Boland was born in Dublin in 1944 in Terenure, Dublin, the eldest of two sons and one daughter of Charles Boland and his wife Kathleen Boland (née Whitty), both of whom were civil servants.[2] He was educated at Synge Street CBS school and University College Dublin (UCD), where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree. While in UCD, he served as editor of the student publication, Awake.
He first held political office in 1967, when he was elected to Dublin County Council at age 23. He served on that authority until 1981. In 1971, he became the council's youngest-ever chairperson at age 26.[2] While a councillor, he was associated with several controversial planning decisions.[2]
In 1974, he married Catherine Kennedy; they had one son and one daughter.[2]
Boland was elected to Dáil on his third attempt at the 1977 general election as a Fine Gael TD for the Dublin County North constituency. He retained his seat at each subsequent election until losing it in the 1989 election[3]
On becoming Fine Gael leader, Garret FitzGerald appointed Boland to the Opposition front bench as spokesperson on Health; he later served as spokesperson on the Environment.
Boland later served in a range of portfolios in TaoiseachGarret FitzGerald's second government. As Minister for the Public Service, Boland introduced several significant reforms including merit-based promotion (instead of promotions being solely seniority-based as before) and open competitions for the most senior civil service jobs.
Boland changed the law so that civil servants could no longer refuse to provide their names, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.[4]
As Minister for the Public Service, he appointed Ireland's first Ombudsman, Michael Mills.[5]
Boland subsequently served as Minister for the Environment. He led the procurement, on behalf of the State, of Malahide Castle, Ardgillan Demesne, Newbridge House and Farm,[6] Skerries Mills and Red Island, Skerries. He also established the first National Parks Strategy.[2]
After politics, Boland qualified as a barrister and practised on the Dublin and eastern circuits.[2] He also wrote a political column for the Sunday Business Post.
After a long illness with cancer, Boland died on 14 August 2000.[2] Many people paid tribute upon his death, including former Taoisigh FitzGerald and John Bruton. Fitzgerald stated that Boland had done more than any Minister in the history of the State to reform the public service, while Bruton remarked that Boland was "one of the most courageous, imaginative and innovative politicians" he had known. [7]
References
^"John Boland". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
