Career
Davern was born in Cashel, County Tipperary and educated at CBS Cashel and at Franciscan College in County Meath. His family had a long political tradition. His father Michael Davern was a Fianna Fáil TD from 1948 to 1965, when he was succeeded in Dáil Éireann by Noel's brother Don Davern. After Don's sudden death in 1968, the seat remained vacant until Noel was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election.
At the 1979 European Parliament election he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster constituency. He did not contest the 1981 general election so as to concentrate on his European career. However, he lost his seat at the European Parliament at the 1984 European Parliament election.
Davern was again elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, and came to national prominence in 1991 when he was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Education. This was in the wake of Albert Reynolds and Pádraig Flynn's failed attempt to oust Charles Haughey as Taoiseach. Davern's stay in government was short-lived because Reynolds became Taoiseach in early 1992 and he was again sent to the backbenches. In 1995 he became Opposition Spokesman on European Affairs when Bertie Ahern named his new front bench. Fianna Fáil were returned to government and Davern became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food. He served in that position until 2002.
Davern was one of only three Members of the 29th Dáil who had first been elected in the 1960s, the others being Séamus Pattison, elected at the 1961 general election and Michael Smith, also elected at the 1969 general election.
Read more about this topic: Noel Davern
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