Eugene Regan
Encyclopedia
Eugene Regan is an Irish
barrister, Fine Gael
politician and a former member of Seanad Éireann
.
, University of Brussels and King's Inns
. Regan qualified as a barrister in 1985, commenced practice in 1995 and became a Senior Counsel
in 2005. He specialises in European law cases, many with a competition, state aid, public procurement or agricultural dimension.
During a career which began as a intern
to Commissioner
Patrick Hillery
in 1973, Regan worked with Alan Dukes in the mid-1970s as an economist for the Irish Farmers' Association
in Dublin and Brussels.
Regan served in the cabinet of Peter Sutherland when the latter was EU Commissioner for Social Affairs and Competition. Following his return to Ireland from Brussels, he spent eight years as general manager of Agra Trading, a Dublin based company that trades agricultural produce internationally.
An ardent pro-European, he is Chairman of the Lawyers Group and Project Leader of the Justice and Home Affairs Group in the Institute of International and European Affairs
(IIEA), and has contributed to many publications on European law matters, both legal and media. He was also a leading advocate and campaigner in the Amsterdam Treaty
and Treaty of Nice
referendum campaigns.
He lives in Monkstown, County Dublin
with his Danish-born wife, Kista and two daughters.
on 11 June 2004, having spent in excess of €45,000 on his election. On his election to the Seanad Eugene was appointed by Enda Kenny as party Seanad spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform and was made a member of the Joint Committee on the Constitution and the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
Regan, along with Seán Barrett
and fellow Councillor John Bailey
, were selected as Fine Gael candidates to stand at the 2007 general election in the Dún Laoghaire
constituency. Only Barrett was elected for Fine Gael. Regan received the support of former Taoiseach
Garret FitzGerald
who intervened in a general election for the first time since leaving the Dáil in 1992. Support also came from Alan Dukes
and Peter Sutherland
. Regan served as Cathaoirleach
of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council from 2006–2007. He was elected to the Seanad on the Agricultural Panel on 24 July 2007.
He is known for bringing the issue of the Willie O'Dea affidavit controversy
to the attention of the Oireachtas which led to O'Dea's resignation as Minister of Defense.
He did not contest the 2011 Seanad election.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
barrister, 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...
politician and a former member of Seanad Éireann
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...
.
Early and personal life
He was educated at University College DublinUniversity 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...
, University of Brussels and King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
. Regan qualified as a barrister in 1985, commenced practice in 1995 and became a Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
in 2005. He specialises in European law cases, many with a competition, state aid, public procurement or agricultural dimension.
During a career which began as a intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
to Commissioner
European Commissioner
A European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each Member within the college holds a specific portfolio and are led by the President of the European Commission...
Patrick Hillery
Patrick Hillery
Patrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...
in 1973, Regan worked with Alan Dukes in the mid-1970s as an economist for the Irish Farmers' Association
Irish Farmers' Association
The Irish Farmers' Association is a national organisation to represent the interests of all sectors of farming in the Republic of Ireland...
in Dublin and Brussels.
Regan served in the cabinet of Peter Sutherland when the latter was EU Commissioner for Social Affairs and Competition. Following his return to Ireland from Brussels, he spent eight years as general manager of Agra Trading, a Dublin based company that trades agricultural produce internationally.
An ardent pro-European, he is Chairman of the Lawyers Group and Project Leader of the Justice and Home Affairs Group in the Institute of International and European Affairs
Institute of International and European Affairs
The Institute of International and European Affairs is Ireland’s leading think tank on European and International affairs and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. Its extensive research programme aims to provide its members with high-level analysis and forecasts...
(IIEA), and has contributed to many publications on European law matters, both legal and media. He was also a leading advocate and campaigner in the Amsterdam Treaty
Amsterdam Treaty
The Amsterdam Treaty, officially the Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty of the European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, was signed on 2 October 1997, and entered into force on 1 May 1999; it made substantial changes to the Maastricht Treaty,...
and Treaty of Nice
Treaty of Nice
The Treaty of Nice was signed by European leaders on 26 February 2001 and came into force on 1 February 2003. It amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome...
referendum campaigns.
He lives in Monkstown, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
with his Danish-born wife, Kista and two daughters.
Political career
He was elected for the first time to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County CouncilDún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the local authority for the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. It serves a population of...
on 11 June 2004, having spent in excess of €45,000 on his election. On his election to the Seanad Eugene was appointed by Enda Kenny as party Seanad spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform and was made a member of the Joint Committee on the Constitution and the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
Regan, along with Seán Barrett
Seán Barrett (Fine Gael)
Seán Barrett is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann since March 2011. He served as Minister for Defence from 1995 to 1997, and later he was party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency.- Early life :He was...
and fellow Councillor John Bailey
John Bailey (Irish politician)
John Bailey is an Irish Fine Gael politician who is an elected member of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. He spent 10 years as chairman of The Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.-Fake endorsement letter incident:...
, were selected as Fine Gael candidates to stand at the 2007 general election in the Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency. Only Barrett was elected for Fine Gael. Regan received the support of former 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...
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
who intervened in a general election for the first time since leaving the Dáil in 1992. Support also came from Alan Dukes
Alan Dukes
Alan Dukes is a former Irish politician who served as leader of the Fine Gael political party and Teachta Dála for Kildare and Kildare South. He holds the distinction of being one of only five TDs to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. He lost his seat in the 2002 general election...
and Peter Sutherland
Peter Sutherland
Peter Denis Sutherland, KCMG is an Irish international businessman and former Attorney General of Ireland, associated with the Fine Gael party . He is a barrister by profession, and is also Senior Counsel at the Irish Bar...
. Regan served as Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council from 2006–2007. He was elected to the Seanad on the Agricultural Panel on 24 July 2007.
He is known for bringing the issue of the Willie O'Dea affidavit controversy
Willie O'Dea affidavit controversy
The Willie O'Dea affidavit controversy or Brothelgate refers to a 2010 political controversy in Ireland surrounding former Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea....
to the attention of the Oireachtas which led to O'Dea's resignation as Minister of Defense.
He did not contest the 2011 Seanad election.