For the Canadian jazz/blues saxophonist, see Pat Carey (musician).
Pat Carey
Office 1Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs
Taoiseach 1Brian Cowen
Term start 123 March 2010
Term end 19 March 2011
Predecessor 1Éamon Ó Cuív
Successor 1Department responsibilities dispersed
Office 2Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Taoiseach 2Brian Cowen
Term start 223 January 2011
Term end 29 March 2011
Predecessor 2Eamon Ryan
Successor 2Pat Rabbitte
Office 3Minister for Transport
Taoiseach 3Brian Cowen
Term start 320 January 2011
Term end 39 March 2011
Predecessor 3Noel Dempsey
Successor 3Leo Varadkar (Transport, Tourism and Sport)
Office 4Minister of State
Suboffice 4Government Chief Whip
Subterm 42008–2010
Suboffice 6Defence
Subterm 62008–2010
Suboffice 7Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Subterm 72007–2008
Office 8Teachta Dála
Term start 8June 1997
Term end 8February 2011
Constituency 8Dublin North-West
Birth date9 November 1947 (age 78)
Birth placeCastlemaine, County Kerry, Ireland
PartyFianna Fáil
Alma mater

Pat Carey (born 9 November 1947) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-West constituency from 1997 to 2011.[1] He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010 to 2011, and also as Government Chief Whip from 2008 to 2010.

Early and private life

Carey was born in Castlemaine, County Kerry in 1947. He was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Milltown, County Kerry and went to St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra, Dublin to complete his teacher training. He subsequently studied at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a H.Dip. in Education respectively. Before entering politics Carey was a national school teacher and a deputy principal.[citation needed]

Since leaving office, Carey came out as gay, and voiced support for the 2015 marriage equality referendum, saying "My only regret is that I didn't have the courage or confidence to [come out while in politics]. When I look back it's an awful pity I didn't feel able to do that. Nobody stopped me, but I wasn't sure how it would be received."[2]

Political career

Carey entered local politics in 1985 when he was elected to Dublin City Council for the Finglas area. He remained on the council until the abolition of the dual mandate in 2003. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the constituency of Dublin North-West at the 1997 general election, defeating the sitting Fine Gael TD Mary Flaherty to win a second seat for the Fianna Fáil in the 4-seater constituency. He was re-elected at the 2002 general election.[3]

Re-elected at the 2007 general election, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs.[4] When Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in May 2008, Carey was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Active Citizenship and as Minister of State at the Department of Defence.[5]

On 23 March 2010, he was appointed as Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.[6][7] On 20 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Transport, following the resignation of Noel Dempsey.[8][9] On 23 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, following the resignation of Eamon Ryan.[10]

He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.[3] On 28 March 2011, the Sunday Independent reported that Carey had "appointed another party crony to a key State board on his final day in office".[11]

In November 2015, Carey stepped down as Fianna Fáil's director of elections.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Pat Carey". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived 7 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Pat Carey criticises FF over same-sex marriage campaign". Irish Times. 13 February 2015. Archived 12 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Pat Carey". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived 25 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 26 June 2007. Archived 18 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State". Iris Oifigiúil. 2008 (40): 527. 16 May 2008. Archived 31 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 March 2010. Archived 18 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Cowen moves Coughlan to Education in reshuffle". The Irish Times. 23 March 2010. Archived 11 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Election date set for 11 March". RTÉ News. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 January 2011. Archived 14 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 2011. Archived 14 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  11. ^ Webb, Nick (27 March 2011). "Carey gave plum quango board job to supermarket pal". Sunday Independent. Archived 2 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Pat Carey steps down as Fianna Fáil's director of elections". Irish Independent. 13 November 2015. Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Fianna Fáil confirms Pat Carey leaving role". RTÉ News. 13 November 2015. Archived 14 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 November 2015.