Tom Barry (born 10 October 1968) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 2011 to 2016.[1]
Tom Barry | |
|---|---|
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Cork East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1968 Cork, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Kathy Quane (m. 2005) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
Private life and career
editBarry is a native of Killavullen, County Cork. He is a graduate in Biochemistry from University College Cork (UCC). He is the founder and CEO of a grain drying and warehousing business in his home village of Killavullen. He is also a tillage farmer. He is married to Kathy Quane, a lecturer of Anatomy in UCC's School of Medicine and Health and they have three children.[2]
Political career
editHe was formerly a member of Cork County Council for the Mallow local electoral area. He was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Cork East constituency at the 2011 general election on his first attempt.[3]
In May 2013, he wrote to Cardinal Seán Brady and the Papal nuncio Charles John Brown asking whether he would be excommunicated if he voted for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.[4] Two months later, in July, Barry was seen on an Oireachtas television broadcast pulling his Fine Gael colleague Deputy Áine Collins onto his lap during a parliamentary debate.[5] Barry later apologised publicly for his behaviour, saying he had been drinking earlier at the Dáil bar (a bar in the Irish parliament), and the Fine Gael party and his wife condemned his behaviour.[6][7]
He lost his seat at the 2016 general election.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Tom Barry". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Claire; McEnroe, Juno (13 July 2013). "'Lapgate' TD not relishing facing his wife". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Tom Barry". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ "Barry questions Cardinal : Will Government TDs be excommunicated?". Cork Independent. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- ^ "Tom Barry 'severely reprimanded' by Fine Gael". RTÉ News. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ "TD Barry apologises for pulling Collins onto lap". The Irish Times. 11 July 2013.
- ^ "'Horseplay' TD Tom Barry 'mortified' by his actions". Irish Independent. 12 July 2013.