Pat "the Cope" Gallagher (Irish: Pádraig Ó Gallchóir; born 10 March 1948) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the North–West constituency, having previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal South West constituency^[1] and as a junior cabinet minister.

[edit] Background

Gallagher was born in Burtonport, County Donegal. He was educated at Dungloe Secondary School, St. Enda's College, Galway and University College Galway where he graduated with a B. Comm in 1970.^[2] He worked as a fish exporter until 1982,^[2] becoming involved in local politics in 1979.

[edit] Political career

Gallagher was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election, retaining his seat until retiring at the 1997 general election. Gallagher was appointed Minister of State for Marine and the Gaeltacht in 1987, serving in that post until 1994.

In 1994 he was elected to the European Parliament as an MEP for the Connacht–Ulster constituency and was re-elected at the 1999 European Parliament election.^[3] During his period in Europe, Gallagher was a member of a number of committees including Fisheries, Economics and Monetary and Industry and Energy.

He returned to domestic politics to successfully contest the 2002 general election and he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In Bertie Ahern's Cabinet reshuffle in 2004 he received the portfolio of Minister of State for the Marine. Following a period in this role, Gallagher was moved to the Department of Transport in February 2006 where he served as Minister of State until May 2007. In June 2007 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety. He was not re-appointed as a Minister of State after Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in May 2008.

He was elected as an MEP for the North–West constituency at the 2009 European Parliament election.^[4] Immediately thereafter Gallagher replaced Brian Crowley as the head of Fianna Fáil's European delegation;^[5] this promotion came in the aftermath of Crowley publicly attacking the party's decision to join the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.

[edit] Family

His somewhat unusual nickname "The Cope" refers to his family connection to The Cope agricultural cooperative which operates in The Rosses area of Donegal. This nickname is even used officially, in his profile on the Fianna Fáil website.

Gallagher's wife, Ann Gillespie, and her sister, Eibhlin, both served almost 10 years of a 15-year sentence for conspiracy and explosive charges. In 1974 the sisters were visiting a house in Manchester when a bomb being made there exploded.^[6]

Gillespie maintains her innocence, saying police used evidence from discredited scientist Frank Skuse, but does not wish to reopen the case. In 2005 Gillespie's solicitor, Gareth Peirce stated she believed that the case could have been successfully re-opened.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pat "the Cope" Gallagher's official website
• Pat "the Cope" Gallagher's page on the Fianna Fáil website

Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Oireachtas Preceded by New constituency Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Donegal South West 1981–1997 Succeeded by Tom Gildea (Independent) Preceded by Tom Gildea (Independent) Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Donegal South West 2002–2009 Vacant European Parliament Preceded by Neil Blaney Member of the European Parliament for Connacht–Ulster 1994–2002 Succeeded by Seán Ó Neachtain Preceded by Seán Ó Neachtain Member of the European Parliament for North–West 2009– Incumbent Political offices Preceded by New office Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) 1987–1989 Succeeded by Michael J. Noonan Preceded by Denis Gallagher Minister of State at the Department of the Gaeltacht (with special responsibility for the Gaeltacht) 1989–1994 Office abolished Preceded by Michael J. Noonan Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) 1992–1993 Succeeded by Gerry O'Sullivan Preceded by Dan Wallace Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (with special responsibility for Environmental Protection) 2002–2004 Succeeded by Batt O'Keeffe Preceded by John Browne Minister of State (with special responsibility for the Marine) 2004–2006 Succeeded by John Browne Preceded by Ivor Callely Minister of State at the Department of Transport (with special responsibility for Traffic Management, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority) 2006–2007 Office abolished Preceded by Seán Power Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (with special responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety) 2007–2008 Succeeded by Mary Wallace v • d • e « 2004–2009 «   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (2009–2014)   » 2014–2019 » Dublin Proinsias De Rossa (LAB / PASD) · Joe Higgins (SP / EUL-NGL) · Gay Mitchell (FG / EPP) East Liam Aylward (FF / ALDE) · Nessa Childers (LAB / PASD) · Mairead McGuinness (FG / EPP) North–West Pat "the Cope" Gallagher (FF / ALDE) · Marian Harkin (IND / ALDE) · Jim Higgins (FG / EPP) South Brian Crowley (FF / ALDE) · Alan Kelly (LAB / PASD) · Seán Kelly (FG / EPP) v • d • e « 1994–1999 «   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (1999–2004)   » 2004–2009 » Connacht–Ulster †Pat "the Cope" Gallagher (FF / UEN) · Joe McCartin (FG / EPP-ED) · Dana Rosemary Scallon (IND / EPP-ED) Dublin Niall Andrews (FF / UEN) · Mary Banotti (FG / EPP-ED) · Proinsias De Rossa (LAB / PES) · Patricia McKenna (GP / Greens–EFA) Leinster Nuala Ahern (GP / Greens–EFA) · Avril Doyle (FG / EPP-ED) · Jim Fitzsimons (FF / UEN) · Liam Hyland (FF / UEN) Munster Gerry Collins (FF / UEN) · Pat Cox (IND / ELDR) · Brian Crowley (FF / UEN) · John Cushnahan (FG / EPP-ED) †Substituted by Seán Ó Neachtain (FF / UEN) in June 2002. v • d • e « 1989–1994 «   Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (1994–1999)   » 1999–2004 » Connacht–Ulster Pat "the Cope" Gallagher (FF / UFE) · Mark Killilea (FF / UFE) · Joe McCartin (FG / EPP) Dublin Niall Andrews (FF / UFE) · Mary Banotti (FG / EPP) · Bernie Malone (LAB / PES) · Patricia McKenna (GP / G) Leinster Nuala Ahern (GP / G) · Jim Fitzsimons (FF / UFE) · Alan Gillis (FG / EPP) · Liam Hyland (FF / UFE) Munster Gerry Collins (FF / UFE) · Pat Cox (IND / ELDR) · Brian Crowley (FF / UFE) · John Cushnahan (FG / EPP)