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Dara CallearyTD
Calleary in 2024
Minister of State
2022–	Enterprise, Trade and Employment
2020	Government Chief Whip
2020	Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht
2020	Transport, Tourism and Sport
2010–2011	Taoiseach
2010–2011	Finance
2010–2011	Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
2009–2010	Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
In office 15 July 2020 – 21 August 2020
Taoiseach	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Micheál Martin (acting)
Succeeded by	Micheál Martin (acting)
Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil
In office 29 March 2018 – 23 August 2020
Leader	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Éamon Ó Cuív (2012)
Succeeded by	Jack Chambers (2024)
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office May 2007
Constituency	Mayo
Personal details
Born	(1973-05-10) 10 May 1973 (age 51) Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Siobhán Greavy ​(m. 2012)​
Parent	Seán Calleary (father)
Relatives	Phelim Calleary (grandfather)
Education	St Muredach's College
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin

Dara Calleary (born 10 May 1973) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation since August 2022. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency since the 2007 general election. He served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from July to August 2020, Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil from 2018 to 2020 and Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2009 to 2011.

Early life

Calleary was born in Ballina, County Mayo, in 1973. He was educated at St Oliver Plunkett National School and St Muredach's College. He later studied at Trinity College Dublin. He previously worked with Chambers Ireland, the largest business organisation in Ireland, and also worked in an Irish bank.

Calleary is the son of Seán Calleary who was a TD for Mayo East from 1973 to 1992, and the grandson of Phelim Calleary who was a TD for Mayo North from 1952 to 1969.

Political career

Calleary has been a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive since 1997 and has served on party policy committees on Transport, Enterprise and Employment, Agriculture and Youth Affairs.

He was first elected to the Dáil at the 2007 general election. In 2007, Calleary chaired the first ever Ógra Fianna Fáil branch meeting in Northern Ireland, at Queen's University Belfast. In February 2008, Calleary was appointed Chairman of Ógra Fianna Fáil, by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, at the National Youth Conference in Tullamore, County Offaly.

Minister of State

On 22 April 2009, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with special responsibility for labour affairs. On 23 March 2010, he was given additional responsibilities, as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, at the Department of Finance and at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (following departmental restructuring), with special responsibilities for public service transformation and labour affairs.

Opposition spokesperson

In the Fianna Fáil Front Bench, he served as Opposition Spokesperson for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from 2011 to 2016 and Opposition Spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2016 to 2018.

In March 2018, he was appointed Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil by party leader Micheál Martin.

Following the 2020 general election, Calleary served as Fianna Fáil's chief negotiator as the party worked on a deal with Fine Gael and the Green Party to enter into government as a coalition.

Appointment as Government Chief Whip

On 27 June 2020, at the formation of the new government, Calleary was appointed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility as Chief Whip. Although Calleary was deputy leader of Fianna Fáil and chief negotiator for Fianna Fáil, he was not appointed to cabinet. The lack of any representative in the cabinet from the west of Ireland was heavily criticised by some. An article by the Mayo-based Western People declared it "a cabinet fit for Cromwell". While Calleary accepted the role, he publicly acknowledged that he was "angry and disappointed" not to have been offered a departmental portfolio and said that he still saw himself eventually leading a department. On 1 July, he was appointed to the further position of Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport.

Appointment to cabinet and resignation

On 15 July 2020, following the sacking of Barry Cowen from the position, Calleary was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine by Micheál Martin.

On 20 August 2020, Calleary was implicated in the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal when news broke that Calleary and 81 others attended an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner the previous day, in apparent breach of Government COVID-19 guidelines. He resigned as Agriculture Minister the following morning. Calleary stated to MidWest Radio that "I made a big mistake. I shouldn't have gone to the function. I didn't want to let people down and I take responsibility for that mistake". Michael Clifford and Paul Hosford of the Irish Examiner, suggested that the scandal had "left political career in tatters" and had deeply rocked the Martin Cabinet. Three days later on 24 August 2020, he also resigned as Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil. In February 2022, a District Court concluded that the event had not breached public health guidelines and had been safely organised.

Return as Minister of State

On 31 August 2022, following the resignation of Robert Troy, Calleary was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

Following the appointment of Jack Chambers as Minister for Finance, Calleary was appointed as super junior minister attending cabinet.

At the 2024 general election, Calleary was re-elected to the Dáil.

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

References

1. ^ "Dara Calleary replaces Troy as Minister of State". RTÉ News. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
2. "Dara Calleary". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
3. "Dara Calleary". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
4. "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2009 (49): 833–834. 19 June 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
5. Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 249 of 2009). Signed on 23 June 2009. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
6. "Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 March 2010. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
7. "Killeen, Carey promoted to Cabinet". RTÉ News. 23 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
8. Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 333 of 2010). Signed on 29 June 2010. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 62 of 2011). Signed on 1 February 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.
9. Bardon, Sarah (29 March 2018). "Fianna Fáil reshuffle: Dara Calleary appointed deputy leader". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
10. "Formal talks on programme for government begin". RTÉ News. 7 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
11. "Assignment of Departments of State; Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2020 (54): 778–779. 7 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
12. Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 246 of 2020). Signed on 13 July 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 July 2020.
13. "Criticism over lack of west-based Cabinet members in new Government". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
14. Quann, Jack. "'Huge anger, huge annoyance' over no minister from the west". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
15. "Strong Dàil criticism over new Cabinet's absence of representation from western region". Connaught Telegraph. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
16. Laffey, James (29 June 2020). "A Cabinet fit for Cromwell". Western People. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
17. Clarke, Vivienne (29 June 2020). "Dara Calleary 'angry and disappointed' at not making Minister". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
18. "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 7 July 2020". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
19. "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2020 (57): 820–821. 17 June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
20. "Calleary replaces Cowen as Minister for Agriculture". RTÉ News. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
21. Moore, Aoife (20 August 2020). "Minister and 80 people at golf event in breach of health guidelines". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
22. "Dara Calleary resigns from Cabinet over Clifden event". RTÉ News. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
23. "Dara Calleary has resigned as Agriculture Minister following golf dinner controversy". Journal. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
24. "Hogan says he 'complied fully' with quarantine requirements". RTÉ.ie. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
25. "Government plunged into turmoil as public anger grows in wake of golf dinner controversy". Journal.ie. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
26. Clifford, Michael (21 August 2020). "Golfgate the latest in a string of disasters that has beset Martin's reign as Taoiseach". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
27. Hosford, Paul (21 August 2020). "Dara Calleary's career in tatters as he becomes second Agriculture Minister to quit in five weeks". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
28. "Dara Calleary resigns as deputy leader of Fianna Fáíl". Irish Examiner. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
29. "Appointment of Minister of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2022 (69): 1013. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
30. "Dara Calleary Appointed as Minister of State". gov.ie. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
31. Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 486 of 2022). Signed on 27 September 2022. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 31 October 2022.
32. Hurley, Sandra (27 June 2024). "Dara Calleary named as junior minister attending Cabinet". RTÉ News.

External links

• Media related to Dara Calleary at Wikimedia Commons
• Dara Calleary's page on the Fianna Fáil website

• 1973 births
• Living people
• Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
• Calleary family
• Fianna Fáil TDs
• Members of the 30th Dáil
• Members of the 31st Dáil
• Members of the 32nd Dáil
• Members of the 33rd Dáil
• Ministers of State of the 30th Dáil
• People from Ballina, County Mayo
• Politicians from County Mayo
• Ministers of State of the 33rd Dáil
• Government Chief Whip (Ireland)
• Ministers for agriculture of Ireland
• Members of the 34th Dáil