Joe Costello (Irish politician)

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Joe Costello
TD
Minister of State for
Trade and Development
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 December 2011
Preceded by Jan O'Sullivan
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 2002
In office
November 1992 – June 1997
Constituency Dublin Central
Senator
In office
July 1997 – May 2002
In office
November 1989 – November 1992
Constituency Administrative Panel
Personal details
Born (1945-07-13) 13 July 1945 (age 67)
Geevagh, County Sligo
Nationality Irish
Political party Labour Party
Spouse(s) Emer Costello
Alma mater St Patrick's College, Maynooth,
University College Dublin

Joe Costello (born 13 July 1945) is an Irish Labour Party politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Central constituency and is the Minister of State for Trade and Development since December 2011.[1]

Costello was born in Geevagh, County Sligo and was educated at Summerhill College, Sligo, St Patrick's College, Maynooth and University College Dublin. He worked as a secondary school teacher before becoming a full time public representative.[2]

He joined the Labour Party in 1985, and in 1989 he was elected to the 19th Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel.[3] He remained there until the 1992 general election when he was elected to Dáil Éireann. Costello lost his seat at the 1997 general election but was subsequently elected to the Seanad again. Costello was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2002 and 2007 general elections.[3]

His wife Emer Costello is MEP for Dublin. Previously, she was a member of Dublin City Council representing the North Inner City electoral area and was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin in June 2009.

On 20 December 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for Trade and Development.[4] In October 2012, Costello accompanied President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne on their official visit to South America, which included stops in Argentina, Brazil and Chile.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mr. Joe Costello". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 18 February 2008. 
  2. ^ "Joe Costello TD – Biography". Labour Party website. Retrieved 7 March 2009. 
  3. ^ a b "Joe Costello". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 18 February 2008. 
  4. ^ "Jan O'Sullivan named 'super junior' minister". RTÉ News. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011. 
  5. ^ "President Michael D Higgins to visit South America". RTÉ News. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012. 

External links[edit]

Oireachtas
Preceded by
Constituency redrawn
Labour Party Teachta Dála for Dublin Central
19921997
Succeeded by
Marian McGennis
(Fianna Fáil)
Preceded by
Jim Mitchell
(Fine Gael)
Labour Party Teachta Dála for Dublin Central
2002–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jan O'Sullivan
Minister of State for Trade and Development
2011–present
Incumbent