Desmond O'Malley

Desmond O'Malley

Desmond Joseph "Des" O'Malley (born 2 February 1939) is a former Irish politician.

Born in Limerick, O'Malley was raised in a local political dynasty that had a strong association with Fianna Fáil. Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1968, he quickly became a trusted confidante of Taoiseach Jack Lynch. After briefly serving as Lynch's Parliamentary Secretary, he was appointed to the highly sensitive position of Minister for Justice in the wake of the Arms Crisis in 1970. His three-year tenure was dominated by attempts to limit the rise of the Provisional IRA, a task which made him a target for assassination. When Fianna Fáil returned to power in 1977 O'Malley was appointed Minister for Industry and Commerce at a time when Ireland's economic fortunes were going into rapid decline.

When Lynch retired as Taoiseach in 1979 Charles Haughey was elected as his successor. O'Malley, like many other members of the cabinet, were deeply distrusting of the new Taoiseach, however, he was retained in his Industry and Commerce potfolio and was reappointed to a similar but expanded position in the short-lived 1982 government. A large number of TDs quickly grew disillusioned with Haughey's leadership and threw their support behind O'Malley in an effort to oust the incumbent leader. A number of leadership heaves were initiated by the Gang of 22 throughout 1982 and 1983, however, Haughey faced down the challengers and isolated his opponents within the party. O'Malley was expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in 1984 after clashing with the party over its policy on Northern Ireland and was eventually expelled from the party the following year after abstaining on a vote regarding the liberalisation of the sale of contraceptives.

While many thought that this would be the end of O'Malley's political career, by the end of the year he had established the Progressive Democrats. The new party became the third largest in the Dáil after the 1987 general election and, two years later, entered into coalition government with Fianna Fáil and supported Charles Haughey for Taoiseach. O'Malley returned to the cabinet to his old position as Minister for Industry and Commerce. Albert Reynolds succession of Haughey as Taoiseach created tensions in the coalition and O'Malley's party eventually withdrew from government when Reynolds accused O'Malley of being "dishonest" in his evidence at the Beef Tribunal.

O'Malley stepped down as leader of the Progressive Democrats in 1993. He failed to be elected to the European Parliament in 1994 and effectively retired to the backbenches. He retired from politics at the 2002 general election.

Read more about Desmond O'Malley:  Early Life, Fianna Fáil Majority, Opposition To Haughey, Expulsion From Fianna Fáil, Progressive Democrats, Coalition With Fianna Fáil, Retirement