Patrick Sarsfield (Paddy) Donegan (29 October 1923 – 26 November 2000) was an Irish Fine Gael Party politician.

He was educated at a Christian Brothers School in Drogheda and at the Vincentian Castleknock College. Donegan was first elected as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) at the 1954 general election. He lost his seat at the following election but reclaimed it in 1961. In the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government which took power after the 1973 general election Donegan was appointed Minister for Defence.

In October 1976 Donegan made a controversial speech on an official visit to the opening of new kitchen facilities in an army barracks at Mullingar. He described as a 'thundering disgrace'^[1] President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's refusal to sign the Emergency Powers Act, 1976, instead using his powers under Article 26 of the Constitution to refer it to the Supreme Court. The Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, refused Donegan's resignation, and instead Ó Dálaigh resigned as President of Ireland. The whole episode badly damaged the government's reputation. Donegan is reported to have suffered from alcoholism at the time.^{[citation needed]}

In 1976 Donegan became Minister for Lands, and in 1977 he served briefly as Minister for Fisheries. Donegan retired from politics at the 1981 election, and died in 2000. He was buried in his home town of Monasterboice.

[edit] Notes and references

• This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database

[edit] External links

• Paddy Donegan's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)
• Politicians pay tribute to Paddy Donegan (RTÉ News, November 2000)
• Death of Louth’s political colossus Paddy Donegan (Drogheda Independent)
• Minister who caused a president to resign dies after long illness (Irish Independent)

Paddy Donegan Political offices Preceded by Jerry Cronin Minister for Defence 1973–1976 Succeeded by Liam Cosgrave Preceded by Tom Fitzpatrick Minister for Lands 1976–1977 Succeeded by Brian Lenihan v • d • e « 8th Seanad «   Members of the 9th Seanad Éireann (1957–1961) » 10th Seanad » Cathaoirleach Liam Ó Buachalla (FF)  • Leader of the Seanad name (party) Administrative Panel Patrick Connor (FG) • Patrick Fitzsimons (Ind) • Gerry L'Estrange (FG) • John O'Leary (Lab) • John L. O'Sullivan (FG) • Thomas Ruane (??) • Patrick Teehan (FF) Agricultural Panel Patrick Baxter (CnaT) • Patrick Crowe (FG) • Paddy Donegan (FG) • Daniel Hogan (FF) • Robert Lahiffe (FF) • William O'Callaghan (??) • Patrick O'Reilly (FF) • Timothy O'Sullivan (FF) • Mícheál Prendergast (??) • John Donnelly Sheridan (??) • James Tunney (Lab) Cultural and Educational Panel Anthony Barry (FG) • Michael Hayes (FG) • Eamonn Kissane (FF) • Liam Ó Buachalla (FF) • John O'Donovan (FG) Industrial and Commercial Panel Denis Burke (FG) • Tadhg Crowley (FF) • Mary Davidson (Lab) • Jane Dowdall (FF) • Brian Lenihan (FF) • Peter Lynch (??) • Edward McGuire (Ind) • James O'Keeffe (FG) • Joseph Roddy (FG) Labour Panel Liam Ahern (FF) • Frank Carter (FF) • Victor Carton (FG) • Harry Colley (FF) • Patrick Crowley (Lab) • Seán Hayes (FF) • Dominick Murphy (Lab) • John O'Quigley (??) • Frank Purcell (??) • Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF) • Joseph Sheridan (Ind) National University of Ireland Henry Barniville (Ind) • George O'Brien (Ind) • Patrick Quinlan (Ind) University of Dublin William Fearon (Ind) • Owen Sheehy-Skeffington (Ind) • William Bedell Stanford (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Seán Brady (FF) • John C. Cole (??) • Robert Farnan (??) • Seán Moylan (FF) • Thomas Mullins (FF) • Nora Connolly O'Brien (FF) • Seán O'Donovan (??) • Seán O'Grady (FF) • Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha (??) • Margaret Mary Pearse (FF) • Laurence Walsh (FF) Elected or nominated later 1958 Louis Walsh (??) • 1960 John J. Brennan (FF) • William J.E. Jessop (Ind) • Edward Browne (??) • Gerard B. Dillon (FF) FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • CnaT: Clann na Talmhan • Lab: Labour Party • Ind: Independent •  ??: Unknown party