Pat Carey
Encyclopedia
Pat Carey is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Dublin North West
constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010–11, and also as Government Chief Whip
from 2008–10.
, County Kerry
in 1947. He was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Milltown
, County Kerry and went to St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra
, Dublin to complete his teacher training. He subsequently studied at University College Dublin
and Trinity College, Dublin
where he received a Bachelor of Arts
degree and a H.Dip Education respectively. Before entering politics Carey was a national school teacher and a deputy principal.
for the Finglas
area. He remained on the council until the abolition of the dual mandate
in 2003. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil
Teachta Dála
(TD) for the constituency of Dublin North West
at the 1997 general election
, defeating the sitting Fine Gael
TD Mary Flaherty
to win a second seat for the Fianna Fáil in the 4-seater constituency. He was re-elected at the 2002 general election
. Re-elected at the 2007 general election, he was appointed as Minister of State
at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
with special responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs.
In 2008, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
(Government Chief Whip) by Brian Cowen
. He was also appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for Active Citizenship.
On 23 March 2010, he was appointed as Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. On 20 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Transport, following the resignation of Noel Dempsey
. On 23 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, following the resignation of Eamon Ryan
.
He lost his seat at the 2011 general election. On 28 March 2011, the Sunday Independent
reported that Carey had "appointed another party crony to a key State board on his final day in office".
Carey will receive a lump sum of €165,000 and an annual pension of €45,000.
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 Dublin North West
Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010–11, and also as Government Chief Whip
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, officially styled as the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, is the Chief Whip of the Government of Ireland and is the most senior Minister of State...
from 2008–10.
Early and private life
Carey was born in CastlemaineCastlemaine, County Kerry
Castlemaine is a small town in County Kerry, southwest Ireland. It lies on the N70 national secondary road between Killorglin and Tralee.-History:...
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
in 1947. He was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Milltown
Milltown, County Kerry
Milltown is a small town on the N70 national secondary road between major towns Tralee and Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland.Milltown stands roughly four miles from Killorglin. Milltown is packed with seven pubs, two take-away restaurants, a vet, a butchers shop, a local church, three schools and...
, County Kerry and went to St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra
Drumcondra, Dublin
Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
, Dublin to complete his teacher training. He subsequently studied at 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 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...
where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree and a H.Dip Education respectively. Before entering politics Carey was a national school teacher and a deputy principal.
Political career
Carey first entered local politics in 1985 when he was elected to Dublin City CouncilDublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
for the Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
area. He remained on the council until the abolition of the dual mandate
Dual mandate
A dual mandate is the practice in which elected officials served in more than one elected or other public position simultaneously. This practice is known as double jobbing in Britain and distinguished from double dipping in the United States For example, suppose a...
in 2003. He was elected as a 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...
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 Dublin North West
Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
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....
, defeating the sitting 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...
TD Mary Flaherty
Mary Flaherty (politician)
Mary Flaherty is a former Irish Fine Gael Party politician. She was a Teachta Dála for 16 years, and served briefly as a junior minister in her first year in Dáil Éireann....
to win a second seat for the Fianna Fáil in the 4-seater constituency. He 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...
. Re-elected at the 2007 general election, he was appointed 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....
at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is a senior minister at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is Frances Fitzgerald, TD.-Overview:...
with special responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs.
In 2008, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, officially styled as the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, is the Chief Whip of the Government of Ireland and is the most senior Minister of State...
(Government Chief Whip) by Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
. He was also appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for Active Citizenship.
On 23 March 2010, he was appointed as Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. On 20 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Transport, following the resignation of Noel Dempsey
Noel Dempsey
Noel Dempsey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Meath and Meath West constituencies from 1987 to 2011...
. On 23 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, following the resignation of Eamon Ryan
Eamon Ryan
Eamon Ryan is an Irish politician and leader of the Irish Green Party. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency from 2002 to 2011, and served as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2011....
.
He lost his seat at the 2011 general election. On 28 March 2011, the Sunday Independent
Sunday Independent
The Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
reported that Carey had "appointed another party crony to a key State board on his final day in office".
Carey will receive a lump sum of €165,000 and an annual pension of €45,000.