Billy Lawless
Billy Lawless | |
|---|---|
| Senator | |
| Assumed office 27 May 2016 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rahoon, Galway, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Billy Lawless is an Irish businessman and independent politician, appointed Senator on 27 May 2016.[1]
Lawless is native of Rahoon, County Galway. In the 1980s he was Chair of Fine Gael in the Galway West constituency and stood unsuccessfully for Galway City Council in 1991.[2]
He emigrated to Chicago in 1998, having always harboured plans to open a business in the US he made the decision after his daughter received a rowing scholarship to Boston University.[3]
He owns four restaurants in the Chicago area, employing 260 people, with plans to expand to six.[4]
He is a board member and co-founder of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and Chair of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform.[4]
Lawless has been credited with helping the cause of Irish immigrants and undocumented Irish in America, and was made Freeman of Galway City in 2015 for these efforts.[4]
On 27 May 2016, Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed Lawless to the 25th Seanad Éireann, becoming the first overseas Irish Senator.[5]
Lawless had close ties to the Obama administration and was chosen to introduce the President when he announced his plans for immigration reform .[6]
References
- ^ "Pieta House founder among Kenny's Seanad nominees". RTÉ. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Devine, Catherine (30 May 2016). "New Senator: Giving Enda's daughter a J1 job in Chicago 'not cronyism'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ Clarke, Vivienne (30 May 2016). "Billy Lawless: Giving Kenny's daughter J1 job 'not cronyism'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ a b c O'Shea, Jamie (28 May 2016). "Billy Lawless named as first ever emigrant senator by Irish leader". Irish Central. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "Chicagoan Billy Lawless Appointed to Irish Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny". Irish American News. Retrieved 30 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ http://www.irishcentral.com/news/New-Irish-emigrant-senator-under-fire-for-Fine-Gael-Kenny-links.html
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