Denis Foley
Encyclopedia
Denis Foley is a retired Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the constituency of Kerry North for 18 years, broken by a 3-year stint as a senator
.
A former rates collector
, in the 1970s Foley successful ran the Central Ballroom in Ballybunion
and the ballroom of the Brandon Hotel. He also had an interest in the Hillgrove Hotel in Dingle at one stage, and had extensive property holdings in Tralee.
Foley was a member of Kerry County Council
from 1979, and was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1981 general election
. He retained his seat through three general elections until his defeat at the 1989 general election
to party rival Tom McEllistrim (who, unlike Foley, was a supporter of the then-leader of Fianna Fáil, Charles Haughey
). He was then elected to the 19th Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, and regained his Dáil seat at the 1992 general election
, holding it until he retired at the 2002 general election
. His daughter, Norma Foley (a member of Tralee Town Council and Kerry County Council
) unsuccessfully sought the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the seat in 2002, but was selected for the 2007 election, when she did not win a seat.
Following revelations that he had held an offshore account with Ansbacher Bank to avoid tax, he resigned from Fianna Fáil on 9 February 2000, becoming an independent
TD. He had previously resigned from the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (on which he had been involved in the questioning of an official of the Ansbacher bank in which he held an undeclared deposit) and in May 2000 he became the first TD to receive a penalty for breaching the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 when he was suspended from the Dáil for 14 days.
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 was 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 constituency of Kerry North for 18 years, broken by a 3-year stint as a senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
.
A former rates collector
Rates (tax)
Rates are a type of property tax system in the United Kingdom, and in places with systems deriving from the British one, the proceeds of which are used to fund local government...
, in the 1970s Foley successful ran the Central Ballroom in Ballybunion
Ballybunion
Ballybunion or Ballybunnion is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, from the town of Listowel. There are castle ruins near the town, although all that remains is a single wall, and two golf courses in the area including the famous Ballybunion Golf Club, a top class Links...
and the ballroom of the Brandon Hotel. He also had an interest in the Hillgrove Hotel in Dingle at one stage, and had extensive property holdings in Tralee.
Foley was a member of Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kerry in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
from 1979, and was first 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 1981 general election
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
. He retained his seat through three general elections until his defeat at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
to party rival Tom McEllistrim (who, unlike Foley, was a supporter of the then-leader of Fianna Fáil, Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
). He was then elected to the 19th Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, and regained his Dáil seat at the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
, holding it until he retired at the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
. His daughter, Norma Foley (a member of Tralee Town Council and Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kerry in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
) unsuccessfully sought the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the seat in 2002, but was selected for the 2007 election, when she did not win a seat.
Following revelations that he had held an offshore account with Ansbacher Bank to avoid tax, he resigned from Fianna Fáil on 9 February 2000, becoming an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
TD. He had previously resigned from the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (on which he had been involved in the questioning of an official of the Ansbacher bank in which he held an undeclared deposit) and in May 2000 he became the first TD to receive a penalty for breaching the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 when he was suspended from the Dáil for 14 days.