From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir John Keane, 5th Baronet (3 June 1873 – 30
January 1956), was an Irish barrister and politician. He was
educated at Clifton College and Royal
Military Academy Woolwich. He succeeded his father as 5th Baronet in 1892. He was a
senator in the upper
house of the Irish parliament. He was also a director of the Bank of
Ireland. His home in Cappoquin was burned in reprisal for his
being a senator.
Senate
career
- From 11 December 1922 he was a Senator in the First Irish Free
State Senate (Seanad Éireann), and
served a term of 12 years. He was nominated by the President in the
lower house (Dáil Éireann) on 6
December 1922. The First Seanad was abolished in 1936 and its last
session was on 19 May in that year.
- From 7 September 1938 to 14 July 1943 he was a Senator in the
Third Seanad, nominated by the Taoiseach.
- From 8 September 1943 to 5 July 1944 he was a Senator in the
Fourth Seanad, nominated by the Taoiseach.
Shannon electrification
scheme
In 1925 he was a major opponent of the Shannon electrification scheme,
describing it as "the poisonous virus of nationalisation".
Censorship of
publications
In 1942 he was involved in the first occasion on which the Irish
Senate censored itself. On 18 November 1942 Sir John Keane moved in
the Seanad: "That, in the opinion of Seanad
Éireann, the Censorship of
Publications Board appointed by the Minister for Justice under
the Censorship of
Publications Act, 1929, has ceased to retain public confidence,
and that steps should be taken by the Minister to reconstitute the
board." and sparked four days of fierce debate, carrying over to 2,
3, and concluding on 9 December 1942.
He quoted extensively from one book The Tailor and
Ansty by Eric Cross, which was banned in Ireland soon after
its first publication in that year. The Editor of Debates excluded
the quotation from the Official Report; the entry states only: "The
Senator quoted from the book".
At the end of the debate and much discussion in the public
press, his point made, Sir John Keane sought leave to withdraw the
motion. The question “That leave be given by the Seanad to withdraw
the motion, item No. 2, on the Order Paper” was put and negatived.
The question on the main motion was then duly put and declared
negatived. However Senators claimed for a division, and the motion
was defeated: Tá (for) 2 votes - Sir John Keane and Joseph Johnston
- Nil (against) 34 votes.
National Portrait
Gallery
The UK's National Portrait
Gallery includes three photographic portraits of Sir John Keane
taken by Bassano on 30 March
1920.
References
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