as a TD
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...
for Meath–Westmeath. During his career he served in the governments of 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....
and 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....
. During his tenure as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (Ireland)
The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs was a senior post in the government of the Irish Free State and the Republic of Ireland from 1924 to 1984, when the post and the department was abolished....
Hilliard oversaw the introduction of a television service in Ireland, Radio Telefís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
.
He retained his Dáil seat at eight further general elections, switching to the new Meath constituency after constituencies were revised for the 1948 general election
Irish general election, 1948
The Irish general election of 1948 was held on 4 February 1948. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on 18 February when the First Inter-Party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed....
. However, at 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....
, he lost his seat to his party colleague Brendan Crinion
Brendan Crinion
Brendan Crinion was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who served for more than twenty years as a TD and as a Senator....
. He did not contest any further Dáil elections.
While a TD in 1973, Hilliard was appointed 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,...
as part of Ireland's short-lived first delegation
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...
.
His son Colm Hilliard
Colm Hilliard
Colm Hilliard was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who sat for fifteen years as Teachta Dála for Meath....
was Fianna Fáil TD for Meath from 1982–1997.