Conn Ward
Encyclopedia
Francis Constantine Ward (12 February 1890 – 15 December 1966) was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
party politician and medical doctor. He was born in County Monaghan
in 1890. He fought with the Irish Republican Army
in his native county in the Irish War of Independence
and on the Republican side in the Irish Civil War
, having opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
. He was a founder member of Fianna Fáil.
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the September 1927 general election for the Monaghan constituency
and was re-elected at each subsequent general election until his retirement. After Fianna Fáil's victory at the 1932 general election
he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health. He retained this junior ministerial rank through the 1930s and into the 1940s. During this time he was effectively the Minister for Health
.
In 1944 Ward banned tampon
s from the Irish market after fears were expressed from religious circles that they could result in female stimulation. In 1946 he was drawing up legislation for a bill that prefigured, and formed much of, Noel Browne
's Mother and Child Scheme
. This was not implemented by Fianna Fáil and Browne's efforts to do so led to the collapse of the First Inter-Party Government
.
That same year he earned controversy for the government. He owned a bacon factory business in Monaghan. After the manager was dismissed, the manager's brother Patrick McCarvill
, a former Teachta Dála
(TD) for Monaghan, and a close friend of de Valera, sent a list of allegations about Ward to the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera
. He set up an inquiry and the Tribunal reported a month later. Ward was cleared of all charges except tax evasion
on payments he received from the business. De Valera insisted he resign and he did so a week later. He did not seek re-election at the 1948 general election
and retired from politics. He resumed his medical practice and died in 1966.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
party politician and medical doctor. He was born in County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1890. He fought with the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
in his native county in the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
and on the Republican side in the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, having opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
. He was a founder member of Fianna Fáil.
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the September 1927 general election for the Monaghan constituency
Monaghan (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Monaghan was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1977. The constituency elected 3 deputies to the Dáil, using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History :The constituency was...
and was re-elected at each subsequent general election until his retirement. After Fianna Fáil's victory at the 1932 general election
Irish general election, 1932
The Irish general election of 1932 was held on 16 February 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 9 March 1932 when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of...
he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health. He retained this junior ministerial rank through the 1930s and into the 1940s. During this time he was effectively the Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Children (Ireland)
The Minister for Health is the senior minister at the Department of Health in the Government of Ireland and is responsible for health care in the Republic of Ireland and related services.The current Minister for Health is James Reilly, TD...
.
In 1944 Ward banned tampon
Tampon
A tampon is a mass of cotton or rayon or a mixture of the two inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb bodilyfluid. The most common type in daily use is designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of menstrual fluid...
s from the Irish market after fears were expressed from religious circles that they could result in female stimulation. In 1946 he was drawing up legislation for a bill that prefigured, and formed much of, Noel Browne
Noel Browne
Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A...
's Mother and Child Scheme
Mother and Child Scheme
The Mother and Child Scheme was a healthcare programme in the Republic of Ireland that would later become remembered as a major political crisis involving primarily the Irish Government and Roman Catholic Church in the early 1950s....
. This was not implemented by Fianna Fáil and Browne's efforts to do so led to the collapse of the First Inter-Party Government
Government of the 13th Dáil
The 13th Dáil was elected at the 1948 general election on 4 February 1948 and first met on 18 February when the 5th Government of Ireland was appointed. The 13th Dáil lasted for 1,211 days....
.
That same year he earned controversy for the government. He owned a bacon factory business in Monaghan. After the manager was dismissed, the manager's brother Patrick McCarvill
Patrick McCarvill
Patrick McCarvill was an Irish politician. He was elected as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin Teachta Dála to the 3rd Dáil at the 1922 general election for the Monaghan constituency but did not take his seat because of the absentionist policy of Sinn Féin. He was re-elected at the 1923 general election...
, a former Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for Monaghan, and a close friend of de Valera, sent a list of allegations about Ward to the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
. He set up an inquiry and the Tribunal reported a month later. Ward was cleared of all charges except tax evasion
Tax avoidance and tax evasion
Tax noncompliance describes a range of activities that are unfavorable to a state's tax system. These include tax avoidance, which refers to reducing taxes by legal means, and tax evasion which refers to the criminal non-payment of tax liabilities....
on payments he received from the business. De Valera insisted he resign and he did so a week later. He did not seek re-election at the 1948 general election
Irish general election, 1948
The Irish general election of 1948 was held on 4 February 1948. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on 18 February when the First Inter-Party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed....
and retired from politics. He resumed his medical practice and died in 1966.