Fergus O'Dowd

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fergus O'Dowd
TD
Fergus O'Dowd 2013.jpg
Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 September 2020
Preceded byKathleen Funchion
Chair of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport
In office
8 July 2017 – 15 September 2020
Preceded byBrendan Griffin
Succeeded byKieran O'Donnell
Minister of State
2011–2014Environment, Community and Local Government
2011–2014Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 2002
ConstituencyLouth
Senator
In office
12 September 1997 – 30 May 2002
ConstituencyAdministrative Panel
Personal details
Born (1948-09-01) 1 September 1948 (age 73)
Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse(s)Agnes O'Dowd
RelationsNiall O'Dowd (Brother)
Children3
Alma materNUI Maynooth

Fergus O'Dowd (born 1 September 1948) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency since the 2002 general election. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in September 2020. He previously served as Chair of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2017 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2014.[1][2]

O'Dowd was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, in 1948. He was educated by the Christian Brothers in Drogheda, County Louth. He lives in the town. He served three terms as Chairman of Drogheda Town Council: 1977–78, 1981–82 and 1994–95. He served on Louth County Council between 1979 and 2003.

O'Dowd is married to Agnes O'Dowd and they have three sons. He is a brother of Niall O'Dowd, publisher of the Irish Voice newspaper in New York City.[3] Another brother, Michael O'Dowd, stood against him for Renua at the 2016 general election.[4] Yet another brother lives in France.[5]

A teacher before entering politics, O'Dowd was elected to Seanad Éireann as a Senator for the Administrative Panel in 1997. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election, on his fourth attempt.[6] He was immediately appointed Fine Gael spokesperson for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. He was party Spokesperson on Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 2004 to 2007, and on Transport and Marine from 2007 to 2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, O'Dowd was appointed as party Spokesperson on Education and Skills.[7]

On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for the NewEra Project.[8][2][9] He was dropped as a Minister of State in a reshuffle in July 2014.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Fergus O'Dowd". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b Government economic stimulus plan
  3. ^ "Drumm says words taken out of context". Sunday Independent. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  4. ^ "A Fine Gael TD is being challenged by his own brother: Michael O'Dowd is running for Renua against his brother, former minister Fergus O'Dowd". TheJournal.ie. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  5. ^ O'Dowd, Fergus. Tonight with Vincent Browne. 22 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Fergus O'Dowd". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  7. ^ "Bruton & Noonan return to Fine Gael frontbench". RTÉ News. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2011 (23): 402–403. 22 March 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. ^ Energy and Natural Resources (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order (S.I. No. 631 of 2011). 6 December 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 7 April 2021, Irish Statute Book.
  10. ^ "Simon Harris among new Ministers of State". RTÉ News. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.

External links[]

Oireachtas
Preceded by
Brendan McGahon
(Fine Gael)
 Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Louth
2002–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""