Avril Doyle

Avril Doyle (née Belton; born 18 April 1949) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach from 1995 to 1997 and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Environmental Protection from 1986 to 1987. She served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 to 2004 and 2004 to 2009, a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 1982 to 1989 and 1992 to 1997 and a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 1989 to 1992 and 1997 to 2002.[1]

Avril Doyle
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
In office 27 January 1995 – 26 June 1997
Taoiseach	John Bruton
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Environmental Protection
In office 13 February 1986 – 10 March 1987
Taoiseach	Garret FitzGerald
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Member of the European Parliament
In office 1 June 2004 – 1 June 2009
Constituency	East
In office 1 June 1999 – 1 June 2004
Constituency	Leinster
Teachta Dála
In office November 1992 – June 1997
In office November 1982 – June 1989
Constituency	Wexford
Senator
In office 9 September 1997 – 12 June 2002
In office 12 October 1989 – 11 December 1992
Constituency	Agricultural Panel
Personal details
Born	Avril Belton 18 April 1949 Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fine Gael
Relations	Richard Belton (Father) Patrick Belton (Grandfather)
Education	Holy Child Killiney
Alma mater	University College Dublin

Early life

Doyle was born in Dublin in 1949; she was educated at Holy Child Killiney secondary school. She went on to study at University College, Dublin (UCD). Her father Richard Belton was a Senator and her grandfather Patrick Belton was a TD. She was born on the day the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, came into effect - which saw the inauguration of Ireland as an independent republic outside the British Commonwealth.

Political career

In 1974, aged 25, she was elected to Wexford County Council and to Wexford Corporation; she was Mayor of Wexford town from 1975 to 1976.[2] She was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a Fine Gael TD for the Wexford constituency. She lost her seat at the 1989 general election but was re-elected at the 1992 general election, again losing her seat at the 1997 general election to party colleague Michael D'Arcy. She was a member of Seanad Éireann from 1989 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2002. She was elected as an MEP at the 1999 election and re-elected at the 2004 election.[3] She served as a Minister of State in the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition governments of 1982–87 and 1994–97.

Doyle made news during a debate in the European Parliament in June 2008 after the rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon by Irish voters. A group of British Eurosceptic MEPs wore green hats and T-shirts, encouraging the EU to respect the Irish 'no' vote. However, many Irish MEPs saw this as self-serving and felt that there would be no Eurosceptic support for Irish opinion had the treaty been accepted; and Doyle was both lauded and criticised for the following comment, which is a reference to the forceful occupation of Ireland by Britain; "How the history books could have been written differently, if respect for the Irish vote from some of our British colleagues was always there."[4]

She announced on 7 January 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the European Parliament at the 2009 election.[5]

On 21 June 2011, she announced her intention to seek the Fine Gael party nomination to run for President of Ireland.[6] She withdrew from the nomination process in October 2011.[7]

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

References

1. "Avril Doyle". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
2. Kenny, Shane and Keane, Fergal, Irish Politics Now: 'This Week' Guide to the 25th Dáil, Dingle, Co. Kerry: Brandon/RTÉ, 1987, page 221
3. "Avril Doyle". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
4. Avril Doyle's comments in European Parliament. RTÉ News. June 2008.
5. "Avril Doyle declines to contest European election". The Irish Times. 7 January 2007.
6. "Higgins wins Labour presidential nomination". RTÉ News. 19 October 2011.
7. "Doyle withdraws from FG Presidential race". RTÉ News. 19 October 2011.

External links

• Personal profile of Avril Doyle in the European Parliament's database of members