 He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for Sligo–Leitrim at the 1981 general election, and was re-elected at each subsequent general election until he retired from politics at the 1997 general election.Previously he had stood for election in 1977 at Dublin Clontarf, but failed to be elected.He served as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 1982 in the Fine Gael–Labour Party government of the 22nd Dáil.