Former Fianna Fáil TD Noel Treacy dies aged 70

Noel Treacy, the former Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East and minister of State in several administrations, has died at the age of 70.

Mr Treacy served as a TD for almost three decades, first winning a seat at a byelection in 1982 and being re-elected at every subsequent contest – there were seven general elections in the period – until he retired, citing medical grounds, in 2011.

He was first appointed as a minister of State in 1987 by Charles Haughey when he was allocated the junior post in the Department of Finance, with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. He served as a minister of State in six subsequent administrations in a variety of roles across almost all of the government departments.

After Bertie Ahern was re-elected for the third time in 2007, he did not reappoint Mr Treacy to the ministerial ranks, much to his disappointment. He was subsequently appointed chairman of the Oireachtas committee on the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.

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He announced his retirement from politics in advance of the 2011 general election, at which Fianna Fáil suffered heavy losses in the wake of the financial crash and the bailout.

A native of Ballinasloe, Co Galway, he worked as an auctioneer before entering public life and becoming a popular figure in the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party and around Leinster House.

He is survived by his wife Mary, four children and grandchildren.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin offered his condolences to Mr Treacy’s wife and family in the Dáil on Wednesday. He said Mr Treacy had a long and distinguished public life and had served as minister in many portfolios. Mr Martin said he performed a “great public service” throughout his lifetime.

President Michael D Higgins said in a statement that Mr Treacy was an “engaging and courteous parliamentarian [who] was deeply committed to his constituents. As a former chair of Galway GAA, Noel gave generously of his time and energy and was always at the heart of his community in all their activities.”