Willie Penrose
| Willie Penrose TD | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Penrose pictured in 2005. | |
| Minister of State for Housing and Planning | |
| In office 9 March 2011 – 15 November 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Jan O'Sullivan |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office May 2007 |
|
| Constituency | Longford–Westmeath |
| In office November 1992 – May 2007 |
|
| Constituency | Westmeath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 August 1956 Ballynacargy, County Westmeath |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Independent (since Nov. 2011) Labour Party (1969–2011) |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Fitzsimons |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin, King's Inns |
Willie Penrose (born 18 August 1956) is an Irish politician.[1] He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency since May 2007. He was Minister of State for Housing and Planning from March to November 2011 when he resigned his position and also the Labour Party whip over the closure of an army barracks.[2]
Penrose was born in Ballynacargy, County Westmeath, and educated at St. Mary's CBS Mullingar, Multyfarnham Agricultural College, University College, Dublin, and the King's Inns. He qualified as a barrister before entering into politics. Penrose first held public office when he was elected to Westmeath County Council at the 1984 local elections. At the 1992 general election he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for the Westmeath constituency.[3] On that occasion the Labour Party won a record 33 Dáil seats, a feat that was surpassed at the 2011 General election.
In 2002, Penrose was a candidate for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party. Although he was part of a joint ticket with Pat Rabbitte, who won the leadership comfortably, he was narrowly defeated for the deputy leadership by Liz McManus, polling 1,636 votes to McManus' 1,728.
[edit] Minister of State (2011)
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for Housing and Planning.
On 15 November 2011, he announced his resignation as Minister of State due to his opposition to the Government's decision to close the army barracks in Mullingar.[4] Penrose said: "I understand and appreciate that significant efforts were made by my Labour colleagues in Government, who fully understood the depths of my feelings in this regard, to resolve this matter, but to no avail." Accepting the resignation - the first since the new government took office earlier this year - Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore commented, "It is with regret that I accept the resignation of Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Willie Penrose, Willie Penrose is a valued colleague, with a long and proud record of service to the Labour Party and to Longford/Westmeath".[5][6] He also resigned the Labour parliamentary party whip.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Mr. Willie Penrose". Oireachtas Members Database. http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&MemberID=973&ConstID=137. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ^ a b Cullen, Paul; Minihan, Mary (16 November 2011). "Minister's resignation increases fears over budget cuts". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1116/1224307640970.html.
- ^ "Willie Penrose". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4098. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ^ "Penrose quits on barracks issue". The Irish Times. 15 November 2011. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1115/breaking35.html.
- ^ "Penrose quits Cabinet over barracks closure". RTÉ News. 15 November 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1115/army.html. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ "Labour’s Penrose resigns from Government over barracks closure". Irish Independent. 15 November 2011. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/labourrsquos-penrose-resigns-from-government-over-barracks-closure-2934618.html. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
[edit] External links
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Labour Party Teachta Dála for Westmeath 1992–2007 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Labour Party Teachta Dála for Longford–Westmeath 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Minister of State for for Housing and Planning 2011 |
Succeeded by Jan O'Sullivan |
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