James Devins (born 20 September 1948) is a former Irish

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian ...

politician and medical doctor. He served as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms s ...

(TD) from 2002 to 2011.

Early and personal life

Devins is a medical doctor by profession, and worked as a GP in

Sligo Sligo ( ; ga, Sligeach , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of approximately 20,000 in 2016, it is the List of urban areas ...

town from 1975. His grandfather James Devins served a

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur G ...

TD for Sligo–Mayo East from 1921 to 1922. He is married to Judge Mary Devins.

Career

Devins was elected to Sligo County Council in 1991 and re-elected in 1999. He was first elected to

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland r ...

at the 2002 general election for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency. At the 2007 general election, he was elected for the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency. In July 2007, legislation was passed to increase the number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20, and Devins was nominated by

Bertie Ahern Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008, Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997, Tánaiste ...

to be appointed by the government to be Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with special responsibility for disability issues and mental health, excluding discrimination. In May 2008,

Brian Cowen Brian Bernard Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011. Cowen was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984, for the constituency of Laois–Offaly and served in a ...

succeeded Ahern as Taoiseach, and nominated Devins to be appointed by the government to be Minister of State at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Education and Science, with special responsibility for science, technology and innovation. In April 2009, Cowen sought the resignation of all Ministers of State in order to reduce the number from 20 to 15. Devins was not one of those reappointed. On 5 August 2009, Devins (along with fellow Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon) resigned the party whip over his opposition to cuts in services at Sligo General Hospital. He stated that he would remain a member of the Fianna Fáil party. He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 25 January 2011, a day before the leadership election. Devins did not contest the 2011 general election.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devins, Jimmy 1948 births Living people Alumni of University College Dublin Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Fianna Fáil TDs Irish general practitioners Local councillors in County Sligo Members of the 29th Dáil Members of the 30th Dáil Ministers of State of the 30th Dáil

Early and personal life

Career

See also

References