Joe McHugh
Senator Joe McHugh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Community, Rural, Gaeltacht and Marine Affairs | |
| In office 6 June, 2002 – present | |
| Constituency | Donegal North East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16 1971 Carrigart, Co. Donegal |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | |
| Spouse(s) | Olwyn Enright, TD |
Joe McHugh (born July 16 1971) is an Irish politician and member of the 22nd Seanad Éireann for Fine Gael. He is spokesperson on Community, Rural, Gaeltacht and Marine Affairs. He was elected by the Administrative Panel in 2002. On the 5th March 2006, he was selected as Fine Gael's candidate for Donegal North East in the upcoming general election, when the other candidate Cllr Jimmy Harte decided not to attend following the party's decision to pursue a single-candidate strategy.
Background
Born in Carigart, Co. Donegal in 1971, Joe McHugh was educated at Umlagh National School and the Loreto Convent, Milford. He attended St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he received an economics and sociology degree. A keen sportsman, he was a member of the Carigart Boxing Club, played socccer in the Donegal League with Cranford and Bonagee United F.C., and was aslo a Gaelic footballer.
Joe McHugh began his career as a teacher in the Loreto Convent in Letterkenny. He taught Geography and Mathematics for two years from 1993. In 1995 he went to Dubai for a year teaching A-level economics, where he helped to establish the first GAA club in the United Arab Emirates. In 1996 he became a youth worker in the Ballyboe area of Letterkenny.
In July 2005, Joe McHugh married Laois/Offaly Deputy Olwyn Enright. Despite the interest that has been aroused by the marriage, the couple have not courted the media.
Political Career
Donegal County Council
Joe McHugh was selected by Fine Gael to run for a Donegal County Council seat in the Milford Electoral area and was elected on 11th June 1999. In 2001, he introduced a motion to Donegal County Council to establish a youth council for the county. This led to the formation of the Donegal Youth Council, the first democratically elected youth forum in Ireland. He has also worked closely with Young Fine Gael, and helped to establish the first branch in the county in March 2004.
While a member of the council, he was appointed Chairman of the cross-border body ERNACT, where he made the provision of broadband in border areas a priority.
Seanad Éireann
Since being elected to the Seanad, he has set up a full-time constituency office in Letterkenny. After being selected as Fine Gael's candidate for the Dáil, he moved into new premises which were officially opened by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny on 6th October 2006. Deputy Kenny stated that the offices were "the biggest office of any Fine Gael deputy or senator around the country."
The Coming General Election
Template:Future election candidate Following the absorption of Independent Fianna Fáil and its sole deputy, Niall Blaney into Fianna Fáil in July 2006 and the immediate U-turn by Jim McDaid in announcing his intentions to seek a nomination after having declared that "politics has lost its challenge", McHugh faces an interesting contest in Donegal North East in the next general election.
Campaign Issues
Senator McHugh has consistently called for the upgrading of health services in Donegal, stressing the importance of cancer care services,[1][2] and has been vocal in his demands for support of the Donegal fishing industry.[3]
In response to the loss of jobs within the county, in particlar the UNIFI factory in Letterkenny, Senator McHugh established "Donegal is the Business", a forum for businesses to establish small to medium enterprises.[4] Findings from the seminar were condensed and submitted to the National Economic and Social Forum's study on regeneration and employment in Donegal.
He has also been to the forefront of calling for railways to be brought back to Donegal, in particular a link between Letterkenny and Derry City Airport.[5]
Campaign Launch
On Friday, 23rd March 2007, Senator Joe McHugh officially launched his campaign in Letterkenny IT. The guest speaker on the evening was Simon Coveney, TD, MEP. Before a packed lecture hall, Senator McHugh stated his "top ten" issues for the election. At the forefront of his agenda was the plight of the health service in the county.
Following the campaign launch, Senator McHugh is now canvassing the constituency on a daily basis. He is reputed to work 16 hours a day.[6]
References
Notes
- ^ http://joemchugh.finegael.ie/representatives/common/index.cfm/type/statementdetails/nkey/30382/pkey/0/page/2/
- ^ http://www.donegalmatters.com/newsletter2.pdf
- ^ http://joemchugh.finegael.ie/representatives/common/index.cfm/type/statementdetails/nkey/30475/pkey/0/page/2/
- ^ http://joemchugh.finegael.ie/representatives/common/index.cfm/type/statementdetails/nkey/25527/pkey/0/page/2/
- ^ http://joemchugh.finegael.ie/representatives/common/index.cfm/type/statementdetails/nkey/27294/pkey/0/page/2/
- ^ Donegal People's Press, 27/03/07