Ex-FF minister of state Martin Mansergh to bid for Dáil return

Martin Mansergh, a former Fianna Fáil minister of state and senior adviser to a number of taoisigh, is attempting a Dáil comeback.

He will be among the candidates before the party's selection convention for the new five-seat Tipperary constituency in Thurles on Thursday night.

Dr Mansergh (67) told The Irish Times he had been asked by Fianna Fáil activists, particularly in west Tipperary, to put his name forward.

“Given that I am in reasonably good health, I thought it would be churlish to refuse,’’ he said.

Dr Mansergh said he was very much in sympathy with “Micheál Martin’s slightly left-of-centre positioning of the party, rather than the PD-orientation of the past’’. This was a reference to the now defunct Progressive Democrats, who formed a number of coalition governments with Fianna Fáil.

Dr Mansergh was elected to the Dáil in the three-seat Tipperary South constituency in 2007 but was not returned in 2011. During his one Dáil term, he served as a minister of state with responsibility for the Office of Public works and also the arts. He was previously a member of the Seanad.

Tipperary South has been amalgamated with Tipperary North to make up the new constituency which has no sitting Fianna Fáil TD.

Dr Mansergh was born in Woking, Surrey, England, to Tipperary-born historian Prof Nicholas Mansergh OBE and his wife, Diana Mary Keeton. He was educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and Christ Church, Oxford, gaining a doctorate in philosophy for a study of pre-revolutionary French history.

He moved to Ireland in 1974 to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs which he later left to join Fianna Fáil as director of research, policy and special adviser on North Ireland, at the invitation of its then leader, Charles Haughey.

He went on to play a key role in the Northern peace process, and continued this work under Mr Haughey's successors, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern.

Dr Mansergh said his involvement in the peace process would be part of 40 years experience he would bring to bear if he secured a nomination and was re-elected to the Dáil.

He added that he had things to say which would make a contribution to public debate and decision-making.

“I think the Dáil, and public life generally, need a mix of age groups, energy and idealism,’’ said Dr Mansergh. “Experience has a role to play.’’

The convention is expected to select one from a number of candidates with party headquarters later adding a second.