Richie Ryan (politician)
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Richie Ryan (born 27 February 1929) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.
Richie Ryan was born in Dublin in 1929. He was educated at Synge Street CBS, University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law School of Ireland where he received a law degree.
Ryan first held political office when he was elected to Dáil Éireann in a 1959 by-election as a Fine Gael TD for Dublin South West and retained his seat until he retired at the Feb 1982 General Election to concentrate on his European Parliament seat.
In opposition Ryan served as Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health and Social Welfare (1966-1970) and on Foreign Affairs & Northern Ireland (1970-1973).
In 1973 Fine Gael came to power and Ryan became Minister for Finance, an area where he had little experience. He presided over a tough four years in the National Coalition under Liam Cosgrave, during which time Ireland's foreign debt increased and the economy steadily worsened. He was mercilesly lampooned as "Richie Ruin" on the Irish satire show Hall's Pictorial Weekly. Following the 1977 general election Fine Gael were out of power, and Ryan once again became Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs.
Ryan also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 1973 and from 1977 to 1979, being appointed to Ireland's first delegation and third delegation. At the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979, he was elected for the Dublin constituency, and was re-elected in 1984. On being appointed to the European Court of Auditors in 1986 he resigned his seat and was succeeded by Chris O'Malley.
