Tony Killeen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 23 March 2010 – 19 January 2011 | |
| Taoiseach | Brian Cowen |
| Preceded by | Brian Cowen |
| Succeeded by | Éamon Ó Cuív |
| Minister of State | |
| 2008–2010 | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
| 2007–2008 | Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
| 2007–2008 | Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
| 2004–2007 | Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office November 1992 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Clare |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-06-09)9 June 1952 (age 73) Corofin,County Clare, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | St Flannan's College |
| Alma mater | Mary Immaculate College |
Anthony Killeen (born 9 June 1952) is an Irish formerFianna Fáil politician who servedMinister for Defence from 2010 to 2011,Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry from 2008 to 2010,Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government andat the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2008 andMinister of State for Labour Affairs from 2004 to 2007. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theClare constituency from 1992 to 2011.[1][2]
Killeen was born inCorofin,County Clare, and educated atSt Flannan's College,Ennis andMary Immaculate College,Limerick. He worked as anational schoolteacher before entering into politics.
He is married to Lily O'Keeffe; they have five sons and live inKilnaboy, County Clare.
Killeen first held political office in 1985 when he was elected toClare County Council and served on that body until 1997. He was chairman of that local authority from 1989–1991. At the1992 general election, he was elected toDáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for theClare constituency for the first time and retained his seat at each subsequent election until his retirement in 2011.[3]
Killeen has served on a number of committees, including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and the Committee on Members' Interests in Dáil Éireann.
In 2004, he was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Labour Affairs. In June 2007, he was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government andat the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for Environment and Energy. In May 2008, he was appointed as Minister of State at theDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry.
In January 2007, it emerged that Killeen's office had sent letters to theMinister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform advocating for the early release of a convicted child rapist. Killeen refused to resign as Minister of State.[4]
On 23 March 2010,TaoiseachBrian Cowen appointed Killeen asMinister of Defence replacingWillie O'Dea who had resigned forcommitting perjury in front of the High Court.[5]
On 6 January 2011, Killeen announced his decision not to contest the2011 general election, citing medical advice, having been diagnosed withbowel cancer in 2008.[6] He resigned as Minister for Defence on 19 January 2011.[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 2004–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government withMáire Hoctor andBatt O'Keeffe 2007–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 2007–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2008–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Defence 2010–2011 | Succeeded by |