Maurice Quinlivan | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Quinlivan in 2024 | |
| Chair of theCommittee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment | |
| In office 15 September 2020 – 8 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Butler |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Limerick City |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967/1968 (age 57–58)[1] Limerick, Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Nessan Quinlivan (brother) |
| Alma mater | Limerick Institute of Technology |
| Website | mauricequinlivan |
Maurice Quinlivan (born 1967/1968) is an IrishSinn Féin politician who has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theLimerick City constituency since the2016 general election. He was appointed Chair of theCommittee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment in September 2020.[2] He was chosen asSinn Féin's nominee forMayor of Limerick, at the2024 election.[3]
He gained prominence forbeing libelled byWillie O'Dea, while O'Dea wasMinister for Defence.
He was born inBallynanty and resides in nearby Stenson Park,Limerick, with his wife.[4] His brotherNessan Quinlivan is a formerProvisional IRAvolunteer. He has 3 sisters.
He previously ran unsuccessfully as a Sinn Féin candidate at the2004 local elections forLimerick City Council and forLimerick East at the2007 general election.[5]
During the 2009 local election campaign, Willie O'Dea gave an interview to theLimerick Leader. In response to criticism about the use ofDepartment of Defence resources for constituency work, O'Dea attacked Quinlivan and claimed that Quinlivan was running a brothel.[6]
Quinlivan responded by launching aHigh Court defamation challenge against O'Dea. As part of his defence O'Dea swore under oath anaffidavit, that he had not made this remark.[7] He was forced to retract his denial after the release of a recording of the conversation in which the allegations were made by O'Dea.[7] The case was subsequently settled out of court with O'Dea paying an undisclosed sum in damages and apologising for the remarks.[8] However, O'Dea was forced to resign asMinister for Defence, over accusations that he had committed perjury.
Quinlivan was elected to Limerick City Council in2009. On the council, Quinlivan has supported an extension of Limerick city's boundary, opposed the planned merger of Limerick City and County Councils[9] and campaigned for greater resources to tackle Limerick's drug problem.[10] He, along with Independent Councillor and former Mayor of LimerickJohn Gilligan, are the only two councillors on Limerick City Council to oppose to the Household charge. Both men have refused to pay the charge.[11][12]
He was a candidate in theLimerick City constituency at the2011 general election. He received 8.6% of the first preference votes, coming fifth in the four seat constituency ahead of incumbent Fianna Fáil TDPeter Power, and was not elected.[13] He was re-elected at the2014 local elections, topping the poll with 24.5% of the vote.
Quinlivan was elected at the2016 general election taking the second seat in theLimerick City constituency. He was re-elected at the2020 general election, topping the poll ahead of his constituency rival,Willie O'Dea. In September 2020, Quinlivan was appointed as the Chair of theCommittee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment.[2]
On 3 April 2024,Sinn Féin chose Quinlivan as their nominee for the2024 Limerick mayoral election.[3] Quinlavin earned 8,331 first preference votes but was eliminated on the 9th count.[14]
Quinlavin was re-elected in2024 on the 13th count. He was subsequently appointed Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Disability Matters.[15]