Billy Kelleher
Billy Kelleher MEP | |
---|---|
Member of the European Parliament | |
Assumed office 2 July 2019 | |
Constituency | South |
Minister of State for Trade and Commerce | |
In office 22 April 2009 – 9 March 2011 | |
Taoiseach | Brian Cowen |
Preceded by | John McGuinness |
Succeeded by | Jan O'Sullivan |
Minister of State for Labour Affairs | |
In office 20 June 2007 – 21 April 2009 | |
Taoiseach |
|
Preceded by | Tony Killeen |
Succeeded by | Dara Calleary |
Teachta Dála | |
In office June 1997 – July 2019 | |
Constituency | Cork North-Central |
Senator | |
In office 14 February 1993 – 25 May 1997 | |
Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
Personal details | |
Born | William Kelleher 20 January 1968 Cork, Ireland |
Nationality | Irish |
Political party | Irish: Fianna Fáil EU: Renew Europe |
Spouse(s) | Liza Davis (m. 2002) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Cork Institute of Technology |
Billy Kelleher (born 20 January 1968) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2019. He is a member of Fianna Fáil, part of Renew Europe. He previously served Minister of State for Trade and Commerce from 2009 to 2011 and Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2007 to 2009. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency from 1997 to 2019. He was also a Senator from 1993 to 1997, having been nominated by the Taoiseach.[1]
He was educated at Sacred Heart College, Carrignavar, County Cork and Agricultural College Pallaskenrey, County Limerick. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1992 general election but was nominated by the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to the 20th Seanad in 1993. Kelleher was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election and retained his seat at the 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2016 general elections.[2]
He was Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade and Commerce from 2009 to 2011. He previously served as the Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2007 to 2009. He was previously the assistant Government Chief Whip.
In January 2006, Kelleher became embroiled in a minor controversy when he was caught speeding outside Cashel, County Tipperary on his way to Leinster House in Dublin. He was fined and received two penalty points on his driving licence. The misdemeanour was ironic, for it came in a week when the government was coming under fire over poor road safety statistics.
He retained his seat at the 2011 general election, though an opinion poll from The Irish Times had predicted that he was in danger of losing his seat.[3] He was re-elected at the 2016 general election.
He is married to Liza Davis. They have two daughters and one son. He was a cousin of Fine Gael TD Liam Burke.[2]
Kelleher was the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Health. He had called for a rise in the legal age to purchase alcohol from off-licences.[4]
References[]
- ^ "Billy Kelleher". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Billy Kelleher". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ Collins, Stephen (14 February 2011). "FF Cork vote collapses – poll". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "TD suggests rise in off-licence purchase age". RTÉ News. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
External links[]
- Billy Kelleher's page on the Fianna Fáil website
- Personal profile of Billy Kelleher in the European Parliament's database of members
- 1968 births
- Living people
- Fianna Fáil TDs
- Irish farmers
- Local councillors in Cork (city)
- Members of the 20th Seanad
- Members of the 28th Dáil
- Members of the 29th Dáil
- Members of the 30th Dáil
- Members of the 31st Dáil
- Members of the 32nd Dáil
- Ministers of State of the 30th Dáil
- You're a Star contestants
- Nominated members of Seanad Éireann
- Fianna Fáil senators
- MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 2019–2024
- Alumni of Cork Institute of Technology
- Fianna Fáil MEPs