[3] He remained as a Fianna Fáil TD for the constituency of Cork South-Central for 15 years.

He was also involved in local politics, serving as a member of Cork County Council from 1974 until 1977.

Fitzgerald was first appointed to the Irish Government in 1977 when he became minister for labour under Jack Lynch.

He backed George Colley in the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election but retained his office under the eventual victor, Charles Haughey.

Fitzgerald retired from public office at the 1994 election, although he remained involved in the Fianna Fáil party as a treasurer and subsequently as honorary secretary.