Neil Blaney

Neil Blaney
Blaney in 1990
Leader of Independent Fianna Fáil
In office 1972–1995
Preceded by	Party established
Succeeded by	Harry Blaney
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
In office 11 November 1966 – 7 May 1970
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Charles Haughey
Succeeded by	Jim Gibbons
Minister for Local Government
In office 27 November 1957 – 10 November 1966
Taoiseach	Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Paddy Smith
Succeeded by	Kevin Boland
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
In office 20 March 1957 – 4 December 1957
Taoiseach	Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Michael Keyes
Succeeded by	John Ormonde
Teachta Dála
In office June 1977 – June 1981
Constituency	Donegal
In office June 1981 – 8 November 1995
In office October 1961 – June 1977
Constituency	Donegal North-East
In office December 1948 – October 1961
Constituency	Donegal East
Member of the European Parliament
In office June 1989 – June 1994
In office June 1979 – June 1984
Constituency	Connacht–Ulster
Personal details
Born	(1922-10-01)1 October 1922 Fanad, County Donegal, Ireland
Died	8 November 1995(1995-11-08) (aged 73) Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Independent Fianna Fáil (1970–1995) Fianna Fáil (until 1970)
Spouse	Eva Corduff
Parent	Neal Blaney (father)
Relatives	Harry Blaney (brother) Niall Blaney (nephew)

Neil Terence Columba Blaney (1 October 1922 – 8 November 1995)^[1] was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) representing Donegal East.^[2] A high-profile member of the party, Blaney served as a government minister several times; he was Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (1957), Minister for Local Government (1957–1966) and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (1966–1970). In 1970 Blaney's career was radically altered when, alongside Charles Haughey, he was involved in the Arms Crisis and stood accused of clandestinely arranging to provide weapons to the newly-emergent Provisional Irish Republican Army. Although later acquitted of wrongdoing in an Irish court, Blaney involvement in the crisis saw him stripped of his ministries and eventually forced his expulsion from Fianna Fáil. A dogged political campaigner, Blaney managed to retain his seat in Donegal and remained a TD for another two decades, running under the banner of "Independent Fianna Fáil". In addition to being a TD, Blaney also entered into European politics, becoming a member of the European Parliament in 1979. Blaney was a holder of both offices when he died in 1995. Entering the Dáil as its youngest member, he left it as the oldest member.