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Paul Kehoe

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For the New York politician, see L. Paul Kehoe.

Paul Kehoe
Kehoe in 2017
Chair of the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
In office
15 September 2020 – 8 November 2024
Preceded byNew office
Minister of State
2011–2020Defence
2011–2020Taoiseach
2011–2016Government Chief Whip
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2002 – November 2024
ConstituencyWexford
Personal details
Born (1973-01-11) 11 January 1973 (age 51)
Bree, County Wexford, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Brigid O'Connor
​
(m. 2007)​
Children3
Alma materKildalton Agricultural College
Websitepaulkehoe.com

Paul Kehoe (born 11 January 1973) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 2002 to 2024. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in September 2020. He served as Minister of State at the Department of Defence from 2011 to 2020 and Government Chief Whip from 2011 to 2016.[1][2]

Early and private life

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Kehoe was born in Bree, 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's CBS, Enniscorthy, and Kildalton Agricultural College, County Kilkenny.[2] Kehoe is also a farmer.[1] He is married to Brigid O'Connor, of Taghmon, and the couple have three children.[3]

Political career

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Kehoe was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for the Wexford constituency at the 2002 general election.[5] In June 2002, Enda Kenny became Leader of Fine Gael and Kehoe was appointed Fine Gael Spokesperson for Communications, Marine and Environment. He has also served as Fine Gael Assistant Chief Whip. He was re-elected at the 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2020 general elections.[5]

On 9 March 2011, he was appointed as to be Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, and Minister of State at the Department of Defence, by the coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Enda Kenny.[6][7][8]

On 6 May 2016, he was appointed as Minister of State to the same departments by the new minority government of Fine Gael and Independents led by Enda 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 as Minister for Defence.[9][10] On 14 June 2017, he was appointed as Minister of State to the same departments by the new minority government of Fine Gael and Independents led by Leo 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 former Irish 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 the 2020 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 the first preference votes, and was re-elected on the 11th count without reaching the quota.[17][18]

Kehoe was not appointed to ministerial office in the coalition government formed on 27 June 2020 by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.[19]

In 2021, Kehoe opposed a government proposal to give a €500 bonus to frontline workers, calling it "mad" and "crazy".[20]

On 12 February 2024, Kehoe announced that he would not contest the next general election.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Paul Kehoe". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Paul Kehoe TD". Fine Gael website. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Everything just Fine' on TD Paul's big day". New Ross Standard. 3 October 2007. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  4. ^ "Father of Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe passes away". independent. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Paul Kehoe". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Tuesday, 15 March 2011". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  7. ^ Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 157 of 2011). Signed on 22 March 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 2 April 2021.
  8. ^ Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 307 of 2014). Signed on 24 June 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 2 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of the Government (Motion) – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Friday, 6 May 2016". Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 314 of 2016). Signed on 14 June 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 26 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – 14 June 2017". Houses of the Oireachtas. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  12. ^ Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 299 of 2017). Signed on 5 July 2017. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Taoiseach will not ask Kehoe to withdraw 'inaccurate' Naval Service claims". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  14. ^ McEnroe, Seán O'Riordan and Juno (10 July 2019). "Former Navy officers call on minister to resign". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Defence Minister Paul Kehoe targeted by protesters at his home". independent. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  16. ^ Michael, Neil; O'Riordan, Sean (29 January 2020). "Protestors encourage voters not to give Paul Kehoe any preference votes". Irish Examiner. Cork. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020.
  17. ^ Gallagher, Conor (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Wexford results: Verona Murphy elected on 11th count". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Election 2020: Wexford". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  19. ^ Bray, Jennifer (28 June 2020). "Eight high-profile Fine Gael ministers have lost their Cabinet positions". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Proposed €500 bonus for front-line workers 'mad', says Fine Gael TD". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  21. ^ "'A difficult decision but the right time' – Paul Kehoe becomes ninth Fine Gael TD to stand down at next election". Independent.ie. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by Government Chief Whip
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
Minister of State at the Department of Defence
2011–2020 		Succeeded by
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