Séamus Kirk

Séamus Kirk
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office
13 October 2009  9 March 2011
Preceded by John O'Donoghue
Succeeded by Seán Barrett
Minister of State
for Horticulture
In office
10 March 1987  11 February 1992
Taoiseach Charles Haughey
Preceded by New office
Succeeded by John Browne
Teachta Dála
In office
November 1982  February 2016
Constituency Louth
Personal details
Born (1945-04-26) 26 April 1945
Drumkeith, County Louth, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s) Mary McGeough
Children 4
Website www.seamuskirk.ie

Séamus Kirk (born 26 April 1945) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was Ceann Comhairle (chairman) of Dáil Éireann from October 2009 to March 2011, and he has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency since 1982.[1]

Background

Kirk was born in Drumkeith, County Louth. He is married to Mary McGeough. They have three sons and one daughter and live in Knockbridge, County Louth. He was educated at CBS Dundalk. He was a farmer and agricultural adviser before entering politics. He is a former player on the Louth County GAA Team.

Political career

He was a member of Louth County Council from 1974 to 1985, and he was first elected to the Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a member of the 24th Dáil. He has been returned in each subsequent election.[2]

Kirk was Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food from 1987 to 1992. Later, he was the chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party from 2002 until October 2009. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for election to the European Parliament in 2004 in the East constituency. His running mate Liam Aylward took a seat for Fianna Fáil.

On 13 October 2009, Kirk succeeded John O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle[3] after O'Donoghue resigned over an expenses scandal. He was nominated for that post by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and seconded by Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, and he defeated Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley by 87 votes to 51 votes. McGinley had been nominated by his party's leader, Enda Kenny.[4]

He is the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Horticulture and Rural Affairs.

He is not contesting the 2016 general election.[5]

References

  1. "Mr. Séamus Kirk". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. "Séamus Kirk". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  3. "Kirk elected Ceann Comhairle". The Irish Times. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  4. "Kirk succeeds O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle". RTÉ News. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  5. "Louth TD Kirk will not contest next general election". Irish Examiner. 17 September 2014.

External links

Oireachtas
Preceded by
Thomas Bellew
(Fianna Fáil)
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Louth
November 1982–2016
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Patrick Hegarty
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food
1987–1992
Succeeded by
Liam Hyland
Preceded by
John O'Donoghue
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
2009–2011
Succeeded by
Seán Barrett
Party political offices
Preceded by
Rory O'Hanlon
Chairman of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party
2002–2009
Succeeded by
John Browne
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