Jim McDaid
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Dr. Jim McDaid (b.1949) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a doctor of medicine. He is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal North East
McDaid was born in October 1949 in Termon, County Donegal. He was educated in Letterkenny and University College, Galway. Between 1974 and 1979 he worked at Letterkenny General Hospital, In 1979 he went into partnership as a General Practitioner in Letterkenny. McDaid was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt in 1989. In 1991 he was about to be appointed Minister for Defence, however a picture of McDaid emerged of him celebrating on the steps of the Dublin Four Courts with an IRA constituent. McDaid was not appointed after protests from the Opposition Parties. In 1997 McDaid was appointed Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation. He presided over controversial events such as drugs allegations in sport and sex abuse by swimming coaches.
Following the 2002 General Election McDaid failed to retain his Cabinet post, but he was made a Minister of State. He failed to be elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and was later sacked from his position as Minister of State. He has said that he intends to run as a member of the Dáil again in the next general election, but this has been thrown into doubt following his arrest in April 2005 on a drink driving charge which attracted much media attention.
McDaid lives with his partner Siobhan O'Donnell, a former barmaid, near Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
| Preceded by: Enda Kenny | Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation 1997-2002 | Succeeded by: John O'Donoghue |