Willie Penrose
Encyclopedia
Willie Penrose is an Irish
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency since May 2007. He was Minister of State for Housing and Planning
from March to November 2011 when he resigned his position and also the Labour Party whip
over the closure of an army barracks.
Penrose was born in Ballynacargy
, County Westmeath
, and educated at St. Mary's CBS
Mullingar
, Multyfarnham Agricultural College, University College, Dublin, and the King's Inns
. He qualified as a barrister
before entering into politics. Penrose first held public office when he was elected to Westmeath County Council
at the 1984 local elections. At the 1992 general election
he was first elected to Dáil Éireann
as a TD for the Westmeath
constituency. On that occasion the Labour Party won a record 33 Dáil seats, a feat that was surpassed at the 2011 General election.
In 2002, Penrose was a candidate for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party. Although he was part of a joint ticket with Pat Rabbitte
, who won the leadership comfortably, he was narrowly defeated for the deputy leadership by Liz McManus
, polling 1,636 votes to McManus' 1,728.
.
On 15 November 2011, he announced his resignation as Minister of State due to his opposition to the Government's decision to close the army barracks in Mullingar
. Penrose said: "I understand and appreciate that significant efforts were made by my Labour colleagues in Government, who fully understood the depths of my feelings in this regard, to resolve this matter, but to no avail." Accepting the resignation - the first since the new government took office earlier this year - Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore
commented, "It is with regret that I accept the resignation of Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Willie Penrose, Willie Penrose is a valued colleague, with a long and proud record of service to the Labour Party and to Longford/Westmeath". He also resigned the Labour parliamentary party whip.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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 Longford–Westmeath constituency since May 2007. He was Minister of State for Housing and Planning
Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil
This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President...
from March to November 2011 when he resigned his position and also the Labour 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...
over the closure of an army barracks.
Penrose was born in Ballynacargy
Ballynacargy
Ballynacargy, or Ballinacarrigy, is a small village in County Westmeath, Ireland on the Royal Canal and the R393 regional road. The last official commercial navigation of the canal took place in 1955.-History:...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, and educated at St. Mary's CBS
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, Multyfarnham Agricultural College, University College, Dublin, and the 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...
. He qualified as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
before entering into politics. Penrose first held public office when he was elected to Westmeath County Council
Westmeath County Council
Westmeath County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Westmeath 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...
at the 1984 local elections. 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...
he 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...
as a TD for the Westmeath
Westmeath (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Westmeath was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1992 to 2007. The constituency was served by 3 deputies...
constituency. On that occasion the Labour Party won a record 33 Dáil seats, a feat that was surpassed at the 2011 General election.
In 2002, Penrose was a candidate for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party. Although he was part of a joint ticket with Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
, who won the leadership comfortably, he was narrowly defeated for the deputy leadership by Liz McManus
Liz McManus
Elizabeth "Liz" McManus is a former Irish politician. She served as a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency from 1992 to 2011.-Personal life:...
, polling 1,636 votes to McManus' 1,728.
Minister of State (2011)
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for Housing and PlanningMinisters of State of the 31st Dáil
This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President...
.
On 15 November 2011, he announced his resignation as Minister of State due to his opposition to the Government's decision to close the army barracks in Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
. Penrose said: "I understand and appreciate that significant efforts were made by my Labour colleagues in Government, who fully understood the depths of my feelings in this regard, to resolve this matter, but to no avail." Accepting the resignation - the first since the new government took office earlier this year - Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and...
commented, "It is with regret that I accept the resignation of Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Willie Penrose, Willie Penrose is a valued colleague, with a long and proud record of service to the Labour Party and to Longford/Westmeath". He also resigned the Labour parliamentary party whip.