Thomas Byrne (Meath politician)

Thomas Byrne
TD
portrait photograph of Thomas Byrne
Byrne in 2024
Minister of State
2022–Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
2022–Education
2020–2022European Affairs
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 2016
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
ConstituencyMeath East
Senator
In office
25 May 2011 – 26 February 2016
ConstituencyCultural and Educational Panel
Personal details
Born (1977-06-01) 1 June 1977 (age 47)
Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
Ann Hunt
​
(m. 2005)​
Children3
EducationSt. Mary's, Drogheda
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Thomas Byrne (born 1 June 1977) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and solicitor who has served as a Minister of State since July 2020. He has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Meath East from 2007 to 2011, and subsequently since 2016. From 2011 to 2016, he was a senator on the Cultural and Educational Panel.[1]

Early life

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Born on 1 June 1977 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Byrne is the eldest of seven children. He is the son of Thomas Byrne Snr, a Drogheda borough councillor, auctioneer and player-manager of Drogheda United F.C. and Kathleen (née Hilliard) Byrne.[2][3] Byrne's younger brother, James Byrne, is a Fianna Fáil member of Louth County Council.[4]

Byrne was educated in Scoil Aonghusa national school and then Saint Mary's Diocesan School in Drogheda. Byrne attended university at Trinity College Dublin, where he gained a Bachelor of Laws degree.[5] Following his graduation, Byrne enrolled in the Law Society of Ireland.

Byrne worked as a solicitor at Feran & Co. law firm in Drogheda until his selection as a Fianna Fáil 2007 Irish general election candidate for the newly established constituency of Meath East.[6] In his first campaign for public office, Byrne was elected to the Dáil with 7,834 first preference votes,[7] making him the youngest member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party at the time.[8]

Political career

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30th Dáil (2007–2011)

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In 2007, following his election to Dáil Éireann, Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil Bertie Ahern appointed Byrne as the Government Convenor of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection and as a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committees on Justice and Defence, European Affairs and Finance, respectively.[9]

During this period, Byrne was selected as a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party delegate to the National Forum on Europe.[10] Following the first unsuccessful referendum to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, Byrne was appointed to an Oireachtas sub-committee tasked with reviewing the causes of the Lisbon Treaty's rejection by the Irish electorate in June 2008.[11] The Treaty was subsequently adopted following a second plebiscite in October 2009.

While serving his first Dáil term, the issue of young couple mortgage arrears in Meath East was one of Byrne's primary focuses as he co-authored a bipartisan report which instituted revised code of conduct regulations for mortgage lenders operating in Ireland.[12]

In June 2009, following selection to run alongside the existing Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward, Byrne unsuccessfully contested the 2009 European Parliament election for the East constituency receiving a total of 33,383 votes.[13]

In November 2009, Byrne was appointed president of Ógra Fianna Fáil by Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil Brian Cowen at its national youth conference.[14]

24th Seanad (2011–2016)

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Byrne lost his seat in the 2011 general election. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel, and was appointed by then Leader of the Opposition Micheál Martin as Seanad Éireann opposition front bench spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Reform, and subsequently Health.[15]

Byrne unsuccessfully contested the 2013 Meath East by-election, held following the death of Fine Gael TD Shane McEntee. Although Byrne received 8,002 first preference votes, he lost out to Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee, daughter of Shane McEntee.[16]

In May 2014, following selection to run alongside the sitting Fianna Fáil MEP Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, Byrne unsuccessfully contested the European Parliament election for the Midlands–North-West constituency receiving a total of 64,057 votes (8.6%).[17]

32nd Dáil (2016–2020)

[edit]

Following the 2016 general election, Byrne was re-elected to Dáil Éireann, receiving a total of 10,818 first preference votes (26.1%).[18] On returning to Dáil Éireann, Byrne was appointed opposition front bench spokesperson for Education and Skills by then Leader of the Opposition Micheál Martin.[19]

As opposition spokesperson for Education and Skills, Byrne opposed so-called 'baptism barrier' which was instituted in oversubscribed Irish Catholic primary schools. The practice, in line with Catholic primary schools admissions policies at the time,[20] involved the lawful discrimination of student registration on the basis of religion. Following a bipartisan initiative to remove the obstacle, led by Byrne and the Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was enacted, prohibited selective enrolment predicated on religious factors.[21]

In November 2019, Byrne was appointed Director of Elections by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for the 2019 Dublin Fingal by-election, to fill the Dáil vacancy created by the election of former Independents 4 Change TD Clare Daly to the European Parliament.[22] However, Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee lost the election to Green Party candidate Joe O’Brien TD.[23]

33rd Dáil (2020–present)

[edit]

In February 2020, Byrne was re-elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for Meath East, receiving 6,039 first preference votes.[24][25]

In May 2020, speaking as opposition spokesperson for Education and Skills, Byrne called on the Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh, to cancel the 2020 Leaving Certificate and implement "fair alternatives" to alleviate undue student stress and anxiety following months of national uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[26] The call received widespread support and led to the adoption of a predicted grading system in place of the traditional Leaving Certificate for 2020.[27]

Following the election, as no single party received a governing parliamentary majority, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin assembled a six-person negotiating team, of which Byrne was a member, tasked with reaching out to like-minded political parties with the intent to form a government.[28] After five months of discussion, held during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party reached an unprecedented agreement to coalesce and establish a governing majority.[29] Following the formation of the government of the 33rd Dáil, Byrne was appointed Minister of State for European Affairs by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.[30][31]

In December 2022, following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education.[32][33][34]

On 10 April 2024, Byrne was given the Gaeltacht portfolio in addition to his existing Sport role at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, following the appointment of Simon Harris as Taoiseach.[35]

Personal life

[edit]

In September 2005, Byrne married Ann Hunt, a clinical nurse manager and former Meath ladies' footballer.[36] They live in Meath and have three children.[37] He is fluent in Irish.[38]

References

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  1. ^ "Thomas Byrne". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Council honours Tommy Byrne as he calls it a day". Drogheda Life. 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ^ Moore, Aoife (16 July 2019). "Tributes paid after death of former Fianna Fail councillor Tommy Byrne". Irish Independent. Dublin. PA. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. ^ Wall, Martin (26 May 2019) [25 May 2019]. "Louth County Council: Fianna Fáil big winners as Sinn Féin loses three seats". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. ^ O'Halloran, Marie (28 February 2016). "Profile: Thomas Byrne (FF)". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)". Meath Chronicle. Navan. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. ^ "General election 2007: Meath East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  8. ^ "First day excitement for new boy Byrne". Drogheda Independent. 30 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ "JOINT COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE, EQUALITY, DEFENCE AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS debate". Oireachtas. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (26 May 2008). "FF TD describes SF as 'most strongly anti-EU party for almost 40 years'". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Press release: European Affairs Committee Helped Clarify Lisbon Treaty Debate but Scrutiny of Euro Loans Remain Outstanding". Oireachtas. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ Kelly, Fiach (17 February 2010). "TDs seek two-year ban on lenders repossessing houses". Irish Independent. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Thomas Byrne". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  14. ^ "Ireland AM takes a fresh look at the future of Irish politics by holding a young leaders debate". virginmediatelevision.ie. TV3. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Our ministers: Thomas Byrne, TD". dfa.ie. Dublin: Department of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  16. ^ "By-election 2013: Meath East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  17. ^ "2014 European Parliament election – Midlands-North-West constituency". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  18. ^ "General election 2016: Meath East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  19. ^ Bardon, Sarah (18 May 2016). "Micheál Martin reveals Fianna Fáil front bench lineup". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  20. ^ Donnelly, Katherine (16 January 2017). "School baptism rule to be scrapped". Irish Independent. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Collaborative Effort Gets Schools Admissions Bill Across The Line – Byrne" (Press release). Fianna Fáil. 11 July 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  22. ^ McConnell, Daniel (25 November 2019). "By-elections 2019: A three-way battle in Dublin Fingal, our youngest constituency". Irish Examiner. Cork. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  23. ^ "2019 Dublin Fingal by-election". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  24. ^ Bowers, Shauna (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Meath East results: SF tops the poll while FG's Regina Doherty loses seat; Minister for Social Protection comes in fifth in three-seater". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Election 2020: Meath East". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  26. ^ Logue, Patrick; O'Brien, Carl (2 May 2020). "'Cancel the Leaving Cert' – Fianna Fáil says uncertainty causing stress". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  27. ^ "5 things we learned about this year's Leaving Cert". RTÉ News. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  28. ^ Bray, Jennifer (20 February 2020). "Fianna Fáil names team for formal government formation talks". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  29. ^ Murray, Sean (15 June 2020). "Leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party agree on draft programme for government". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2020 (57): 820–821. 17 June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  31. ^ "Thomas Byrne, T.D., appointed as Minister of State for European Affairs". Department of Foreign Affairs. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Minister of State appointments". gov.ie. Department of the Taoiseach. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  33. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2023 (2): 26–27. 6 January 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  34. ^ Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 34 of 2023). Signed on 24 January 2023. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  35. ^ "Dillon, Higgins and Burke appointed as junior ministers". RTÉ News. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  36. ^ "Ann and Thomas jet off to Rome for their wedding in the sunshine". Drogheda Independent. 20 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  37. ^ Lynagh, Geraldine (18 September 2013). "Daddy duty...how politicians juggle work and fatherhood". Irish Independent. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  38. ^ McGee, Harry (10 April 2024). "Gaeltacht portfolio goes back to Fianna Fáil as Fine Gael Ministers unwilling to take on the role". The Irish Times.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State for European Affairs
2020–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
2022–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Education
2022–present
With: Josepha Madigan
2022–2024 		Incumbent
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