Dick Roche - Definition and Overview

Dick Roche (born March 1947) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is currently the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. He has been a TD for Wicklow since 1987. Roche has previously served in Seanad Éireann (1993-1997).

Dick Roche was born in Wexford and was educated at Wexford CBS and University College Dublin (UCD) where he received a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Roche worked as a public servant at the Departments of Posts & Telegraphs, Transport & Power, Finance and at the Department of Economic Planning & Development. In 1978 he was appointed lecturer in Public Administration and Public Finance at UCD. Roche began his political career in 1985 when he was elected to Wicklow County Council. Two years later in 1987 he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD.

Roche lost his seat in 1992 but was elected to Seanad Éireann instead. He was re-elected to the Dáil in 1997 and has remained a TD ever since. Following the general election in 2002 Roche was appointed Minister of State at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. In his role, effectively as Minister for Europe, he played a large role during Ireland's Presidency of the European Council in 2004. In 2004 he became Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government

Cabinet Position