Early Political Career
Dempsey first became involved in politics in the early 1970s when he joined Ógra Fianna Fáil, the youth wing of the Fianna Fáil political party. He later attended and spoke at the first ever national conference of Ógra. Within three years of this Dempsey was co-opted onto Meath County Council as a Fianna Fáil councillor in 1977 following the death of John Bird. At the time he was the youngest ever member of that authority and he later served as the youngest ever chairman of the council in 1986. Dempsey enhanced his local political profile at this time by also serving as a member of Trim Urban District Council.
Dempsey was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD for Meath. Shortly after being elected he became a member of the Public Accounts Committee, one of the most high-profile committees in the Dáil. Dempsey was initially a supporter of the Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey, however, he became disillusioned with his leadership when he led Fianna Fáil into coalition with the Progressive Democrats following the 1989 general election. He was one of a number of TDs who were vehemently opposed to such a move. As a result of this Dempsey remained on the backbenches.
In September 1991 Dempsey was a key member of the so-called "gang of four" which proposed a motion of no confidence in Charles Haughey as the leader of the party. The other members of the group were Seán Power, Liam Fitzgerald and M. J. Nolan. Dempsey supported Albert Reynolds in his unsuccessful bid to oust Haughey on that occasion. In 1992 Reynolds eventually became party leader and Taoiseach and Dempsey's loyalty was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State with responsibility as government chief whip. He also took charge of the Office of Public Works. He served in these positions until the resignation of Reynolds as Taoiseach and the collapse of the Fianna Fáil-Labour Party in 1994.
In December 1994 Bertie Ahern became leader of Fianna Fáil as the party moved into opposition. Dempsey was appointed to the front bench as spokesperson on the Environment and Local Government. During this period in opposition he was heavily involved in key election strategies, most notably in the Dublin West by-election which was won by Brian Lenihan, Jnr. It was Fianna Fáil's first by-election victory since 1985.
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