Denis Naughten
Encyclopedia
Denis Naughten is an Irish
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency. He sits as an independent
TD, having lost the Fine Gael
parliamentary party whip
in July 2011.
, County Roscommon
. He was educated St. Aloysius College, Athlone, University College Dublin
and University College Cork where he did a research project in Food Microbiology.
in 1997 to the seat vacant since the death of his father Liam Naughten
. At the 1997 general election
he was elected to Dáil Éireann
for the Longford–Roscommon constituency and was re-elected at the 2002 general election
. He was also a member of Roscommon County Council
and the Western Health Board from January 1997 to October 2003.
Within his first few weeks in the Dáil he became Fine Gael spokesperson on Youth Affairs, School Transport and Adult Education. Between 2000 and 2001 he served as Opposition spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Although indicating that he might, Naughten declined to stand in the party's leadership election
in 2002. He was later appointed spokesperson on Transport. He was party spokesperson on Agriculture from 2004–2007.
He was re-elected at the 2007 general election for the new constituency of Roscommon–South Leitrim. He was party spokesperson on Immigration and Integration from 2007–2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton
's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny
. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, Naughten was not re-appointed to the front bench. In October 2010, he was appointed as party Deputy spokesperson on Health with special responsibility for Primary Care and Disability.
He was re-elected at the 2011 general election. He voted against the government's decision to close the Roscommon County Hospital emergency department on 6 July 2011. He lost the Fine Gael party whip the following day.
He is also a member of the AWEPA
Governing Council.
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,...
politician. He is currently 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 Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency. He sits as 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, having lost the Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
parliamentary party whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in July 2011.
Education
Naughten was born in DrumDrum, County Roscommon
Drum is a village in south County Roscommon about 5 km west of Athlone. In the area north of the village there is located the Meehambee Dolmen, a portal tomb estimated to be 5,500 years old. In the village there are a number of historical and religious sites, including Drum Cemetery, St....
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was educated St. Aloysius College, Athlone, University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and University College Cork where he did a research project in Food Microbiology.
Political career
Naughten was elected at a by-election to Seanad ÉireannSeanad 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...
in 1997 to the seat vacant since the death of his father Liam Naughten
Liam Naughten
Liam Naughten was an Irish Fine Gael politician, who was a TD for the constituency of Roscommon from 1982 to 1989, and also served as a Senator....
. At the 1997 general election
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a 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...
for the Longford–Roscommon constituency and was re-elected 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...
. He was also a member of Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Roscommon 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...
and the Western Health Board from January 1997 to October 2003.
Within his first few weeks in the Dáil he became Fine Gael spokesperson on Youth Affairs, School Transport and Adult Education. Between 2000 and 2001 he served as Opposition spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Although indicating that he might, Naughten declined to stand in the party's leadership election
Fine Gael leadership election, 2002
The 2002 Fine Gael leadership election began in May 2002, when Michael Noonan resigned as party leader due to the party's poor performance in the 2002 general election. Noonan had only been party leader for little over fifteen months. His successor was elected by the members of the Fine Gael...
in 2002. He was later appointed spokesperson on Transport. He was party spokesperson on Agriculture from 2004–2007.
He was re-elected at the 2007 general election for the new constituency of Roscommon–South Leitrim. He was party spokesperson on Immigration and Integration from 2007–2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton is an Irish Fine Gael politician and has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North Central constituency since 1982. He was appointed as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on 9 March 2011...
's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, Naughten was not re-appointed to the front bench. In October 2010, he was appointed as party Deputy spokesperson on Health with special responsibility for Primary Care and Disability.
He was re-elected at the 2011 general election. He voted against the government's decision to close the Roscommon County Hospital emergency department on 6 July 2011. He lost the Fine Gael party whip the following day.
He is also a member of the AWEPA
AWEPA
The Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa is an international non-governmental organisation founded by European Parliamentarians to reduce poverty and to protect human rights by supporting the well functioning of parliaments in Africa and by keeping Africa on the political agenda in...
Governing Council.