James Dooge

Who was James Dooge?

James Clement Dooge was an Irish politician, engineer, climatologist, hydrologist and academic. Dooge had a profound effect on the debate on climate change, in the world of hydrology and in politics in the formation of the European Union.

Dooge lived a multifaceted existence with his roles including a period as Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Acting President of Ireland, chairman of the report which led to the Single European Act and the Treaty of Maastricht, Chairman of the Irish Senate, Professor of Engineering in University College Cork and University College Dublin, President of the International Council for Science, President of the Royal Irish Academy and Chairman of the Irish Film Board.

Dooge was a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the Fellowship of Engineering. He worked as an expert consultant to a wide range of specialised United Nations agencies including UNESCO, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. He also acted in an expert consultancy role to DGXII at the European Commission.

He is best known in Ireland as only the second Senator to be appointed to the cabinet.