Kieran O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
 O'Donnell in 2014 | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2025– | Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
| 2025– | Health |
| 2024–2025 | Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform |
| 2022–2024 | Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
| Chair of theCommittee on Transport and Communications Networks | |
| In office 15 September 2020 – 8 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | TBA |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2020 | |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Limerick City |
| In office May 2007 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Limerick East |
| Senator | |
| In office 8 June 2016 – 8 February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1963-05-08)8 May 1963 (age 62) Limerick, Ireland |
| Party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Tom O'Donnell (uncle) |
| Alma mater | University of Limerick |
| Website | kieranodonnell |
Kieran O'Donnell (born 8 May 1963) is an IrishFine Gael politician who has served as aMinister of State since December 2022. He has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theLimerick City constituency since the2020 general election, and previously from 2011 to 2016 and from 2007 to 2011 for theLimerick East constituency. He was appointed Chair of theCommittee on Transport and Communications Networks in September 2020. He was aSenator for theCultural and Educational Panel from 2016 to 2020.[1]
Before becoming a full-time public representative, O'Donnell worked as anaccountant. He is a nephew ofTom O'Donnell, a former Minister and TD forLimerick East.
O'Donnell was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2002Seanad election. He was elected on his first attempt toLimerick County Council for theCastleconnell local electoral area in 2004.[2] He was first elected toDáil Éireann at the2007 general election.
In October 2007, O'Donnell was appointed party Deputy Spokesperson on Finance, with special responsibility forFreedom of Information, Procurement Reform and theOffice of Public Works. As Deputy Spokesperson, O'Donnell was given the full Finance portfolio on an acting basis byEnda Kenny on 14 June 2010, when Kenny sackedRichard Bruton.[3] O'Donnell subsequently supported Richard Bruton'sleadership challenge to Enda Kenny. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, O'Donnell was not appointed to the front bench. In October 2010, he was appointed as party Deputy Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, with special responsibility for Enterprise and Employment.
He lost his Dáil seat at the2016 general election.[2] He was subsequently elected to the25th Seanad for theCultural and Educational Panel, where he served as the Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Finance. He regained his Dáil seat following the2020 general election.
In December 2022, O'Donnell was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Local Government and Planning following the appointment ofLeo Varadkar as Taoiseach.[4]
On 10 April 2024, O'Donnell was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform following the appointment ofSimon Harris as Taoiseach.[5]
On 29 January 2025, he was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Older People andMinister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for Housing.[6]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform 2024–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Health 2025–present | Incumbent |
| New office | Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 2025–present | |