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Séamus Kirk

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Séamus Kirk
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
Assumed office
13 October 2009
Preceded byJohn O'Donoghue
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
November 1982
ConstituencyLouth
Personal details
Born (1945-04-26) 26 April 1945 (age 79)
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fail
SpouseMary McGeough
Children4
WebsiteOfficial website

Séamus Kirk (born 26 April 1945) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is the current Ceann Comhairle (chairman) of Dáil Éireann, taking office in October 2009. He is also a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency since 1982.[1]

Kirk was born in Drumkeith, County Louth. He is married to Mary McGeough, they have three sons and one daughter. He was a farmer before entering politics.

He was a member of Louth County Council from 1974 to 1985, and he was first elected to the Dáil Éireann at the November 1982 general election as a member of the 24th Dáil. He has been returned in each subsequent election, most recently at the 2007 general election.[2]

Kirk was Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food from 1987 to 1992. Later, he was the chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party from 2002 until October 2009. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for election to the European Parliament in 2004 in the Leinster constituency. His running mate Liam Aylward took a seat for Fianna Fáil.

On 13 October 2009, Kirk succeeded John O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle.[3] He was nominated for that post by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and seconded by Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, and he defeated Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley by 87 votes to 51 votes. McGinley had been nominated by his party's leader, Enda Kenny.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Mr. Séamus Kirk". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Séamus Kirk". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Kirk elected Ceann Comhairle". The Irish Times. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Kirk succeeds O'Donoghue as Ceann Comhairle". RTÉ News. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.

External links