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| alma_mater = {{Ubl|[[University College Dublin]]|[[Maynooth University]]}}
| alma_mater = {{Ubl|[[University College Dublin]]|[[Maynooth University]]}}
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'''Billy Lawless''' (born 4 July 1951) is an Irish former [[Independent politician|Independent]] politician and businessman who served as a [[Seanad Éireann|Senator]] from 2016 to 2020, after being [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|nominated by the Taoiseach]].<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Billy-Lawless.S.2016-04-25/|title=Billy Lawless|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="appointment">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0527/791478-seanad/|work=[[RTÉ News]]|date=27 May 2016|access-date=27 May 2016 |title=Pieta House founder among Kenny's Seanad nominees}}</ref>
'''Billy Lawless''' (born 4 July 1951) is an Irish former [[Independent politician|Independent]] politician and businessman who served as a [[Seanad Éireann|Senator]] from 2016 to 2020, after being [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|nominated by the Taoiseach]].<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Billy-Lawless.S.2016-04-25/|title=Billy Lawless|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=6 August 2019|archive-date=6 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806204421/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Billy-Lawless.S.2016-04-25/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="appointment">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0527/791478-seanad/|work=[[RTÉ News]]|date=27 May 2016|access-date=27 May 2016|title=Pieta House founder among Kenny's Seanad nominees|archive-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527222035/http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0527/791478-seanad/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Lawless is a native of Rahoon, [[County Galway]]. In the 1980s, he was Chair of [[Fine Gael]] in the [[Galway West (Dáil constituency)|Galway West constituency]] and stood unsuccessfully for [[Galway City Council]] in 1991.<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8912|title=Billy Lawless|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Devine|first1=Catherine|title=New Senator: Giving Enda's daughter a J1 job in Chicago 'not cronyism'|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/new-senator-giving-endas-daughter-a-j1-job-in-chicago-not-cronyism-34757754.html|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Irish Independent|date=30 May 2016}}</ref>
Lawless is a native of Rahoon, [[County Galway]]. In the 1980s, he was Chair of [[Fine Gael]] in the [[Galway West (Dáil constituency)|Galway West constituency]] and stood unsuccessfully for [[Galway City Council]] in 1991.<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8912|title=Billy Lawless|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=22 February 2010|archive-date=22 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222124507/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=8912|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Devine|first1=Catherine|title=New Senator: Giving Enda's daughter a J1 job in Chicago 'not cronyism'|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/new-senator-giving-endas-daughter-a-j1-job-in-chicago-not-cronyism-34757754.html|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Irish Independent|date=30 May 2016|archive-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530180331/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/new-senator-giving-endas-daughter-a-j1-job-in-chicago-not-cronyism-34757754.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


He emigrated to [[Chicago]] in 1998, having always harboured plans to open a business in the [[United States|U.S.]] he made the decision after his daughter received a rowing scholarship to [[Boston University]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clarke|first1=Vivienne|title=Billy Lawless: Giving Kenny's daughter J1 job 'not cronyism'|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/billy-lawless-giving-kenny-s-daughter-j1-job-not-cronyism-1.2665755|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Irish Times|date=30 May 2016}}</ref>
He emigrated to [[Chicago]] in 1998, having always harboured plans to open a business in the [[United States|U.S.]] he made the decision after his daughter received a rowing scholarship to [[Boston University]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clarke|first1=Vivienne|title=Billy Lawless: Giving Kenny's daughter J1 job 'not cronyism'|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/billy-lawless-giving-kenny-s-daughter-j1-job-not-cronyism-1.2665755|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Irish Times|date=30 May 2016|archive-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530205025/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/billy-lawless-giving-kenny-s-daughter-j1-job-not-cronyism-1.2665755|url-status=live}}</ref>


He owns four restaurants in the [[Chicago]] area, employing 260 people.<ref name="lawless 1">{{cite news|last1=O'Shea|first1=Jamie|title=Billy Lawless named as first ever emigrant senator by Irish leader|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/politics/Billy-Lawless-named-as-first-ever-emigrant-senator-by-Irish-leader.html|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Irish Central|date=28 May 2016}}</ref>
He owns four restaurants in the [[Chicago]] area, employing 260 people.<ref name="lawless 1">{{cite news|last1=O'Shea|first1=Jamie|title=Billy Lawless named as first ever emigrant senator by Irish leader|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/politics/Billy-Lawless-named-as-first-ever-emigrant-senator-by-Irish-leader.html|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Irish Central|date=28 May 2016|archive-date=29 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529122814/http://www.irishcentral.com/news/politics/Billy-Lawless-named-as-first-ever-emigrant-senator-by-Irish-leader.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


He is a board member and co-founder of the [[Illinois]] Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and Chair of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform.<ref name="lawless 1"/>
He is a board member and co-founder of the [[Illinois]] Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and Chair of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform.<ref name="lawless 1"/>
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On 11 May 2016, [[Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]] appointed Lawless to the [[Members of the 25th Seanad|25th Seanad]], making him the first overseas Irish Senator.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chicagoan Billy Lawless Appointed to Irish Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny|url=http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6387:chicagoan-billy-lawless-appointed-to-irish-seanad-by-taoiseach-enda-kenny&catid=81:europe&Itemid=197|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617035739/http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6387:chicagoan-billy-lawless-appointed-to-irish-seanad-by-taoiseach-enda-kenny&catid=81:europe&Itemid=197|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 June 2016|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Irish American News}}</ref>
On 11 May 2016, [[Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]] appointed Lawless to the [[Members of the 25th Seanad|25th Seanad]], making him the first overseas Irish Senator.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chicagoan Billy Lawless Appointed to Irish Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny|url=http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6387:chicagoan-billy-lawless-appointed-to-irish-seanad-by-taoiseach-enda-kenny&catid=81:europe&Itemid=197|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617035739/http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6387:chicagoan-billy-lawless-appointed-to-irish-seanad-by-taoiseach-enda-kenny&catid=81:europe&Itemid=197|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 June 2016|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Irish American News}}</ref>


Lawless had close ties to the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] and was chosen to introduce the [[President of the United States|President]] when he announced his plans for immigration reform.<ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=O'Shea|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/news/New-Irish-emigrant-senator-under-fire-for-Fine-Gael-Kenny-links.html|title=New Irish emigrant senator under fire for Fine Gael, Kenny links|work=Irish Central|date=29 May 2016|accessdate=22 June 2020}}</ref> He was an unsuccessful candidate at the [[2021 Seanad by-elections]].
Lawless had close ties to the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] and was chosen to introduce the [[President of the United States|President]] when he announced his plans for immigration reform.<ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=O'Shea|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/news/New-Irish-emigrant-senator-under-fire-for-Fine-Gael-Kenny-links.html|title=New Irish emigrant senator under fire for Fine Gael, Kenny links|work=Irish Central|date=29 May 2016|accessdate=22 June 2020|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-date=4 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704111948/http://www.irishcentral.com/news/New-Irish-emigrant-senator-under-fire-for-Fine-Gael-Kenny-links.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was an unsuccessful candidate at the [[2021 Seanad by-elections]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:23, 24 September 2021

Billy Lawless
Senator
In office
11 May 2016 – 27 March 2020
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born
William Gordon Lawless

(1951-07-04) 4 July 1951 (age 73)
Galway, Ireland
Political partyIndependent
SpouseKate Lawless (m. 1980)
Children4
Alma mater

Billy Lawless (born 4 July 1951) is an Irish former Independent politician and businessman who served as a Senator from 2016 to 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[1][2]

Lawless is a 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.[3][4]

He emigrated to Chicago in 1998, having always harboured plans to open a business in the U.S. he made the decision after his daughter received a rowing scholarship to Boston University.[5]

He owns four restaurants in the Chicago area, employing 260 people.[6]

He is a board member and co-founder of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and Chair of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform.[6]

Lawless has been credited with helping the cause of Irish immigrants and undocumented Irish in America, and was made Freeman of Galway in 2015 for these efforts.[6] He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by NUI Galway in June 2015.[7]

On 11 May 2016, Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed Lawless to the 25th Seanad, making him the first overseas Irish Senator.[8]

Lawless had close ties to the Obama administration and was chosen to introduce the President when he announced his plans for immigration reform.[9] He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2021 Seanad by-elections.

References

  1. ^ "Billy Lawless". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Pieta House founder among Kenny's Seanad nominees". RTÉ News. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Billy Lawless". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  4. ^ Devine, Catherine (30 May 2016). "New Senator: Giving Enda's daughter a J1 job in Chicago 'not cronyism'". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  5. ^ Clarke, Vivienne (30 May 2016). "Billy Lawless: Giving Kenny's daughter J1 job 'not cronyism'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c O'Shea, Jamie (28 May 2016). "Billy Lawless named as first ever emigrant senator by Irish leader". Irish Central. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Honorary Conferrings". Cois Coiribe. Winter 2015. p. 49.
  8. ^ "Chicagoan Billy Lawless Appointed to Irish Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny". Irish American News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  9. ^ O'Shea, James (29 May 2016). "New Irish emigrant senator under fire for Fine Gael, Kenny links". Irish Central. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2021. {{cite news}}: More than one of |accessdate= and |access-date= specified (help)
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