Frank Feighan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Feighan in 2024 | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2020–2022 | Health |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Sligo–Leitrim |
| In office May 2007 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Roscommon–South Leitrim |
| Senator | |
| In office 8 June 2016 – 8 February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| In office 12 September 2002 – 24 May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Administrative Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1962-07-04)4 July 1962 (age 62) Sligo, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | frankfeighan |
Frank Feighan (/ˈfiːən/; born 4 July 1962) is an IrishFine Gael politician who has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theSligo–Leitrim constituency since2020, and previously from 2007 to 2016 for theRoscommon–South Leitrim constituency. He served as aMinister of State at the Department of Health from July 2020 to December 2022. He previously served as aSenator for theAdministrative Panel from 2002 to 2007 and from 2016 to 2020, after beingnominated by the Taoiseach.[1][2]
Feighan was born inSligo in 1962, but is a native ofBoyle, County Roscommon. He is married and has two children. He lives in Sligo with his family.
He took part in theRTÉ charity show,You're a Star in 2006 to raise funds for a children's charity.
In 2008, Feighan appeared onThe Irish Times list of TDs with notable private portfolios. Ownership of multiple properties in addition to shares in mining companies, along with shares in financial institutions are listed.[3]
He was a member ofRoscommon County Council from 1999 to 2004.[4] Feighan was first elected to theDáil at the2007 general election. He was the party deputy Spokesperson on Transport and Education with special responsibility for Rural and School Transport from 2007 to 2010. In July 2010, he was appointed as party spokesperson on Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.[5]
He was re-elected at the2011 general election. In government he voted with Fine Gael on the Roscommon Hospital issue on 6 July 2011, when his constituency colleagueDenis Naughten voted against them and lost the Fine Gael party whip.[6][7] He told the Dáil he was "sincerely sorry" for breaking a pre-election promise in relation to the issue.[8]
On 13 July 2015, he announced that he would not be contesting the2016 general election.[9]
Shortly before theUnited Kingdom voted to leave theEuropean Union he expressed his wishes for theRepublic of Ireland to rejoin theCommonwealth.[10]
He was the Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Mental Health and Older People.
In July 2020, following the formation of the32nd Government of Ireland, Feighan was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy.[11][12]
In May 2021, Feighan's proposal to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Ireland was approved by cabinet ministers. Under this legislation, a 10 cent per gram of alcohol minimum cost would be installed, with the minister citing that for example a 70cl bottle of vodka would now cost at a minimum €20.71.[13]
A decision by the Department of Health on the suspension of the North Inner City Drugs Task Force in July 2021 was criticized by the group's director Professor Joe Barry. Feighan, as minister with responsibility for drugs strategy, defended the decision due to "governance shortcomings" in the group. Barry contested that the decision has been carried out to "remove every shred of independence from the task force by taking over the appointment of the chair and the appointment of members".[14]
He was criticised in July 2022 after privately meeting with an anti-cannabis lobby group, known as the Cannabis Risk Alliance. Dr. Garrett McGovern said "If Frank Feighan was willing to meet with one group, he should have met another group who are pro-cannabis legalisation and against prohibition".[15]
He was not re-appointed as a junior minister as part of the33rd Government of Ireland in December 2022.[16]
In March 2024, Feighan supportedSimon Harris for the2024 Fine Gael leadership election after the resignation ofLeo Varadkar.
At the2024 general election, Feighan was re-elected to the Dáil.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Health 2020–2022 With:Mary Butler Anne Rabbitte | Succeeded by |