Jim Higgins

Jim Higgins (born 4 May 1945 in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo) is an Irish politician. He was educated at St Jarlath's College, Tuam and University College Galway. Higgins worked has a Community School teacher before becoming involved in local politics as a member of Mayo County Council in 1979. He first ran for Dáil Éireann in 1981. He was unsuccessful, however, he was one of Garret FitzGerald's nominees to Seanad Éireann. He lost his Seanad seat in 1982 but regained it in 1983, remaining in the Upper House until 1987. He was successful in that years general election, becoming a Fine Gael TD.

In 1994 the Rainbow Coalition came to power and Higgins was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance. The following year he became Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence, as well as Chief Whip of the government. He remained in that position until 1997. Higgins, like many of his Fine Gael colleagues in 2002, failed to be elected for his Mayo constituency. He was elected to Seanad Éireann though. In 2004 Higgins was elected to the European Parliament as a Fine Gael MEP for the North-West region.