Thomas Byrne (Meath politician)

Thomas Byrne (born 1 June 1977) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister of State for European Affairs since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath East constituency since 2016, and previously from 2007 to 2011. He was a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel 2011 to 2016.[1]

Not to be confused with Thomas Byrne (Dublin politician).
Thomas Byrne

TD
Minister of State for European Affairs
Assumed office
1 July 2020
TaoiseachMicheál Martin
Preceded byHelen McEntee
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2016
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
ConstituencyMeath East
Senator
In office
25 April 2011 – 26 February 2016
ConstituencyCultural and Educational Panel
Personal details
Born (1977-06-01) 1 June 1977
Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse(s)Ann Hunt (m. 2005)
Children3
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
Constituency office in Kells

Personal life

Byrne is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where he gained a Law degree (LL.B.). He is a qualified solicitor and is also qualified as Attorney at law in New York. He is a member of the Law Society of Ireland, and a member of the Law Council in Maynooth University (NUI Maynooth).[2]

He is married to a former Seneschalstown and Meath ladies' footballer Ann Hunt. They have three children.[3] His father Thomas Byrne is a Fianna Fáil County Councillor in County Louth. Before his son's election to Dáil Éireann he sat as an Independent member of Louth County Council.

Political career

He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the East constituency.[4]

In November 2009, he was appointed Cathaoirleach (Chairman) of Ógra Fianna Fáil by then Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil, Brian Cowen, at the National Youth Conference.

He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.[5][6] He was elected to Seanad Éireann as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel in April 2011. He was the Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Byrne was a candidate in the Meath East by-election held on 27 March 2013. He lost on the third count to the Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee, coming in second place overall. He was re-elected to the Dáil following the 2016 general election.

He ran unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Midlands–North-West constituency at the 2014 European Parliament election.

He is opposed to abortion and the repeal of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland.[7]

He was Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Education and Skills before becoming Minister of State for European Affairs.[2]

References
  1. "Thomas Byrne". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  2. "Thomas Byrne TD | Spokesperson on Education and Skills". Fianna Fáil. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  3. "Thomas Byrne". The Meath Chronicle. 23 February 2011.
  4. "Thomas Byrne". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  5. Lynch, Suzanne (26 February 2011). "Labour's Hannigan tops Meath East poll". The Irish Times.
  6. "Meath East: Hannigan pins his hopes on Breakfast Roll Man's support". Irish Independent. 11 February 2011.
  7. "FF TDs ready to block new abortion laws". Independent.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
Oireachtas
New constituency Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Meath East
2007–11		 Succeeded by
Regina Doherty
(Fine Gael)
Political offices
Preceded by
Helen McEntee		 Minister of State for European Affairs
2020–present		 Incumbent
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