Charles Flanagan

Charlie Flanagan (born 1 November 1956) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency since 2020, and previously from 1987 to 2002, 2007 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2020 for the Laois constituency. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence in September 2020. He previously served as Minister for Justice and Equality from 2017 to 2020, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2014 to 2017, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from May to July 2014 and Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2011 to 2014.[1]

Charles Flanagan

Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
Assumed office
15 September 2020
Preceded byBrendan Smith
Minister for Justice and Equality
In office
14 June 2017  27 June 2020
TaoiseachLeo Varadkar
Preceded byFrances Fitzgerald
Succeeded byHelen McEntee
(Justice)
Roderic O'Gorman
(Equality)
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office
11 July 2014  14 June 2017
TaoiseachEnda Kenny
Preceded byEamon Gilmore
Succeeded bySimon Coveney
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
In office
8 May 2014  11 July 2014
TaoiseachEnda Kenny
Preceded byFrances Fitzgerald
Succeeded byJames Reilly
Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
In office
9 March 2011  8 May 2014
LeaderEnda Kenny
Preceded byPádraic McCormack
Succeeded byDan Neville
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
In office
May 2007  February 2016
In office
February 1987  May 2002
ConstituencyLaois–Offaly
In office
February 2016  February 2020
ConstituencyLaois
Personal details
Born
Charles Flanagan

(1956-11-01) 1 November 1956
Mountmellick, County Laois, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse(s)Mary Flanagan (m. 1994)
RelationsOliver J. Flanagan (Father)
Children2
Alma materUniversity College Dublin

Personal life

His father was Oliver J. Flanagan, an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Defence in the late 1970s. Flanagan is married and has two daughters.[2]

Career

Flanagan was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, succeeding his father Oliver J. Flanagan. He retained his seat at each election until losing it at the 2002 general election, but regained it at the 2007 general election.[3] He was a member of Laois County Council from 1985 until he stepped down in 2004. He was party Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2007 to 2010, and was the party Spokesperson on Children from 2010 to 2011.[4]

He was Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from June 2011 to May 2014.[5]

On 7 May 2014, following the resignation of Alan Shatter as Minister for Justice and Minister for Defence, Flanagan was appointed the following day as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to succeed Frances Fitzgerald, who assumed the Justice portfolio. On 11 July 2014, Flanagan was appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, succeeding the former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.[6]

Upon the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017, Flanagan was appointed as Minister for Justice and Equality.[7] He campaigned in favour of a Yes vote in the 2018 Irish abortion referendum.[8] Flanagan was replaced as Minister for Justice by Helen McEntee on the election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach on 27 June 2020.[9]

References

  1. "Charles Flanagan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  2. McGee, Harry; Kelly, Fiach. "Profile: Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  3. "Charles Flanagan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  4. "Bruton & Noonan return to Fine Gael frontbench". RTÉ News. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  5. "Dan Neville elected as Fine Gael party chairman". The Irish Times. 14 May 2014.
  6. "Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion | Friday, 11 July 2014". Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. "Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces new Cabinet positions". RTÉ News. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017. Charlie Flanagan has moved to become Minister for Justice in place of Ms Fitzgerald., ...
  8. "Charlie Flanagan on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. Bray, Jennifer. "Eight high-profile Fine Gael ministers have lost their Cabinet positions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Oliver Flanagan
Fine Gael
Fine Gael Teachta Dála
for Laois–Offaly

19872002
Succeeded by
Tom Parlon
Progressive Democrats
Preceded by
Tom Parlon
Progressive Democrats
Fine Gael Teachta Dála
for Laois–Offaly

20072016
Succeeded by
Constituency abolished
New constituency Fine Gael Teachta Dála
for Laois

2016–present
Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Pádraic McCormack
Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
2011–2014
Succeeded by
Dan Neville
Political offices
Preceded by
Frances Fitzgerald
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
2014
Succeeded by
James Reilly
Preceded by
Eamon Gilmore
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
2014–2017
Succeeded by
Simon Coveney
Preceded by
Frances Fitzgerald
Minister for Justice and Equality
2017–2020
Succeeded by
Helen McEntee
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