Paddy Harte

Patrick Harte (26 July 1931 – 8 January 2018) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served for 36 years as Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal North-East.

Early life and family He was born in 1931 in Lifford, County Donegal. His son, Jimmy Harte, is a former Labour Party Senator.

Political career He was first elected to the 17th Dáil at the 1961 general election, and re-elected at eleven further general elections. From 1981 to 1982, he was Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald's government. At the 1989 European Parliament election, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Connacht–Ulster constituency. He temporarily lost the Fine Gael whip when he abstained in a vote on the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State For Termination of Pregnancies) Bill 1995 proposed by the government.

He lost his seat at the 1997 general election to the Independent Fianna Fáil candidate Harry Blaney, and unsuccessfully contested the 1997 election to the 21st Seanad for the Industrial and Commercial Panel. After this, he retired from politics.

Post-retirement After his retirement, he was involved in a number of projects, including (along with Glenn Barr) the Messines Island of Ireland Peace Park in West Flanders in Belgium. This park was officially opened in November 1998 by President Mary McAleese, Queen Elizabeth II and King Albert II of Belgium to commemorate all Irishmen who died in World War I.

Harte died the morning of 8 January 2018 at the age of 86. The Dáil heard tributes to him in December 2018.

Awards He was appointed an Honorary OBE in October 2006 for his ecumenical works. He received an honorary doctorate of laws from the National University of Ireland in September 2007 in recognition of his contribution to politics.

Publications