Editing Patrick Hillery (section)

===Government minister 1959–1973===
As Minister for Education, Hillery was responsible for much innovative thinking in a department which would become very important under Lemass's leadership. In 1963, he made a major policy speech in which he outlined many of the educational reforms that were to be introduced over the next decade. These included increased educational opportunities for many, the establishment of [[comprehensive school]]s and [[Regional Technical Colleges]]. He also proposed access by students to all public examinations.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bonel-Elliott |first=Imelda |title=Lessons from the Sixties: Reviewing Dr. Hillery's Educational Reform |journal=Irish Educational Studies |volume=13 |date=Spring 1994 |pages=32–45}}</ref> As Minister for Education, Hillery laid the groundwork for successive Ministers to advance the reforms and initiatives he had begun. While Donogh O'Malley, has received much of the credit for introducing free education, it was in fact Hillery who laid much of the groundwork before this landmark announcement.

In 1965, Hillery succeeded Lynch again by taking over as Minister for Industry and Commerce. This department was considered one of the most important in kick-starting Ireland's economy. Hillery only remained in this position for just over a year, becoming the country's first [[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]] in 1966, as industrial disputes began to take their toll. This new department had been an ambition of Lemass's for several years.

Lemass resigned as [[Taoiseach]] and [[leader of Fianna Fáil]] in November 1966, a shock to many of his political friends. Hillery was invited by Lemass to allow his name to go forward for the leadership of the party, however, he declined explaining that he had no interest. Jack Lynch succeeded Lemass after a leadership contest with George Colley. Hillery retained his post as Minister for Labour in Lynch's cabinet, serving until 1969.

Following a further victory for Fianna Fáil at the [[1969 Irish general election|1969 general election]], Hillery was appointed [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for External Affairs]] (renamed Foreign Affairs in 1971), one of the most prestigious of cabinet posts. He earned an international profile when, in the aftermath of the killing of fourteen unarmed civilians in [[Derry]], by British paratroopers (known as [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]]), he travelled to the [[United Nations]] to demand UN involvement in peace-keeping on the streets of [[Northern Ireland]]. The trip to the UN achieved very little, other than to draw the attention of the world to the worsening situation in Northern Ireland. During the whole period, Hillery remained one of Jack Lynch's staunchest allies in pursuing peaceful means with regard to the possibility of a civil war breaking out. Although considered a mild-mannered politician, Hillery showed his mettle at the 1971 Fianna Fáil [[Ard Fheis]] when [[Kevin Boland]], an opponent of Lynch's Northern policy, stormed a nearby podium and launched a very public and vocal attack on the Fianna Fáil leadership. While some of his supporters started chanting "We want Boland", Hillery, who by this stage had grabbed the nearest microphone, shouted down the Boland faction with the line "Ye can have Boland but ye can't have Fianna Fáil."

As well as affairs in Northern Ireland, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hillery also negotiated Irish membership of the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC), a process that was completed in 1973.