Paul Kehoe | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kehoe in 2017 | |
| Chair of theCommittee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | |
| In office 15 September 2020 – 8 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Minister of State | |
| 2011–2020 | Defence |
| 2011–2020 | Taoiseach |
| 2011–2016 | Government Chief Whip |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 2002 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Wexford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-01-11)11 January 1973 (age 52) Bree,County Wexford, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Kildalton Agricultural College |
| Website | paulkehoe |
Paul Kehoe (born 11 January 1973) is an Irish formerFine Gael politician who served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theWexford constituency from 2002 to 2024. He was appointed Chair of theCommittee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in September 2020. He served asMinister of State at the Department of Defence from 2011 to 2020 andGovernment Chief Whip from 2011 to 2016.[1][2]
Kehoe was born inBree, County Wexford, in 1973. The son of Myles and Bernadette Kehoe, his father was a farmer and political activist.[3][4] He was educated at St. Mary'sCBS,Enniscorthy, and Kildalton Agricultural College,County Kilkenny.[2] Kehoe is also a farmer.[1] He is married to Brigid O'Connor, ofTaghmon, and the couple have three children.[3]
Kehoe was first elected toDáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for theWexford constituency at the2002 general election.[5] In June 2002,Enda Kenny becameLeader of Fine Gael and Kehoe was appointed Fine Gael Spokesperson forCommunications, Marine and Environment. He has also served as Fine Gael Assistant Chief Whip. He was re-elected at the2007,2011,2016 and2020 general elections.[5]
On 9 March 2011, he was appointed as to beMinister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, andMinister of State at the Department of Defence, by thecoalition government of Fine Gael and theLabour Party led byEnda Kenny.[6][7][8]
On 6 May 2016, he was appointed as Minister of State to the same departments by the newminority government of Fine Gael andIndependents led byEnda Kenny. He did not continue as Government Chief Whip, but continued to attend government meetings, with increased duties as Minister of State where Kenny assigned himself asMinister for Defence.[9][10] On 14 June 2017, he was appointed as Minister of State to the same departments by the newminority government of Fine Gael and Independents led byLeo Varadkar, where Varadkar similarly assigned himself as Minister for Defence.[11][12]
During his term as Minister of State for Defence, Kehoe was the subject of controversy for comments he made about Naval Service vessels being docked,[13] with two formerIrish Naval Service officers calling on him to resign and stating he "smacks of a person who doesn't know how the military operates".[14] Kehoe's home was targeted by protesters in April 2019.[15]
During the2020 general election, Kehoe's office was targeted by protestors from the Air Corps who encouraged voters to not give him any preference votes.[16] He won 8.4% of thefirst preference votes, and was re-elected on the 11th count without reachingthe quota.[17][18]
Kehoe was not appointed to ministerial office in thecoalition government formed on 27 June 2020 byFianna Fáil, Fine Gael and theGreen Party.[19]
In 2021, Kehoe opposed a government proposal to give a €500 bonus tofrontline workers, calling it "mad" and "crazy".[20]
On 12 February 2024, Kehoe announced that he would not contest thenext general election.[21]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Government Chief Whip 2011–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Minister of State at the Department of Defence 2011–2020 | Succeeded by | |