Noel Treacy (18 December 1951 – 2 February 2022)[1] was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Minister of State in various government departments and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 1982 to 2011.[2]
Early life
Treacy was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway, in 1951. He was educated at Gurteen National School and St. Joseph's College, Garbally Park in Ballinasloe. He worked as an auctioneer and financial services manager before entering public life. He was married to Mary Cloonan and had three daughters and one son.
Political career
Treacy joined Fianna Fáil at 17 in 1969.[3] Treacy was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election in July 1982 caused by the death of Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Callanan and was re-elected at each election until his retirement in 2011.[4] His election marked the last time a government party was successful in winning a by-election until the election of Patrick Nulty of the Labour Party in the 2011 Dublin West by-election. He was a member of Galway County Council from 1985 to 1991.
In February 1992, Albert Reynolds succeeded Haughey as Taoiseach, and Treacy was appointed again as Minister of State at the Department of Finance, with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and the Central Development Committee.[10] In January 1993, Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government with the Labour Party. Treacy was appointed as Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach, at the Department of Finance and at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications with responsibility for Energy.[11] This government lost office in December 1994.
Treacy was returned to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. This was his eighth successive time being elected. Following 17 years as a Minister of State in various governments, Treacy was not reappointed to a junior ministerial post by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of Joint Oireachtas Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.[15]
