Commercial Benefits from Irish Development Aid, 1–8 December 1981
James Dooge was born in Birkenhead, England in 1922 and died on 20 August 2010. After his family moved to Dublin, Dooge studied in University College Dublin. Once qualified as an engineer, Dooge worked firstly with the Office of Public Works and then, in 1946, with the Electricity Supply Board. A period of study at the University of Iowa in the mid-1950s led to an MA. In 1958, Dooge became Professor of Civil Engineering at University College Cork and in 1970, he moved to University College Dublin. In the 1980s Dooge also spent time working at the Department of Engineering Hydrology at University College Galway. As well as being an engineer and hydrologist, he was also a climatologist and served as the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the World Climate Impact Advisory Committee.
Apart from his illustrious academic career, Dooge led an active political life. From 1961 to 1977 he was a Senator, also serving as the Seanad’s Cathaoirleach (1973-77). Dooge was an influential member of the Fine Gael Party and a close associate of Garret FitzGerald’s, working closely with him in the reorganisation of the Fine Gael Party during the late 1970s. As Cathaoirleach, Dooge was one of the three members of the Presidential Commission, and was called upon (along with the Chief Justice and the Cathaoirleach of the Dáil) to serve the powers of the President twice during his term: first with the death of Erskine Childers in 1974, and then with Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh’s resignation in 1976.
Dooge announced his retirement from politics in 1977 to devote more time to his academic career. In 1981, however, he returned to the Seanad. He was a member of the Fine Gael team that negotiated the coalition deal with the Labour Party in 1981, and was subsequently appointed by FitzGerald as Minister for Foreign Affairs. This was short-lived as the 22nd Dáil lasted for only 252 days. Dooge declined appointment to the new coalition formed in the 1982 general election.
In 1984, Ireland’s Presidency of the European Community coincided with a renewed interest amongst member states for further European integration. At a meeting at Fontainebleau, France in 1984, the decision was made to form an Ad Hoc Committee on Institutional Affairs, to have representatives from all member states to convene and look at potential avenues and methods for European integration. FitzGerald appointed Dooge to this Committee, not only as Ireland’s representative but as chairman. The Committee met throughout late 1984 and early 1985 before producing a final report, often referred to as the Dooge Report, in March 1985. This report is credited with paving the way for the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty.
Dooge maintained his commitment and enthusiasm for European integration after the Ad Hoc Committee with his longstanding membership of the Irish Council for the European Movement, of which he became Honorary President.
Professor Dooge deposited his papers in UCD Archives in five tranches between 1987 and 1989, with the sixth and final tranche deposited by his family in 2012.
Within the collection is a series of papers relating to Dooge’s tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1981–82. These include Department of Foreign Affairs papers regarding Irish development aid. P270/411 is a file relating to the commercial benefits from Irish development aid. It includes two reports from the Development Cooperation Division on the spinoff benefits of Irish aid overseas, using examples such as Aer Lingus’s business in Zambia. Also includes a note on possible reductions in 1982 Bilateral Aid.
UCDA P270/411 Papers of Professor James Dooge. Commercial Benefits from Irish Development Aid, 1–8 December 1981
