Dara Calleary

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Dara Calleary
TD
Dara Calleary (official portrait) 2020 (cropped).jpg
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
In office
15 July 2020 – 21 August 2020
TaoiseachMicheál Martin
Preceded byMicheál Martin (acting)
Succeeded byMicheál Martin (acting)
Minister of State
2020Government Chief Whip
2020Taoiseach
2020Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht
2020Transport, Tourism and Sport
2010–2011Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
2009–2010Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil
In office
29 March 2018 – 23 August 2020
LeaderMicheál Martin
Preceded byÉamon Ó Cuív (2012)
Succeeded byVacant
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 2007
ConstituencyMayo
Personal details
Born (1973-05-10) 10 May 1973 (age 48)
Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse(s)Siobhán Greavy (m. 2012)
Relations
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Dara Calleary (born 10 May 1973) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency since the 2007 general election. He served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from July to August 2020, Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2018 to 2020 and Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2009 to 2011.[1]

Early life[]

Calleary was born in Ballina, County Mayo, in 1973. He was educated at St Oliver Plunkett National School and St Muredach's College. He later studied at Trinity College Dublin. He previously worked with Chambers Ireland, the largest business organisation in Ireland, and also worked in an Irish bank.

Calleary is the son of Seán Calleary who was a TD for Mayo East from 1973 to 1992, and the grandson of Phelim Calleary who was a TD for Mayo North from 1952 to 1969.

Political career[]

Calleary has been a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive since 1997 and has served on party policy committees on Transport, Enterprise and Employment, Agriculture and Youth Affairs.

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election.[2] In February 2008, Calleary was appointed Chairman of Ógra Fianna Fáil, by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, at the National Youth Conference in Tullamore, County Offaly. In 2007, Calleary chaired the first ever Ógra Fianna Fáil branch meeting in Northern Ireland, at Queen's University Belfast.

On 22 April 2009, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with special responsibility for Labour Affairs.[3] On 23 March 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, responsibility for Public Service Transformation was added to Calleary's role.[4][5]

In the Fianna Fáil Front Bench, he served as Opposition Spokesperson for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from 2011 to 2016 and Opposition Spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2016 to 2018.

In March 2018, he was appointed Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil by party leader Micheál Martin.[6]

Following the 2020 general election, Calleary served as Fianna Fáil's chief negotiator as the party worked on a deal with Fine Gael and the Green Party to enter into government as a coalition.[7]

On 27 June 2020, at the formation of the new government, Calleary was appointed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility as Chief Whip.[8] Although Calleary was deputy leader of Fianna Fáil and chief negotiator for Fianna Fáil, he was not appointed to cabinet. The lack of any representative in the cabinet from the west of Ireland was heavily criticised by some.[9][10][11] An article by the Mayo-based Western People declared it "a cabinet fit for Cromwell".[12] While Calleary accepted the role, he publicly acknowledged that he was "angry and disappointed" not to have been offered a departmental portfolio and said that he still saw himself eventually leading a department.[13] On 1 July, he was appointed to the further position of Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport.[14]

On 15 July 2020, following the sacking of Barry Cowen from the position, Calleary was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine by Micheál Martin.[15]

On 20 August 2020, Calleary became the centre of the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal when news broke that Calleary and 81 others attended an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner the previous day, in breach of Government COVID-19 guidelines.[16] He resigned as Agriculture Minister the following morning.[17][18][19] Calleary stated to MidWest Radio that "I made a big mistake. I shouldn't have gone to the function. I didn't want to let people down and I take responsibility for that mistake".[20] Michael Clifford and Paul Hosford (who broke the story on the Oireachtas Golf Society Scandal alongside Aoife Moore) of the Irish Examiner suggested that the scandal had "left [Calleary's] political career in tatters" and had deeply rocked the Martin Cabinet.[21][22] Three days later on 24 August 2020, he also resigned as Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil.[23]

See also[]

  • Families in the Oireachtas

References[]

  1. ^ "Dara Calleary". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Dara Calleary". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  3. ^ Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order (S.I. No. 249 of 2009). 23 June 2009. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 12 April 2021, Irish Statute Book.
  4. ^ "Killeen, Carey promoted to Cabinet". RTÉ News. 23 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  5. ^ Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order (S.I. No. 333 of 2010). 29 June 2010. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 9 April 2021, Irish Statute Book.; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order (S.I. No. 62 of 2011). 1 February 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 9 April 2021, Irish Statute Book.
  6. ^ Bardon, Sarah (29 March 2018). "Fianna Fáil reshuffle: Dara Calleary appointed deputy leader". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Formal talks on programme for government begin". RTÉ News. 7 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  8. ^ Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order (S.I. No. 246 of 2020). 13 July 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 18 July 2020, Irish Statute Book.
  9. ^ "Criticism over lack of west-based Cabinet members in new Government". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  10. ^ Quann, Jack. "'Huge anger, huge annoyance' over no minister from the west". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Strong Dàil criticism over new Cabinet's absence of representation from western region". Connaught Telegraph. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. ^ Laffey, James (29 June 2020). "A Cabinet fit for Cromwell". Western People. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  13. ^ Clarke, Vivienne (29 June 2020). "Dara Calleary 'angry and disappointed' at not making Minister". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 7 July 2020". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Calleary replaces Cowen as Minister for Agriculture". RTÉ News. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  16. ^ Moore, Aoife (20 August 2020). "Minister and 80 people at golf event in breach of health guidelines". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Dara Calleary resigns from Cabinet over Clifden event". RTÉ News. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Dara Calleary has resigned as Agriculture Minister following golf dinner controversy". Journal. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Hogan says he 'complied fully' with quarantine requirements". 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Government plunged into turmoil as public anger grows in wake of golf dinner controversy". Journal.ie. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  21. ^ Clifford, Michael (21 August 2020). "Golfgate the latest in a string of disasters that has beset Martin's reign as Taoiseach". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  22. ^ Hosford, Paul (21 August 2020). "Dara Calleary's career in tatters as he becomes second Agriculture Minister to quit in five weeks". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Dara Calleary resigns as deputy leader of Fianna Fáíl". Irish Examiner. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

External links[]

Oireachtas
Preceded by Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Mayo
2007–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Office abolished
Preceded by Government Chief Whip
2020 		Succeeded by
Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Sport
2020
Preceded by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
2020 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""