garret desmond fitzgerald (9 february 1926 – 19 may 2011) was an irish politician who served twice as taoiseach (prime minister) of ireland, from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1982 to 1987. elected to seanad éireann in 1965, and in 1969 to dáil éireann as a teachta dála (td), he served as ireland's foreign minister from 1973 to 1977 and as leader of fine gael from 1977 to 1987.