Home: Coppingerstown near Ballinacurra just outside Midleton, Co Cork.
Status: Married with 4 sons
Occupation: Full-Time Public Representative
Political Career
First elected as a TD for Cork East Constituency in the general election in 1997. I have served as a TD for the area for the past thirteen years having been re-elected to Dail Eireann 2002 and 2007. Currently the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Disability Issues and Dail Reform
Previous party spokespersons positions I held were Equality and Social and Family Affairs, and Labour Affairs, Consumer Rights and Trade, in addition to numerous junior spokesperson positions in Finance, Agriculture and Education
As a TD for Cork East my priorities for the area include:
- Youth & children’s facilities, childcare and school places
- Local infrastructure, community and sports facilities
- Local enterprise and employment opportunities
- Agriculture and fishing industries
- Transport – traffic congestion, N25 upgrade (including Castlemartyr & Killeagh Bypass) and Fota Road upgrade
Other areas of special interest to me are:
- People with disabilities , older people and carers
- Defence matters
- Political reform
Education
I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Mathematical Science, Diplomas in Career Guidance and Educational Administration from UCC. Awarded a Teachers Certificate in Educational Wordwork in 1978. I was conferred with an Honours Masters Degree in Education by the National University of Ireland in 1996.
Other Information
Before I was elected to Dáil Eireann, I was a woodwork and technical drawing teacher and a career guidance counsellor in St. Colman’s Community College in Midleton. While at St. Colman’s I established the Home/School/Community Liaison Project.
In addition to being involved with the Midleton Youth Project, I am also a Director of the Midleton Youth Health Café Project and I would like to see more, better quality youth friendly facilities in East Cork.
I am a Director of Midleton and District Day Care Centre Ltd and a patron of Midleton & Carrigtwohill Red Cross. I was also a Commissioned Officer in An Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil and a past member of Macra na Feirme.
Photos of local images used on this site were taken by Tom Tattan