Dara Calleary
Encyclopedia
Dara Calleary is an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Mayo constituency
since 2007. He served as Minister of State
for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation from 2009 to 2011.
Calleary lives in Ballina
and was educated at St Oliver Plunkett National School and St Muredachs College in that town, and Trinity College, Dublin
. He 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 previously worked with Chambers Ireland, the largest business organisation in Ireland and also worked in an Irish bank.
Like many Irish politicians, Calleary is a member of a political dynasty. He is a son of Seán Calleary
who was a TD for Mayo East
from 1973 to 1992 and the grandson of Phelim Calleary
who was elected a Member of the 14th Dáil
for Mayo North
at the 1952 by-election and served until retiring at the 1969 general election
.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2007 general election. In February 2008, Calleary was appointed chairman of Ógra Fianna Fáil
by the then Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
at the National Youth Conference in Tullamore
, County Offaly
. In 2007 Calleary chaired the first ever Ógra Fianna Fáil
cumann
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
. On 23 March 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, responsibility for Public Service Transformation was added to his role.
He is currently the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Mayo constituency
Mayo (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Mayo is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects five deputies...
since 2007. He served as Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation from 2009 to 2011.
Calleary lives in Ballina
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
and was educated at St Oliver Plunkett National School and St Muredachs College in that town, and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He 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 previously worked with Chambers Ireland, the largest business organisation in Ireland and also worked in an Irish bank.
Like many Irish politicians, Calleary is a member of a political dynasty. He is a son of Seán Calleary
Seán Calleary
Seán Calleary is a former Irish politician. He was a Fianna Fáil member of Dáil Éireann from 1973 to 1992 representing the Mayo East constituency....
who was a TD for Mayo East
Mayo East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Mayo East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1969 to 1997. The constituency was served by 3 deputies...
from 1973 to 1992 and the grandson of Phelim Calleary
Phelim Calleary
Phelim Alfred Calleary was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Mayo North at the June 1952 by-election, caused by the death of P. J. Ruttledge...
who was elected a Member of the 14th Dáil
Members of the 14th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 14th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1951 general election on 30 May 1951 and met on 13 June 1951. The 14th Dáil was dissolved by President Seán T. O'Kelly, at the request of the...
for Mayo North
Mayo North (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Mayo North was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1969...
at the 1952 by-election and served until retiring at the 1969 general election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 2007 general election. In February 2008, Calleary was appointed chairman of Ógra Fianna Fáil
Ógra Fianna Fáil
Ógra Fianna Fáil is the youth wing of Fianna Fáil, a political party in Ireland. Within Fianna Fáil it is simply called Ógra . It was founded in 1975 by party leader Jack Lynch under the guidance of party general secretary, Séamus Brennan. In the Republic, it is active in some major Third Level...
by the then Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
at the National Youth Conference in Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
. In 2007 Calleary chaired the first ever Ógra Fianna Fáil
Ógra Fianna Fáil
Ógra Fianna Fáil is the youth wing of Fianna Fáil, a political party in Ireland. Within Fianna Fáil it is simply called Ógra . It was founded in 1975 by party leader Jack Lynch under the guidance of party general secretary, Séamus Brennan. In the Republic, it is active in some major Third Level...
cumann
Cumann
A cumann is the lowest local unit or branch of a number of Irish political parties. The term cumann may also be used to describe a non-political association....
meeting in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
at Queen's University Belfast.
On 22 April 2009 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
with special responsibility for Labour Affairs
Minister of State (with special responsibility for Labour Affairs)
The Minister of State, who had special responsibility for Labour Affairs, was officially styled Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment , and was a junior ministerial post in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the Government of Ireland...
. On 23 March 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, responsibility for Public Service Transformation was added to his role.
He is currently the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence.