Editing Jack Lynch (section)

===Early career===
In 1946, Lynch had his first involvement in politics when he was asked by his local [[Fianna Fáil]] [[cumann]] to stand for the [[Dáil]] in a by-election . He declined on this occasion, due to his lack of political experience, but indicated that he would be interested in standing in the next general election. In 1947, Lynch refused a similar offer to stand by the new political party [[Clann na Poblachta]]. A general election was eventually called for [[1948 Irish general election|February 1948]], Lynch topped the poll for the [[Cork Borough (Dáil constituency)|Cork Borough]] constituency and became a Fianna Fáil TD in the [[13th Dáil]].<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2210|title=Jack Lynch|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=1 June 2009|archive-date=11 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611004700/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2210|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Fianna Fáil lost the election and were out of power for the first time in sixteen years, Lynch became speechwriter and research assistant for the party leader, [[Éamon de Valera]].

In 1951, Fianna Fáil were back in power and Lynch was appointed [[Minister of State to the Government|Parliamentary Secretary to the Government]], with special responsibility for [[Gaeltacht]] areas.<ref>{{Cite Irish legislation|name=Gaeltacht Housing (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1952|year=1952|type=si|number=21|date=8 January 1952}}; {{Cite Irish legislation|name=Gaeltacht Housing (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1953|year=1953|type=si|number=421|date=30 December 1953}}</ref> The party returned to opposition again between 1954 and 1957. During this period Lynch served as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the Gaeltacht. After the [[1957 Irish general election|1957 general election]] Fianna Fáil returned to office and de Valera headed his last government. Lynch was promoted to cabinet as [[Minister for Education (Ireland)|Minister for Education]], as well as holding the Gaeltacht portfolio for a short while. At 39, he was the youngest member of the Government. Lynch introduced innovative legislation, such as raising the school leaving age; reducing school class sizes; removing a ban on married women working as teachers and allowing the Jewish skull cap to be worn but only from the age of 12.