Background
O’KENNEDY, Michael was born in February 1936 in Nenagh, Ireland. Parents: the late Eamonn O’Kennedy and the late Helena O’Kennedy (née Slattery).
O’KENNEDY, Michael was born in February 1936 in Nenagh, Ireland. Parents: the late Eamonn O’Kennedy and the late Helena O’Kennedy (née Slattery).
C.B.S., Nenagh, 1940-1948. St. Flannan’s College, Company Clare, 1948-1953. St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, 1953-1955.
University College. Dublin, 1955-1957. King’s Inn, Dublin, 1957-1961. Spoken languages: Irish, English, French, Italian.
Member, Seanad Eirann, 1965-1969. Front Bench Spokesman on Education and Justice, 1965-1969. Member, Committee on the Constitution, 1967.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, with special responsibility for Youth and Sport. 1970-1972; member. Informal Committee on Reform of the Dâil, 1972. Chairman, Inter-Party Committee on the implications of Irish Unity, 1972-1973.
Minister without Portfolio, December 1972- January 1973. Minister for Transport and Power. 1973; Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs.
1973-1977; member, Dâil and Seanad Joint Committee on the Secondary legislation of the European Communities, 1973, 1977. Member, Nenagh Urban District Council, 1974-1977, Chairman, 1974-1975. Minister for Foreign Affairs, 79.
President, European Community Council of Ministers, Jul.- December 1979. Minister for Finance, 1979-1981. Chairman, Board of Governors, European Investment Bank, 1980.
European Community Commissioner, 1981-1982. Opposition Spokesman on Finance, 1982-1987. Vice-Chairman, Dâil Committee on Public Expenditure.
National Trustee, Fianna Fail. Minister for Agriculture and Food, 92. Member of the Dâil, 1992.
Barrister. Supreme Court, 1961-1973, Senior Counsel, since 1973.
Roman Catholic
Spouse Breda Heavey, 1965. Children: Brian, Orla, Mary.