James Dooge - Political Career

Political Career

As well as having a distinguished career as an academic, Dooge led a very active political life. His great grandfather was the first chairman of first Kingstown County Borough Council. He was a member of Dublin City Council from 1948, gaining notice from the Taoiseach of the time, John A. Costello.

From 1961 to 1977 Dooge was a Senator in Seanad Éireann, serving as its Cathaoirleach (chairperson) from 1973 to 1977. Dooge worked closely with his colleague Garret FitzGerald during the late 1970s in re-organising the Fine Gael party, establishing the so-called Just Society wing of the party. As Cathaoirleach, Dooge was one of the three vice Presidents of Ireland (Presidential Commission) and along with the Chief Justice and Cathaoirleach of the Dáil would be called upon to serve the powers of the President should he or she resign or die. This happened twice during Dooge's reign. The first (only the second time in the history of the creation of the office in 1937) followed the death of Erskine Hamilton Childers. The second in 1976 followed the resignation of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh in 1976. In 1977 he retired from politics, choosing to “devote more time to academic concerns and international cooperation in science and engineering”.

In 1981 he made a return to politics and was appointed by the then Taoiseach FitzGerald as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the short-lived Fine Gael led government. The appointment was suggested by FitzGerald's wife who believed only Dooge could stop him frequently interfering in this area. When a new coalition Government was formed in 1982 (which would last until 1987) Dooge declined re-appointment to the post owing to the decline of his sight. Between 1981 and 1987 Dooge returned to Seanad Éireann. He rejected the offer of becoming an European Commissioner offered by FitzGerald.

Dooge was a delegate of Fine Gael at the New Ireland Forum in 1985.