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Brendan Corish: a Life in Politics, 1945-77

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BRENDAN CORISH: A LIFE IN POLITICS, 1945-77 by SINÉAD MÁIRE NÍ CHONCUBHAIR BA THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF MLITT DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH Head of Department: Professor R.V. Comerford Supervisors of Research: Professor R.V. Comerford and Dr Denise Dunne October 2009 SUMMARY This thesis assesses the political life of Brendan Corish, (1918-90), who was a Labour TD for Wexford from 1945 up until his retirement in 1982. He first entered politics in the December 1945 by-election, which was held due to the death of his father, Richard Corish, (1886-1945). His father played a major role in the local Labour movement and was also TD and Mayor of Wexford. Hence, the mantle of responsibility was great. Three years after entering Leinster House, Corish was promoted as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Local Government and Defence in the first Inter-Party Government, (1948-51). The coalition government was dissolved three years later. In 1954, he became Minister for Social Welfare in the second Inter-Party Government, (1954-7). The thesis demonstrates that Corish’s second experience of coalition government was negative overall and as a result, he was adamant that Labour would not enter another coalition. In 1960, Brendan Corish was elected party leader. Under his guidance, Labour was completely transformed. The party became radical, socialism was adopted, new policies were developed and new recruits were enlisted. After an improved performance by Labour in the general elections of 1961 and 1965, Corish predicted that a majority Labour Party government would be elected in 1969. However, the party actually lost four seats. In 1970, he proposed the motion, which called for the reversal of Labour’s anti-coalition stance. This motion was accepted. Labour and Fine Gael made preparations for a new government. In 1973, Corish became Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Social Welfare in the National Coalition, (1973-7). While in charge, he introduced key reforms. However, the government was faced with economic and security crises. In 1977, Labour and Fine Gael were voted out. As a result, Brendan Corish stepped down as leader and he retired from politics in 1982. This thesis examines the contribution that Brendan Corish made to Irish political life over a long and varied career in politics. It looks at the transforming image of socialism in Ireland, Corish’s legacy on the Irish Labour Party, the impact of religion on his politics, as well as the effect politics had on his family and personal health. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Abbreviations iii Introduction 1 Chapter I: Early influences: Brendan Corish and the continuation of a political dynasty 5 Chapter II: Brendan Corish and the first Inter-Party Government, 1948-51 27 Chapter III: Minister for Social Welfare, 1954-7: pragmatist or socialist? 56 Chapter IV: New direction for Labour, 1960-9 89 Chapter V: Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Social Welfare, 1973-7 134 Conclusion 191 Bibliography 202 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to the following people for all their kind help in producing this work. First, I wish to thank my supervisors Dr Denise Dunne and Professor Vincent Comerford for their constant support and guidance over the last two years. Their great wealth of knowledge proved an invaluable resource to me. Thanks also to the rest of the history department staff in Maynooth for making the facilities of the department available to me. I would also like to say thank you to the staff of Wexford library, National Library of Ireland and National Archives of Ireland, particularly Senan Lowe of the N.A.I. who always greeted me with a smile and kind word as I came and went. Special thanks also goes to the helpful staff in the Irish Labour History Museum - Ed Penrose, Brendan McKenna, Mark Malone, Hugh Powers and Barry Lacey - who were always very obliging and considerate. I had many laughs and interesting discussions with Brendan and Mark while researching in the I.L.H.S. To Carmel and Paddy Conroy, I am truly grateful for the ‘home from home’ offered to me while I stayed in Goatstown, Dublin. I was made to feel really comfortable there and treated like a member of the family. To all those who kindly donated their time in agreeing to my interviews, especially Des and Helen Corish and Brendan Howlin TD, I would like to express my sincere appreciation. History was brought to life in our conversations and all your help and insights were really useful. A special thank you goes to Des Corish. I visited him on many occasions and he was always extremely welcoming. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his life experiences. I hope you all enjoy reading this thesis. I would also like to thank Tom Mooney, Kieran Roche, Marion Doyle, Richard Lawlor and anyone else who helped me along the way. Finally, but by no means least, I have to acknowledge my parents and sisters. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me (financial support included) but dedicating this thesis to you, my family, is a start. I conclude with a fitting quote from the Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde, who once said: ‘any fool can make history but it takes a genius to write it!’ ii ABBREVIATIONS A.C. Administrative Council C.I.U. Congress of Irish Unions D.O.R.A. Defence of the Realm Act EEC European Economic Community G.A.A. Gaelic Athletic Association G.I.S. Government Information Service G.N.P. Gross National Product G.P.O. General Post Office I.C.T.U. Irish Congress of Trade Unions I.D.A. Industrial Development Authority I.F.W.U. Irish Foundry Workers’ Union I.L.H.S. Irish Labour History Society I.L.P. Irish Labour Party I.M.A. Irish Medical Association I.R.A. Irish Republican Army I.T.G.W.U. Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union I.T.U.C. Irish Trade Union Congress MEP Member of European Parliament MP Member of Parliament N.A.I. National Archives of Ireland NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation N.I.L.P. Northern Ireland Labour Party N.L.I. National Library of Ireland O.E.C.D. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OPEC Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries P.A.Y.E. Pay As You Earn P.L.P. Parliamentary Labour Party P.R. Proportional representation R.I.C. Royal Irish Constabulary R.T.É. Radio Teilifís Éireann R.U.C. Royal Ulster Constabulary S.D.L.P. Social Democratic and Labour Party TD Teachta Dála iii U.N. United Nations VAT Value Added Tax V.B.C. Victory Brendan Corish V.H.I. Voluntary Health Insurance V.L. Victory Labour iv To my family INTRODUCTION This thesis analyses the political life of Brendan Corish, Labour TD for Wexford from 1945 up until his retirement in 1982. At the age of twenty-seven, Brendan Corish filled the seat that was left vacant by the death of his father, Richard Corish, in 1945. Richard Corish represented the Wexford electorate from 1921 to 1945. He was also Mayor of Wexford and a trade union official during this same period. This thesis examines amongst other things the immeasurable influence of Richard Corish on his son’s political career. The thesis assesses the inter-party government years from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957 as they relate to Brendan Corish. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers of Local Government and Defence in the first Inter-Party Government from 1948 to 1951. 1 He was also appointed Minister of Social Welfare in the second Inter- Party Government from 1954 to 1957. This thesis shall look closely at the rise to power of Brendan Corish, in comparing for example the new style of leadership of the Labour Party to that of his predecessor, William Norton and also the methods Corish exercised in maintaining control from 1960 onwards. Brendan Corish famously prophesied that ‘the seventies will be socialist’ in Ireland. 2 He is still widely remembered for this remark today and this historic prediction shall be examined comprehensively. Corish reached the pinnacle of his career when he held the posts of Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Social welfare in the National Coalition government from 1973 to 1977. It is this episode of his life that shall form the principal section of this thesis. Inevitably, the contemporary issues and events that dominated the time and also the positions taken by Brendan Corish on them will be discussed. Important matters such as the Northern Ireland Troubles, Ireland’s entry to the EEC, disputes with trade unions, internal party conflicts, economic crises, Irish emigration and unemployment as well as Labour’s decision to go it alone or form a pre-election pact will all be included. These themes were highly significant during this period. The transforming image of the Labour Party and socialism under Corish will also be discussed at length. It was under the guidance and influence of Brendan Corish that the direction of the modern Irish Labour Party, henceforth referred to as the I.L.P., was eventually mapped and his legacy 1 The Parliamentary Labour Party appointed Brendan Corish as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in 1948 but there is little evidence in the archives relating to this promotion. 2 Corish, Brendan, The New Republic: Complete text of ‘The New Republic’ address by Brendan Corish (Dublin, 1968), p. 1. 1 on the I.L.P. will be fully examined. This thesis will also consider whether Corish was a pragmatist or a socialist as his political career developed.
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