Seán Ó Fearghaíl
| Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann | |
|
Assumed office 10 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Seán Barrett |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
Assumed office May 2002 | |
| Constituency | Kildare South |
| Senator | |
|
In office June 2000 – May 2002 | |
| Constituency | Agricultural Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
17 April 1960 County Kildare, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Clare Meaney |
| Children | 4 |
| Website |
www |
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (pronounced [ˈʃaːnʲ oː ˈfʲaɾˠɣiːlʲ]; born 17 April 1960) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann since March 2016. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency since 2002.[1]
Life and career
He comes from a farming background and previously worked for Dublin Corporation. Ó Fearghaíl first stood for election to elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, but was unsuccessful.[2] He was unsuccessful again at the 1989 general election, but was elected as a member of Kildare County Council in 1985.[2]
After further defeats at the 1992 and 1997 general elections, he stood for Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel in 1997. He was defeated, but won a seat in the 21st Seanad at a by-election held in June 2000 after the death of Patrick McGowan.[3]
Ó Fearghaíl won a Dáil seat on his fifth attempt, at the 2002 general election, when he defeated the sitting Fine Gael TD (and former leader) Alan Dukes.[2] At the 2007 general election he topped he poll and was elected on the first count. He was re-elected at the 2011 general election and at the 2016 general election.
He was the Fianna Fáil party whip and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade from April 2011 to July 2012. In July 2012, he was appointed as party spokesperson on Constitutional Reform, Arts and Culture, and Defence, while retaining the post of party whip. Ó Fearghaíl sent Éamon Ó Cuív a letter gagging him during the European Fiscal Compact referendum campaign after Ó Cuív spoke out of turn and expressed his own opinion against the party's wishes.[4]
He was elected as Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd Dáil on its first day of sitting on 10 March 2016.[5] It was the first time the position was filled by secret ballot.
References
- ↑ "Mr. Seán Ó Fearghaíl". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- 1 2 3 "Seán Ó Fearghail". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- ↑ "Members of the 21st Seanad 1997–2002". Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- ↑ "Ó Cuív say he will remain in Fianna Fáil". BBC News. 8 May 2012.
- ↑ http://www.thejournal.ie/new-ceann-comhairle-2651942-Mar2016/
External links
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alan Dukes (Fine Gael) |
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Kildare South 2002–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Seán Barrett |
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann 2016–present |
Incumbent |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||