Danny Kennedy

For the American environmentalist, see Danny Kennedy (environmentalist).
Danny Kennedy
MLA
Minister for Regional Development
In office
16 May 2011  1 September 2015
First Minister Peter Robinson
Preceded by Conor Murphy
Succeeded by Michelle McIlveen
Minister for Employment and Learning
In office
27 October 2010  5 May 2011
First Minister Peter Robinson
Preceded by Sir Reg Empey
Succeeded by Stephen Farry
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Newry and Armagh
Assumed office
25 June 1998
Preceded by Seat created
Personal details
Born (1959-07-06) 6 July 1959
Bessbrook, Northern Ireland
Nationality British
Political party Ulster Unionist Party
Children 3
Religion Presbyterian

Danny Kennedy MLA (born 6 July 1959) is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland. He was former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Assembly Group and former Minister for Regional Development.

Background

Kennedy is married with three children; Steven, Phillip and Hannah. He was educated at Newry High School, and was an employee of British Telecom for 20 years before being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Kennedy is Presbyterian and belongs to the Orange Order.

Political career

Kennedy has served at all levels, both local and within the wider party organisation of the Ulster Unionist Party, which he joined in 1974. He ran unsuccessfully for the UUP in the Westminster election in 1997, in which he polled over 18,000 votes against Seamus Mallon. He was elected to the Assembly in 1998.

Kennedy was UUP Assembly spokesman for education and chaired the Assembly Committee which both scrutinised and helped frame education legislation between 1998 and 2002. On the restoration of devolution in 2007 he became chairman of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. His performance in this office garnered him the award for "Best Committee Chair" from the Slugger O'Toole blogsite in 2008.[1]

Kennedy did not appeal an employment tribunal decision that found that a Protestant job applicant, Alan Lennon, had been discriminated against by Kennedy's predecessor Conor Murphy. Lennon was awarded £150,000 damages.[2]

References

  1. "Blog selects heroes and villains". BBC News. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  2. "Conor Murphy claims Danny Kennedy 'ignored' legal advice in DRD case". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 26 August 2012.

External links

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by
New creation
MLA for Newry and Armagh
1998 – present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Sir Reg Empey
Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
2005 – 2010
Succeeded by
John McCallister
Political offices
Preceded by
Sir Reg Empey
Minister for Employment and Learning
2010 - 2011
Succeeded by
Stephen Farry
Preceded by
Conor Murphy
Minister for Regional Development
2011 - 2015
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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