Ray MacSharry (born 29 April 1938) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from March 1982 to December 1982, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development from 1989 to 1993, Minister for Finance from March 1982 to December 1982 and 1987 to 1988, Minister for Agriculture from 1979 to 1981, Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service from 1978 to 1979. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency from 1969 to 1988. He also served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Connacht–Ulster constituency. Early life Born in Sligo, MacSharry was educated at the local national school before later briefly attending Summerhill College. After leaving school he worked as a livestock dealer throughout County Sligo and County Mayo, before becoming involved in the Meat Exporters Factory in his native town. MacSharry also owned his own haulage firm. Political career Beginnings MacSharry came from a non-political family, however, he himself became an active member of Fianna Fáil in Sligo. In 1967, he made his first move into politics when he secured election to both Sligo Borough Council and Sligo County Council. It was from this local base that MacSharry launched his national election campaign. MacSharry was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency at the 1969 general election. It was a fourth general election triumph in succession for the party, however, he spent his first term on the backbenches. MacSharry was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1973 general election, however, Fianna Fáil were out of power as a Fine Gael–Labour Party government came to power. In Taoiseach Jack Lynch's subsequent front bench reshuffle, MacSharry was appointed Opposition Spokesperson on the Office of Public Works. Following the 1977 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to government with a massive twenty-seat Dáil majority. In spite of entering his third term MacSharry was left on the backbenches. With the introduction of the new Minister of State positions in 1978, he secured a junior ministerial post for the first time, as Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service. Cabinet minister In 1979, Jack Lynch suddenly announced his resignation as Taoiseach and as Fianna Fáil leader. The subsequent leadership contest was a straight battle between George Colley and Charles Haughey. Colley was the favoured choice of the outgoing leadership and of the majority