John O'Connell (Dublin politician)

John F. O'Connell (born 20 January 1927) is a former Irish politician, who was first elected as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (TD) in 1965 and was returned at each election until 1987, latterly for Fianna Fáil after a time as an independent. He served in Seanad Éireann from 1987 to 1989 and then returned to the Dáil until he resigned in 1993. He also served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1981 to 1982, as Minister for Health (1992–1993) and as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1979 to 1981.

Early life

O'Connell was born in Dublin and educated at St Vincents in Glasnevin and the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. In 1967 O'Connell founded the Irish Medical Times, a weekly broadsheet for doctors.

Political career

He began his political career when he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party TD for Dublin South West at the 1965 general election. He held a seat for the Party until the 1981 general election when he was expelled for refusing to stand in the Dublin West constituency. Instead he stood as an Independent in Dublin South Central, opposing the Labour...
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