Gemma Hussey
Encyclopedia
Gemma Hussey is a former Irish
Fine Gael
politician.
Gemma Moran was born in Dublin in 1938 and educated at Loreto College, Foxrock
and University College Dublin
. Hussey had a successful career running a language school in the late 1960s and 70s. She was first elected to Dáil Éireann
, on her second attempt at the February 1982 general election, as a Fine Gael
Teachta Dála
(TD) for Wicklow
.
She had earlier been elected by the National University of Ireland
to Seanad Éireann
, serving in the upper house of the Oireachtas
from 1977 until 1982. She sat as an independent senator for the first three years, before serving as Fine Gael spokesman on Women's Affairs (1981–1982) and then Government Leader of the Seanad
.
Hussey served as Minister for Education
in the Fine Gael/Labour Party
coalition government of Garret FitzGerald
from 1982 to 1986, during which time she was heavily criticised by teachers' unions during a bitter pay strike in 1984. In 1986, she was re-shuffled to the equally contentious Social Welfare ministry
.
Always a liberal and a feminist, she took a strongly supportive position on the legalisation of divorce, which was defeated in a referendum in 1986
, and frequently suggested that her support for liberalisation of Ireland's pro-life laws. A member of Fine Gael's liberal wing, which included "feminists" such as Monica Barnes
and Nuala Fennell
, as well as Alan Shatter
and Alan Dukes
, she was disliked by the conservative Roman Catholic (Christian Democratic) wing of the party which included TDs like Oliver J. Flanagan
, Alice Glenn
, and Gerry L'Estrange
.
During a meeting with Sir Keith Joseph
, Margaret Thatcher
's Secretary of State for Education, Joeseph boasted to Gemma Hussey
, the Irish
Minister for Education, that he held surgeries once a month, which was considered a high number in Britain. Hussey dryly responded that she had to do clinics three days every week to hold on to her seat as a Teachta Dála
.
Her cabinet diaries (1990), At the Cutting Edge, were hailed as the most thorough and realistic account of life inside the cabinet in Ireland. She retired from politics at the 1989 general election
.
In 1990, she had her knuckles rapped for suggesting that she might support the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mary Robinson
, a passionate feminist, over the official Fine Gael candidate, Austin Currie
. Mary Robinson went on the become Ireland's first female president.
An enthusiastic Europhile, she spends a lot of her time now promoting the advancement of women in politics around the European Union
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician.
Gemma Moran was born in Dublin in 1938 and educated at Loreto College, Foxrock
Foxrock
Foxrock is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, in the postal district of Dublin 18 and in the parish of Foxrock.-History:...
and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. Hussey had a successful career running a language school in the late 1960s and 70s. She 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...
, on her second attempt at the February 1982 general election, as a Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
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 Wicklow
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
.
She had earlier been elected by the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland (constituency)
National University of Ireland is a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, through which graduates of the National University of Ireland have elected members of various legislative bodies including currently Seanad Éireann.-Summary:...
to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
, serving in the upper house of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
from 1977 until 1982. She sat as an independent senator for the first three years, before serving as Fine Gael spokesman on Women's Affairs (1981–1982) and then Government Leader of the Seanad
Leader of the Seanad
The Leader of the Seanad is the leader of the government senators in Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland.- List of Leaders on the Seanad :-References :...
.
Hussey served as Minister for Education
Minister for Education and Science (Ireland)
The Minister for Education and Skills is the senior minister at the Department of Education and Skills in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Education and Skills is Ruairi Quinn, TD...
in the Fine Gael/Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
coalition government of Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
from 1982 to 1986, during which time she was heavily criticised by teachers' unions during a bitter pay strike in 1984. In 1986, she was re-shuffled to the equally contentious Social Welfare ministry
Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Ireland)
The Minister for Social Protection is the senior minister at the Department of Social Protection in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Social Protection is Joan Burton, TD.-Overview:...
.
Always a liberal and a feminist, she took a strongly supportive position on the legalisation of divorce, which was defeated in a referendum in 1986
Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland Bill, 1986
The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1986 was a proposal to amend the Constitution of Ireland to remove the prohibition on divorce. The proposal was rejected in the 1986 referendum.-Proposed changes to the text:...
, and frequently suggested that her support for liberalisation of Ireland's pro-life laws. A member of Fine Gael's liberal wing, which included "feminists" such as Monica Barnes
Monica Barnes
Monica Barnes is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. She was a Teachta Dála for the constituency of Dún Laoghaire....
and Nuala Fennell
Nuala Fennell
Nuala Fennell was an Irish economist and Fine Gael politician.She was a leading Women's Rights campaigner in 1970s and was involved in setting up the first refuge for "battered women" in Dublin. She was elected at the 1981 general election to the 22nd Dáil, as TD for Dublin South...
, as well as Alan Shatter
Alan Shatter
Alan Joseph Shatter is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency and has been the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence since March 2011.-Background and early life:...
and Alan Dukes
Alan Dukes
Alan Dukes is a former Irish politician who served as leader of the Fine Gael political party and Teachta Dála for Kildare and Kildare South. He holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. He lost his seat in the 2002 general election...
, she was disliked by the conservative Roman Catholic (Christian Democratic) wing of the party which included TDs like Oliver J. Flanagan
Oliver J. Flanagan
Oliver J. Flanagan was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served in Dáil Éireann for 43 years and was Minister for Defence for six months. He was elected to the Dáil fourteen times between 1943 and 1982, topping the poll on almost every occasion...
, Alice Glenn
Alice Glenn
Alice Glenn is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.-Early and private life:Alice Glenn was born in Dublin in 1927. She was educated locally before attending the Haslem School of Dress Designing...
, and Gerry L'Estrange
Gerry L'Estrange
Gerry L'Estrange was an Irish Fine Gael politician, who sat in the Oireachtas for nearly thirty years, as a Senator and then as a TD....
.
During a meeting with Sir Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's Secretary of State for Education, Joeseph boasted to Gemma Hussey
Gemma Hussey
Gemma Hussey is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.Gemma Moran was born in Dublin in 1938 and educated at Loreto College, Foxrock and University College Dublin. Hussey had a successful career running a language school in the late 1960s and 70s...
, the Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Minister for Education, that he held surgeries once a month, which was considered a high number in Britain. Hussey dryly responded that she had to do clinics three days every week to hold on to her seat as a 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...
.
Her cabinet diaries (1990), At the Cutting Edge, were hailed as the most thorough and realistic account of life inside the cabinet in Ireland. She retired from politics at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
.
In 1990, she had her knuckles rapped for suggesting that she might support the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
, a passionate feminist, over the official Fine Gael candidate, Austin Currie
Austin Currie
Austin Currie is a former politician who was elected to the parliaments of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland....
. Mary Robinson went on the become Ireland's first female president.
An enthusiastic Europhile, she spends a lot of her time now promoting the advancement of women in politics around the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.