Jim O'Keeffe

Who is Jim O'Keeffe?

Jim O'Keeffe is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. He served as a Teachta Dála for Cork South–West constituency from 1977 to 2011.

O'Keeffe was born in Skibbereen, County Cork. He was educated at St. Fachtna's High School, Skibbereen; University College Cork; University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law School of the Incorporated Law Society. He practised as a solicitor before entering public office. O'Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1977 general election as a Fine Gael TD for Cork South–West and retained his seat at each general election until his retirement in 2011.

During his political career O'Keeffe served as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Public Service. He held numerous Opposition Front Bench portfolios including Foreign Affairs; Social, Community and Family Affairs; Social Welfare; Agriculture and Health; and Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

In 1996–97 he was the first chair of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. He is a former Vice-Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.

O'Keeffe retired from politics at the 2011 general election.