Tom Morrissey
Encyclopedia
Tom Morrissey is an Irish
politician and former member of Seanad Éireann
. He was nominated by the Taoiseach
, Bertie Ahern
to the 22nd Seanad in 2002 as a member of the now defunct Progressive Democrats
. He was subsequently appointed to the Progressive Democrats Front Bench as Transportation Spokesman in September 2002. During his time as a Senator, Morrissey was involved in a wide variety of parliamentary activities and served on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport. He also served as Chairman of the Progressive Democrats Parliamentary Party. He was a key figure in drawing up the Party's New Heart For Dublin discussion paper.
Morrissey was first elected as a Fine Gael representative for the Castleknock ward in the 1991 local election with 1,172 votes which translated into a large 15.77% of the vote. He was an unsuccessful Dáil candidate for Fine Gael in Dublin West in the 1992 general election
and 1996 by-election receiving 1,179 (3.17%) and 3,728 (13.12%) votes respectively. He then joined the Progressive Democrats and was unsuccessful in the 1997 and 2002 general elections in Dublin West. He received 7.61% in 1997 and 7.9% in 2002. His second successful local election was in 1999 when he was elected as a Progressive Democrat member for Fingal County Council
, again in the Castleknock
ward receiving 1,218, a 14.13% share of the vote.
In 2006 he decided to run as a candidate in the 2007 general election for the Dublin North constituency. He failed to be returned having received only 1,355 votes (2.55%). His support for the privatisation of Aer Lingus
may have been a factor on that occasion. In the same year, he also failed in his candidacy for Seanad Éireann
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician and former member of 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 was nominated by the Taoiseach
Nominated by the Taoiseach
The composition of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas of Ireland, is defined in outline by Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland, which provides for 11 appointees that are nominated by the Taoiseach...
, Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
to the 22nd Seanad in 2002 as a member of the now defunct 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...
. He was subsequently appointed to the Progressive Democrats Front Bench as Transportation Spokesman in September 2002. During his time as a Senator, Morrissey was involved in a wide variety of parliamentary activities and served on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport. He also served as Chairman of the Progressive Democrats Parliamentary Party. He was a key figure in drawing up the Party's New Heart For Dublin discussion paper.
Morrissey was first elected as a Fine Gael representative for the Castleknock ward in the 1991 local election with 1,172 votes which translated into a large 15.77% of the vote. He was an unsuccessful Dáil candidate for Fine Gael in Dublin West in the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
and 1996 by-election receiving 1,179 (3.17%) and 3,728 (13.12%) votes respectively. He then joined the Progressive Democrats and was unsuccessful in the 1997 and 2002 general elections in Dublin West. He received 7.61% in 1997 and 7.9% in 2002. His second successful local election was in 1999 when he was elected as a Progressive Democrat member for Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council
Fingal County council is the local authority for the county of Fingal in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. The county seat is in Swords, with another major office...
, again in the Castleknock
Castleknock
Castleknock is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the west of the modern administrative county of Fingal within the traditional county of Dublin. It is located west of the centre of Dublin....
ward receiving 1,218, a 14.13% share of the vote.
In 2006 he decided to run as a candidate in the 2007 general election for the Dublin North constituency. He failed to be returned having received only 1,355 votes (2.55%). His support for the privatisation of Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
may have been a factor on that occasion. In the same year, he also failed in his candidacy for 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...
.