Susan O'Keeffe to seek Labour Euro nomination for Ireland North West
Issued : Friday 27 March, 2009
Statement by Eamon Gilmore TD
Leader of the Labour Party, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade
“I am delighted to announce this evening that the distinguished journalist and commentator, Susan O’Keeffe, has joined the Labour Party and will be seeking the Labour Party nomination for the Ireland North West Constituency in the European elections.
“Susan O’Keeffe is a person of the highest integrity and remarkable courage with an outstanding record as a campaigning journalist. She is remembered in particular for the role she played as in exposing mal-practices in the beef industry which ultimately led to the establishment of the Beef Tribunal. It is one of the more shameful episodes in the history of the state that despite all the revelations at the Tribunal, Susan was the only one who faced prosecution, as a result of her principled refusal to reveal her sources of information.
“I am very pleased that she is now bringing her great abilities to the Labour Party and I have no doubt that she would make an outstanding MEP.
“The fact that people like Susan O’Keeffe are joining us is a great vote of confidence in the Labour Party. Her decision to seek the nomination for Ireland North West is also great news as it means that every voter in every corner of Ireland will have the opportunity of voting for the Labour Party on June 5th. I will be fully supporting Susan’s nomination for Ireland North West.
Speaking following the announcement, Susan O’Keeffe said:
“My core beliefs of equality and fairness have driven all the work I have done as a journalist. By joining the Labour Party I will be able to direct these values towards building a more honest political system which favours, not just the brave, but the weak, the poor and the old. I want to contribute to building a fairer Ireland and a fairer Europe where working together means just that. As a member of Labour and following its proud tradition, I will continue to ask difficult questions of politicians and policy makers – whenever and wherever
they need to be asked. And I will bring my experience of people, organisations, companies and politics to challenge and contribute to stronger European political decisions.”
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ON SUSAN O’KEEFFE
SUSAN O KEEFFE – SOME BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Born Dublin 1960
Secondary education: Convent of the Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, Dublin
Third level education: University College Cork; BSc(Dairy&Food)
FAS – European Orientation Programme (12 months)
CAREER
Freelance journalist Dublin: The Irish Times, The Sunday Press, The Irish Press, The Sunday Tribune, Business&Finance, Irish Business, Hot Press, Creative, Finance
Agribusiness correspondent: The Sunday Business Post
Assistant Producer; World in Action (Granada TV, Manchester): 1990-1995
Producer; Current Affairs (BBC) 1995 – 2007
Freelance journalist, TV and radio producer and broadcaster Dublin 2007-now
Media consultant and trainer 2007-now
World in Action programme on beef industry May 1991
Beef Tribunal evidence 1992
Campaign for Freedom of Information Award 1994
TRIAL 1995
In 1995, Susan O'Keeffe, a World in Action journalist, was threatened with prison in Ireland for refusing to reveal her sources. She had investigated scandals within the Irish meat industry in two films in 1991, setting in motion a three-year Tribunal of Inquiry in Dublin, which found that much of her criticism of the industry was substantiated. The Tribunal, though, demanded that she name her informants, and when she refused to do so, she was charged by the Irish Director of Public Prosecutions. The case became a cause célèbre in the Republic of Ireland, and in January 1995 she faced trial for contempt of court but was cleared of the charge. She was honoured in the 1994 Freedom of Information Awards for her stand.
PERSONAL DETAILS
Married 1991
Three children, 1993, 1996, 2000
Live in Sligo with family; Kinnagrelly House, Collooney, Co Sligo
