Dinny McGinley

Dinny McGinley
Teachta Dála
In office February 1982 – February 2016
Constituency	Donegal South–West
Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs
In office 10 March 2011 – 15 July 2014
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	Joe McHugh
Personal details
Born	27 April 1945 Gweedore, Donegal, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fine Gael
Alma mater	St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin, University College Dublin

Denis "Dinny" McGinley (born 27 April 1945) is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal South–West constituency since February 1982.^[1] He served as Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs from March 2011 to July 2014.^[2]

Background

McGinley was born and brought up in Gweedore, County Donegal, a Gaeltacht area where he still resides. He was educated at Coláiste Íosagáin, Ballyvourney, County Cork; St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin and University College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked as a teacher and principal at Scoil Chonaill at Bunbeg, Gweedore, before entering into politics.^[3]

Political life

McGinley was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the February 1982 general election. During this time he has held a number of Front Bench positions within the party, including spokesman on Youth Affairs (1987–88), the Gaeltacht (1988–91), the Gaeltacht and Emigrant Welfare (1991–94), Youth Affairs (1994), Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (2001–02), Defence (2002–04) and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (2004–07).

McGinley was Chairman of An Comhchoiste don Ghaeilge (Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language) from 1995 to 1997. He is a former member of the Joint Oireachtas Committees on Social Affairs and on Small Business and is a member of the British Irish Parliamentary Body since 1993.

In June 2006, he announced his intention to retire at the 2007 general election,^[4] but announced in February 2007 that he had changed his mind and would stand as he stood a better chance of being elected than the selected candidate.^[5] He was re-elected at the 2007 general election,^[6] and again at the 2011 general election.^[7]

He was appointed Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on 10 March 2011.^[8] He was dropped as a Minister of State in a reshuffle in July 2014.^[9] Shortly afterwards, he announced that he would not contest the 2016 general election.^[10]

References

1. "Mr. Dinny McGinley". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
2. "Kenny, Barroso discuss bailout interest rate". RTÉ News. 11 March 2011.
3. "Progress welcomed on Bunbeg school". Donegal Democrat. 16 February 2011.
4. "FG's McGinley not to contest next election". RTÉ News. 7 June 2006.
5. "FG TD McGinley decides against retirement". RTÉ News. 27 February 2007.
6. "Dinny McGinley". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
7. "Tánaiste eliminated in Donegal SW". The Irish Times. 26 February 2011.
8. "Kenny, Barroso discuss bailout interest rate". RTÉ News. 11 March 2011.
9. "Simon Harris among new Ministers of State". RTÉ News. 15 July 2014.
10. "McHugh replaces McGinley in Cabinet reshuffle". Donegal Democrat. 15 July 2014.

External links

• Dinny McGinley's page on the Fine Gael website