Mervyn Taylor, Ireland's first Jewish cabinet minister, dies at 89

• Author: CNAAN LIPHSHIZ/JTA
• Published date: 26 September 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Taylor, who died of cancer in London Thursday, served for about four years as equality and law reform minister between 1993 and 1997, under Ireland's Labour party. In total, he served as a Labour lawmaker for 16 years until his retirement in 1997.

As a cabinet minister, he led reforms that prioritized opportunities for women, people with disabilities and the Roma community, according to The Irish Times, which also said he was the first Jew to serve as a cabinet minister in Ireland.

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In an interview with that paper in 1993, Taylor said his Jewish identity gave him empathy with minority groups. "It comes from 2,000 years of history," he said.

Former Labour leader Dick Spring said he was "quintessential Labour Party from a very young age". He was a "hard-working...