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Bernard Allen (Irish politician)

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Bernard Allen
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1981 – February 2011
ConstituencyCork North-Central
Minister of State
1994–1997Education
1994–1997Environment
Personal details
Born(1944-09-09)9 September 1944
Cork, Ireland
Died22 June 2024(2024-06-22) (aged 79)
Cork, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
SpouseMarie Dorney
Children3
EducationNorth Monastery
Alma materUniversity College Cork

Bernard Allen (9 September 1944 – 22 June 2024) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for the Environment from 1994 to 1997. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency from 1981 to 2011.[1]

Biography

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Allen was born in Cork city in 1944. He was educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork, where he qualified with a diploma in Chemical Technology. Allen first held political office in 1979 when he was elected to Cork Corporation, and was a member until 1995. He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as a Fine Gael TD for the Cork North-Central constituency and retained his seat at each subsequent general election until his retirement in 2011.[2] At the 1987 general election, Fine Gael lost power and Allen was appointed opposition spokesperson for Health. The following year he became Lord Mayor of Cork.[3] In 1993, Allen became spokesperson for Social Welfare.

In 1994, Fine Gael returned to government and Taoiseach John Bruton appointed Allen as Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Youth and Sport and at the Department of the Environment with special responsibility for local government reform. In February 2002 Michael Noonan became leader of Fine Gael and Allen was appointed spokesperson for Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Following the 2002 general election, Allen was one of the few high-profile Fine Gael TDs who were re-elected. Following this he was appointed opposition spokesperson for the Environment and Local Government under the new leader Enda Kenny. From 2004 to 2007, Allen was opposition spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Dáil sub-committee on European Affairs. From 2007 to 2011, he was chairman of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee.[4]

Allen retired from politics at the 2011 general election.[5] He was a member of the board of Sport Ireland.

Allen was married to Marie Dorney and they had three daughters.[6] He died on 22 June 2024, at the age of 79.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Bernard Allen". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  2. ^ "Bernard Allen". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Tributes after death of veteran Fine Gael politician Bernard Allen". Irish Independent. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Former Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen dies aged 79". RTÉ News. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  5. ^ "FG's Bernard Allen to retire from politics". RTÉ News. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Death notice of Bernard Allen". RIP.ie. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Death occurs of former Cork TD and Minister of State Bernard Allen". Irish Examiner. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Thomas Brosnan
Lord Mayor of Cork
1988–1989
Succeeded by
Chrissie Aherne
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Education
1994–1997
Office abolished
New office Minister of State at the Department of the Environment
1994–1997