Alan Dukes - Rainbow Coalition

Rainbow Coalition

In September 1992 the new leader, John Bruton, brought him back to the front bench, shortly before the general election in November. In February 1994 Dukes became involved in a failed attempt to oust Bruton as leader and subsequently resigned from the front bench. In December 1994 Bruton became Taoiseach, but Dukes failed to secure a ministerial position despite being one of the most high profile and experienced members of Fine Gael.

Two years later, in December 1996, Dukes returned as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications following the resignation of Michael Lowry. At the 1997 general election, Dukes topped the poll in the new Kildare South constituency, but Fine Gael lost power and Dukes became Chairman of the Irish Council of the European Movement. In this position he was very involved in advising many of the Eastern European countries who were then applying to join the European Union.

In 2001 he backed Michael Noonan in his bid to become leader of Fine Gael. Noonan was successful.