Alan Dillon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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_(cropped).jpg) Dillon in 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Enterprise, Tourism and Employment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Climate, Energy and the Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Housing, Local Government and Heritage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teachta Dála | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office February 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Mayo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 25 October 2023 – 17 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Richard Bruton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Alan Farrell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1982-09-28)28 September 1982 (age 43) Castlebar,County Mayo, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Fine Gael | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Davitt College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | alandillon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alan Dillon (born 28 September 1982) is an IrishFine Gael politician who has served asMinister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment andMinister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment since January 2025. He has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theMayo constituency since the2020 general election.[1]
Prior to entering politics, he was a two-timeAll Star winningGaelic footballer who captained the seniorMayo county team.[2]
He is married to Ashling Dillon, and they have two sons. Dillon attendedDavitt College in Castlebar for his secondary school education.[3] He studied atNUI Galway,[4] and played forthe university football team.[5] Dillon has aMSc in Pharmaceutical Science from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education fromNUI Galway, and aBSc in Applied Mathematics and Biology fromMaynooth University.[6] Dillon has also participated in a marketing campaign forIreland West Airport.[7]
Dillon played football with his local clubBallintubber inCounty Mayo and was a pivotal member of the senior Mayo county team from 2003 until his retirement in 2017, playing in sixAll-Ireland finals. His fine-tuned skill, his sharp roving eye and his clever reading of the game all contribute to his exceptional footballing abilities. Dillon won his first All Star award in 2006[8] and a second All Star award in 2012.
On 28 November 2017, Dillon announced his retirement from inter-county football.[9][10][11]
Following his retirement from inter-county football in 2017, there was much speculation that Dillon would succeed formerTaoiseachEnda Kenny as aFine Gael candidate for Mayo.[12][13] He has numerous links to Fine Gael, an aunt having been Enda Kenny's Castlebar secretary and her husband being Kenny's driver and a county councillor.[14]
He successfully stood as a Fine Gael candidate at the2020 general election in theMayo constituency.[15][16] In July 2020, Dillon was elected as the secretary of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, following its AGM in the Convention Centre Dublin.
In October 2023, Dillon succeededRichard Bruton as the chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party.[17] He served as chair until April 2024, when he was succeeded byAlan Farrell.[18]
On 10 April 2024, Dillon was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the appointment ofSimon Harris as Taoiseach.[19]
At the2024 general election, Dillon was re-elected to the Dáil. On 29 January 2025, he was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with special responsibility for small businesses and retail and asMinister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the circular economy.[20]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party 2023–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 2024–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 2025–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment 2025–present | |