APRIL 2006

Cecelia Keaveney Celebrates decade in the Dáil

On the 10th July 1995 Cecilia Keaveney was Co-opted to Donegal County Council, after her father took ill at Easter of that year, and became a TD nine months later. Deputy Keaveney admits she was full of idealism but soon realised it took much more to succeed in politics. "I was young and foolish enough to think that I was going to change the world in about half an hour."

Deputy Keaveney adds that her nine months in Donegal County Council gave her a great grounding for her Dáil days. "I learnt that you need patients and good communication skills and good interpersonal skills 'cos you're meeting different people and some of them are going to be coming to you with very serious personal issues. Some are quite upset. They can be almost ready to cry or it can be very aggressive.

Cecilia says, The most important support she got was from Eamon O'Cuív. "Making friends and allies in Government is, she asserts, a vitally important task for a new TD." She points to her good working relationship with Micháel Martin, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as a crucial factor in getting a secondary school in Moville - an achievement she points to as one of her proudest moments as a TD. I know that Moville Community College wouldn't have happened only that I had a cup of coffee with Micháel Martin who said. "I've lots of money, what do you want?" and I said 'a new school in Moville'."

Over the years Cecilia has developed a sense, when asking Ministers to look favourably on Donegal North East, or whether no means no, maybe or yes at some stage in the future. A lot of people, she continued, feel that the civil service run the country and whereas in some departments maybe that is the truth, in most departments it's the Ministers that take on the issues. "Cross border taxation was an issue at the very start of my campaign. What I was told by Charlie McCreevey was 'I will solve it'. But I was told by a top civil servant 'it will not be solved. Again, a strong relationship with McCreevey helped tackle that issue.

The fact that there are now some 20 women TDs in the Dáil may demonstrate that women can make decent Parliamentarians, however, Cecilia thinks it's a tough game for any woman to get into. "It's a harder job for the woman, particularly the married ones. The old thing that you have to be twice as good as a man to be appreciated as half as good is true. You really do have to be on the ball. "

The states-woman role, when Cecilia represents the nation abroad, is one she relishes. Being a TD has given her the chance to travel to far off places and meet important people. It's a world away from listening to the concerns of a constituent over a cup of coffee at her Moville office and demands a more courtly approach. "You flick the switch into post mode, although most people around here would say that's one of my positive qualities - that I haven't become aloof or full of my own importance. In some countries you are picked up in a limo and the rest of your delegation go in a minibus. You meet the highest echelons of society and are photographed with some very important people but they see us as being as important as we see them."

Whenever Cecilia is in Eastern Europe politicians there are always keen to ask how did the Irish do so well out of the EU. "I tell them investment in education and our taxation policies encourage inward investment."

Should there come a day when she is unseated or retires Cecilia, who is an accomplished musician, would like to work in Music Therapy. "I've taken a very big interest in the disability sector and am currently doing a report into Music Therapy. There's massive opportunities to help children with attention disorders. Right through to elderly with Alzheimers disease. It's something we haven't explored in Ireland yet. If I ever wasn't in politicing this would probably be a road I'd go down - but I have to lose my job yet and I don't intend to do that."

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