Editing Albert Reynolds (section)

== Political life ==
Reynolds became interested in politics during the [[Arms Crisis]], a controversial episode in which two government ministers, [[Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (Ireland)|Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries]] [[Neil Blaney]] and [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]] [[Charles Haughey]], were removed from the government over an attempt to send arms to [[Northern Ireland]] in 1970. Blaney and Haughey were later acquitted in court.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Stephen |date=22 September 2020 |title=All you need to know about the 1970 Arms Crisis |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0505/1136524-arms-crisis-debacle-1970-haughey-blaney-lynch/ |website=RTE |location= |publisher= |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>

In the wake of this case, Reynolds launched a political career from his background as a successful West Ireland businessman. He stood for [[Fianna Fáil]] at the [[1977 Irish general election|1977 general election]] for the [[Longford–Westmeath]] constituency.<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web |url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3189|title=Albert Reynolds |work=ElectionsIreland.org |access-date=1 June 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090610224341/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3189 |archive-date= 10 June 2009 |url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Albert-Reynolds.D.1977-07-05/|title=Albert Reynolds|work=Oireachtas Members Database|date=24 October 2001|access-date=1 June 2009|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107145404/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Albert-Reynolds.D.1977-07-05|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AlbertReynolds">{{cite web |title=Albert Reynolds passes away aged 81 |url=http://www.irishsun.com/index.php/sid/224972431 |website=Irish Sun |access-date=21 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826121236/http://www.irishsun.com/index.php/sid/224972431 |archive-date=26 August 2014 |date=21 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The election proved to be a landslide victory for Fianna Fáil, with the party receiving a 20-seat parliamentary majority, resulting in [[Jack Lynch]] returning as [[Taoiseach]].

Reynolds remained a [[backbencher]] until 1979. That year, pressure mounted on Lynch, the incumbent Taoiseach and [[Fianna Fáil leader]], to step down. Reynolds became a member of the so-called "gang of five" politicians of a strong rural background, with [[Jackie Fahey]] (Tipperary), [[Mark Killilea Jnr]] (Galway), [[Tom McEllistrim (1926–2000)|Tom McEllistrim]] (Kerry), and [[Seán Doherty (Roscommon politician)|Seán Doherty]] (Roscommon), which aligned itself to Charles Haughey and supported him in the subsequent [[1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election|leadership contest]].{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

=== Fianna Fáil minister ===
Reynolds was rewarded for his staunch loyalty by joining the newly elected Taoiseach Charles Haughey's cabinet as [[Minister for Posts and Telegraphs]]. He was appointed [[Minister for Transport (Ireland)|Minister for Transport]], making his brief one of the largest and most wide-ranging in the government. As Minister for Transport, Reynolds was involved in an incident in which [[Aer Lingus Flight 164|an Aer Lingus plane]] was hijacked by a disturbed former monk, with the hijacker's chief demand for the safe return of the aircraft and its passengers being that he should be allowed to reveal a religious secret, the [[Third Secret of Fatima]], which he claimed to have in his briefcase.<ref>{{cite web |title='81 plane hijacker reveals Fatima obsession |url=http://irishecho.com/2011/02/81-plane-hijacker-reveals-fatima-obsession-2/ |website=Irish Echo |access-date=5 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105132504/http://irishecho.com/2011/02/81-plane-hijacker-reveals-fatima-obsession-2/ |archive-date=5 January 2015 |date=16 February 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The incident was resolved in Paris with no injuries.

Fianna Fáil lost power following the [[1981 Irish general election|1981 general election]] but regained it again following the [[February 1982 Irish general election|February 1982 general election]]. Reynolds returned to government as [[Minister for Industry and Energy]]. He was responsible for developing the [[Dublin]] to [[Cork (city)|Cork]] gas pipeline.<ref>{{cite web |title=Albert Reynolds |publisher=Fianna Fáil |url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/content/pages/albert-reynolds/ |access-date=26 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226212218/http://www.fiannafail.ie/content/pages/albert-reynolds/ |archive-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> That government fell in late 1982, and Reynolds was back on the opposition benches. During the 1982–83 period, the Fianna Fáil leader, Charles Haughey, faced three no-confidence motions. Reynolds gave him his support at all times, and Haughey stayed in power.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In 1987, Fianna Fáil returned to government and Reynolds was appointed [[Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]], one of the most senior positions in the cabinet, especially at a time when the government's top priority was economic recovery as the Irish currency was highly overvalued which was compounded by years of unsustainable borrowing and taxation being as high as 60%. In 1988, the Minister for Finance [[Ray MacSharry]] became Ireland's [[European Commissioner]], and Reynolds succeeded MacSharry.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}