John Deasy (born 8 October 1967) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Waterford constituency from 2002 to 2020.[1]
John Deasy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 2002 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Waterford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 October 1967 Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent |
|
| Education | St Augustine's College |
| Alma mater | |
Early and personal life
editDeasy was brought up in Stradbally and Dungarvan, County Waterford. He was educated at Coláiste na Rinne, An Rinn, County Waterford, and at St. Augustine's College in Dungarvan. Deasy studied at Mercyhurst College, Erie, Pennsylvania,[2] on a golfing scholarship where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communications.
In 1990, Deasy was employed as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate, handling trade and foreign affairs, for Republican Senator John Heinz. He remained in the position until Heinz's death in 1991.[3] The following year he became manager of public affairs for a multinational waste company. Deasy was also legislative assistant in the United States House of Representatives, handling trade, foreign affairs, energy, environment, banking, economic development, immigration and human rights, for Congressman Ronald Machtley.[2]
He returned to Ireland in 1997,[3] and studied at University College Cork, qualifying with a degree in law. In May 2005, Deasy married the RTÉ presenter, Maura Derrane. The couple have a son, Cal, born in 2014.[3]
Political career
editIn 1999, he embarked on a political career and was elected to Waterford County Council and Dungarvan Town Council.[2] At the 2002 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time, succeeding his father, former Minister for Agriculture Austin Deasy, who was retiring.[4] He was appointed Spokesperson for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, by the new leader, Enda Kenny. He was sacked from the Fine Gael front bench in 2004, for smoking tobacco in the members bar at Leinster House, the seat of the Irish Parliament, just days after a nationwide ban on smoking in the workplace had come into effect. In October 2004, he failed to return to the front bench in the reshuffle, but was appointed Chairman of the Dáil European Union Affairs Committee.
In January 2007, he announced his intention to challenge Enda Kenny's leadership of Fine Gael, should the party fail to enter government after the 2007 election. Fine Gael did not enter government, nor did Deasy carry out his challenge. He served as party Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for Overseas Development Aid from 2007 to 2010. Having topped the poll in Waterford at the 2011 election, he was vice-chair of the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts.[2]
Deasy was re-elected at the 2016 election. In July 2017, he was appointed government envoy to the United States Congress advocating for Irish undocumented immigrants. In November 2017, he announced that he would not be standing at the next general election due to health concerns.[5] In June 2019, the Fine Gael organisation in Waterford constituency passed a motion of no confidence in Deasy, supporting his longtime rival Paudie Coffey.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "John Deasy". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
- ^ a b c d "John Deasy TD". Fine Gael website. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ a b c "No regrets: 'I won't stand idly by while my party suffers'". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "John Deasy". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "FG's John Deasy will not seek re-election due to health concerns". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Taoiseach intends to intervene to bring long-standing party row in Waterford 'to a close'". Breaking News. 26 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.