To the 32Nd Dáil and 25Th Seanad

Nealon’s Guide To the 32nd Dáil and 25th Seanad Edited by: Tim Ryan Backing Club and County Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. 07377RO GAA Ad Club nad County A4.indd 1 21/04/2017 16:53 Nealon’s Guide To the 32nd Dáil and 25th Seanad Edited by: Tim Ryan Published by: Grand Canal Consulting Acknowledgements The Irish Times Nealon’s Guide to the 32nd Dáil and 25th Seanad is the thirteenth in the series started by Ted Nealon after the 1973 General Election. I feel privileged to both edit and publish it, in association with The Irish Times which allows for the continuation of a long tradition in producing the best known reference book to the results of Irish general elections. This edition adopts the same general format as previous guides, which has proved hugely popular with readers over the years. The Guide could not have been produced without the help and co-operation of many people. I wish to thank The Irish Times, notably Jim Miley, the Business to Consumer Director. A special thanks to Stephen Collins, who acted as consulting editor, for his tremendous support and invaluable advice throughout the process of producing this edition. I also wish to thank the picture Editor, Frank Miller for assembling the wonderful photographs. I wish to thank Lee Ryan and the team at Design Room for their dedication and commitment in the design and layout of the Guide and in overseeing the printing. Sincere thanks also to Allied Irish Banks for their generous sponsorship of the project and without whom it would not have happened. In particular, I wish to thank Maol Muire Tynan and Helen Leonard in the Public Affairs Office. As I hope this is the beginning of a new phase of the Guide’s future, I would welcome any suggestions from members of the Oireachtas, or others, in helping to further develop it in the future. Editor May 2017 © The Irish Times DAC/Grand Canal Consulting All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publishers except for the use of brief quotations in a review. ISBN 978-1-9997139-0-4 Editor: Tim Ryan Consulting Editor: Stephen Collins Design & Print: Designroom www.designroom.ie Published by Grand Canal Consulting, Clifton House, Lower Fitzwilliam St., Dublin 2 T: (01) 661 3788 email: [email protected] Front Cover: Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2016 Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / The Irish Times Message from Bernard Byrne, CEO, AIB AIB is very pleased to support Nealon’s Guide to the 32ND Dáil and the 25th Seanad. Since its foundation by Ted Nealon almost four decades ago, it has become an indispensible textbook, the definitive pathfinder to the composition of both houses of the Oireachtas with a comprehensive biographical note on each elected representative in our national parliament. It is a serious compendium of information and statistics for both seasoned pundits and political novices. A formidable amount of research and work lies behind Nealon’s Guide and I congratulate its editor, Tim Ryan, and The Irish Times for compiling this level of precise political detail that we may otherwise struggle to find. Outside observers of Ireland’s political landscape are always taken by the uniquely close relationship that TDs and Senators have with their electorate. I cannot think of another jurisdiction where politics and society meld at such a local and personal level. The essence of our system of proportional representation means that every vote that is cast contributes to the overall result. It is an important function of our democracy that the individual voter can feel he or she has a voice in the make-up of our legislature. And it is a voice that Irish voters have not been slow to raise. The interplay between politicians, the electorate and the economy was captured by Bill Clinton’s strategist, James Carville, when he coined the phrase “the economy, stupid” during the 1992 American presidential campaign. He hardly anticipated how his words, originally meant for private consumption, would echo through future election campaigns, far beyond the United States. How politicians manage, or are perceived to have managed, the national finances usually shapes the outcome of elections. In the wake of the financial crisis banks, in particular, must have a heightened sense of their important role and responsibility in the economy. Their duty, like that of politicians, is linked to what they do for the economy. How fully banks recognise and react to that obligation will, I believe, determine the pace and degree of the rehabilitation of trust in the industry. I am glad that AIB, for its part, can make this gesture of support to Nealon’s Guide, an indispensible compendium of information about our country’s political system and a great read into the bargain. Election 2016 turnout and vote message by Equality, Youth Human Rights and Trade Union campaigners pictured outside the Dail. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times Contents Foreword by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD Page 1 The Election Background: Stephen Collins Page 2 General Elections 1923 - 2016 Page 5 Members of the 2016 Government Page 7 Members of the 2017 Government Page 8 Results of Election 2016 including TD profiles Page 10 Members of the 25th Seanad including profiles Page 170 Members of the European Parliament, including profiles Page 189 Foreword I congratulate The Irish Times and The very special centenary year of 2016 was a time Grand Canal Consulting on the to remember our shared history; to reflect on our publication of the 13th Nealon’s achievements, and also to imagine our future. It was also Guide to the Dáil and Seanad. In the very fitting that on the centenary of the Rising, members time since Ted Nealon demonstrated of diverse political persuasion managed to find a way to his great foresight in publishing the work together under a new spirit of partnership and in very first edition in the wake of the the interest of the people. 1973 General Election, the wealth of essential biographical information of If Election 2011 was dominated by the jobs crisis, the elected representatives that is the Nealon’s Guide has prevailing focus of Election 2016 was the people’s been a reliable companion to the ever shifting ebb and desire for social change. Whilst Ireland has thankfully flow of modern day Irish politics. succeeded in returning from the edge of economic abyss and unemployment on a devastating scale Indeed, the rapidly changing nature of the Irish political is a thing of the past, our country today faces other landscape is very much evident only in the recent past challenges. In the areas of housing and homelessness, with the reality now drastically different to what it was in healthcare provision and in providing relief for working when I wrote the foreword for the last Nealon’s Guide families, there is much work to be done and these are only a few short years ago. Election 2011 represented the very issues we are now working collaboratively to nothing short of a democratic revolution and saw Fine resolve in the period ahead. Gael secure the best result in its history, winning 76 seats. Throughout our five year term in partnership with It is no overstatement that Britain’s decision to leave the Labour Party, Fine Gael in Government worked to the European Union is one of the most pivotal events in end our country’s economic crisis, exit our international modern history. As our closest neighbour and trading bailout and create new jobs. And I am glad to say partner, it is also set to impact us here, though the that term ended with the foundations of a once again scale of that impact is as yet unknown. However, as we growing economy firmly in place. prepare to enter the unchartered waters surrounding Brexit, we can certainly expect it to have significant Because the focus of the last Government was where it political, economic and social implications. had to be - on the economy and job creation - once the sense of economic crisis had passed it became clear It is therefore more crucial than ever that we in that the 2016 General Election would, in turn, represent Government continue to work together to secure the a further shift in the balance of political power. And of best possible outcome for Ireland in terms of minimising course that came to pass with significant seat losses for the impact on our trade and the economy; protecting the both Fine Gael and the Labour Party. hard won Peace Process in the North; maintaining the Common Travel Area with the UK and ultimately working It also resulted in the election of a record number of to build our own future within the European Union. In that Independents, which in turn led onto extended and context, it is clear that Brexit and its implications must difficult negotiations on the formation of a government. and will be central to all the work of Government in the With the formal process of meeting and agreement time ahead. beginning on 24 March, there followed many days of formal discussions and informal conversations. There The political climate in Ireland today, though was a palpable sense throughout the talks that politics unprecedented and challenging, also presents great as we knew it had changed and, after 70 days of talks opportunity and I carry the honour of being re-elected and negotiations a new Programme for Government was Taoiseach last year with great pride, great humility agreed.

Load more