Mark A. Clinton (7 February 1915 – 23 December 2001) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Agriculture from 1973 to 1977. He served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Leinster constituency from 1979 to 1989. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1961 to 1981.[1]
Mark Clinton
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|---|---|
| Minister for Agriculture | |
| In office 14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977 | |
| Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave |
| Preceded by | Jim Gibbons |
| Succeeded by | Jim Gibbons |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 1979 – 20 May 1989 | |
| Constituency | Leinster |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1977 – June 1981 | |
| Constituency | Dublin County West |
| In office June 1969 – June 1977 | |
| Constituency | Dublin County North |
| In office October 1961 – June 1969 | |
| Constituency | Dublin County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1915-02-07)7 February 1915 Kells, County Meath, Ireland |
| Died | 23 December 2001(2001-12-23) (aged 86) Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Gleeson (m. 1952) |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater |
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Clinton was born to a farming family at Moynalty, Kells, County Meath, in February 1915.[2] He was known as an accomplished Gaelic footballer in his youth and played on the Meath county team defeated by Kerry in the 1939 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He served as a member of Dublin County Council from 1955 and represented various County Dublin constituencies as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) from 1961 until his retirement from Dáil Éireann in 1981.[3]
In 1973 he joined the Irish GovernmentofLiam CosgraveasMinister for Agriculture and Fisheries in the National Coalition. Clinton is best remembered as the Agriculture Minister who negotiated Ireland's entry into the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy, a development which brought billions of pounds to Irish farming and agri business. He served in government until 1977 and retired from the Dáil in 1981. Clinton also served in the European Parliament for the Leinster constituency from 1979 to 1989 and his political experience was recognised by his election as vice-president of that assembly.
Mark Clinton died in a Dublin nursing home on 23 December 2001.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries 1973–1977 |
Succeeded by |