Seán Kyne (born 16 May 1975) is an IrishFine Gael politician who has been asenator for theCultural and Educational Panel since March 2020, and previously from February 2020 to March 2020, after beingnominated by the Taoiseach. He served as aMinister of State from 2016 to 2020, including as Government Chief Whip from 2018 to 2020. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theGalway West constituency from 2011 to 2020.[1][2]
Kyne is fromMoycullen,County Galway. He attendedSt Mary's College, Galway, thenNUI Galway andUniversity College Dublin, studyingagricultural science in both (primary degree in Galway and master's degree in Dublin).[3][4]
At the2004 local elections, he was elected toGalway County Council for theConnemara local electoral area.[5] He was re-elected to Galway County Council in2009, having unsuccessfully contested Galway West at the2007 general election.[5] He was also unsuccessful at the 2007 election to the23rd Seanad, when he stood for theAgricultural Panel.[5]
His election in Galway West was the last result to be declared at the2011 general election. Kyne was ahead ofIndependent candidateCatherine Connolly by a margin of 17 votes. Connolly sought a full recount, which concluded after a total of four days of counting but did not change the outcome.[6] His victory gave Fine Gael two seats in Galway West for the first time since 1982.[6] He was re-elected at the2016 general election.
On 19 May 2016, he was appointed asMinister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources by thenew minority government of Fine Gael andIndependents led byEnda Kenny.[7][8] He served until Kenny resigned as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017.
On 20 June 2017, he was appointed as Minister of State for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development by theminority government led byLeo Varadkar.[9][10] Following acabinet reshuffle on 11 October 2018, he was appointed by the government asGovernment Chief Whip andMinister of State for Gaeilge, the Gaeltacht and the Islands.[11][12]
He lost his seat at the2020 general election. He wasnominated to theSeanad by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, to fill a vacancy caused by the election ofFrank Feighan to the Dáil.[13] On 31 March 2020, Kyne was elected toSeanad Éireann at the2020 election on theCultural and Educational Panel.[14] He continued to serve as Minister of State until the formation of a new government on 27 June 2020.
On 26 June 2024, Kyne was appointed leader of the Fine Gael Seanad group and as deputy Seanad leader by TaoiseachSimon Harris, followingRegina Doherty's election as an MEP.[15]
On 12 February 2025, Kyne was appointedLeader of the Seanad by the Taoiseach on recommendation of the TánaisteSimon Harris, becoming the first officeholder from Galway.[16]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byas Ministers of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 2016–2017 With:Michael Ring | Succeeded by Joe McHugh as Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
| Preceded by Joe McHugh as Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment 2016–2018 | Succeeded by |
| New department | Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development 2017–2018 | |
| Preceded by | Government Chief Whip 2018–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2018–2020 | ||
_(cropped).jpg)