Willie Penrose
| Willie Penrose TD | |
|---|---|
|
Penrose pictured in 2005 | |
| Chairperson of the Labour Parliamentary Party | |
|
Assumed office 29 February 2016 | |
| Leader |
Joan Burton Brendan Howlin |
| Preceded by | Jack Wall |
| Minister of State for Housing and Planning | |
|
In office 9 March 2011 – 15 November 2011 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Jan O'Sullivan |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
Assumed office May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Longford–Westmeath |
|
In office November 1992 – May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Westmeath |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 August 1956 Ballynacargy, Westmeath, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party |
Labour Party (1969–2011), (2013–) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2011–13) |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Fitzsimons |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
University College Dublin, King's Inns |
Willie Penrose (born 18 August 1956) is an Irish Labour Party politician.[1] He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency since May 2007, having previously served as a TD for the Westmeath constituency from 1992-2007. Minister of State for Housing and Planning from March to November 2011, he resigned his position and also the Labour Party whip over the closure of an army barracks.[2]
Early life
Penrose was born in Ballynacargy, County Westmeath, and educated at St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar; Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar; Multyfarnham Agricultural College; University College Dublin (UCD), and the King's Inns. At UCD, he studied Agricultural Science, graduating in 1979 with a bachelor's degree and after graduation, with a colleague, formed an agricultural consultancy firm in Mullingar. In 1986, Penrose took up the position of advisor to the Minister of State at the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Tourism, Michael Moynihan, resigning from the agricultural consultancy to do so.
Political career
Early days
In 1984, Penrose was co-opted on to Westmeath County Council, and a year later, he ran in the local elections, winning his seat in the Mullingar Lough Owel constituency by a margin of just six votes. In the 1991 local elections, he topped the poll in the Mullingar Rural Area.
Dáil Éireann: 1992–present
He qualified as a barrister in 1990 before entering into national politics. At the 1992 general election he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for the Westmeath constituency.[3] On that occasion the Labour Party won a record 33 Dáil seats, a feat that was surpassed at the 2011 general election.
In 2002, Penrose was a candidate for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party. Although he was part of a joint ticket with Pat Rabbitte, who won the leadership comfortably, he was narrowly defeated for the deputy leadership by Liz McManus, polling 1,636 votes to McManus' 1,728.
Minister of State: 2011
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for Housing and Planning.
On 15 November 2011, he announced his resignation as Minister of State due to his opposition to the Government's decision to close Columb Barracks in Mullingar.[4] Penrose said: "I understand and appreciate that significant efforts were made by my Labour colleagues in Government, who fully understood the depths of my feelings in this regard, to resolve this matter, but to no avail."[5][6] He also resigned the Labour parliamentary party whip.[2]
Since
Penrose rejoined the parliamentary Labour Party in October 2013.[7] He was narrowly re-elected to the Dáil at the 2016 general election, the final of just seven Labour TDs returned.
References
- ↑ "Mr. Willie Penrose". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- 1 2 Cullen, Paul; Minihan, Mary (16 November 2011). "Minister's resignation increases fears over budget cuts". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Willie Penrose". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ↑ "Penrose quits on barracks issue". The Irish Times. 15 November 2011.
- ↑ "Penrose quits Cabinet over barracks closure". RTÉ News. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ↑ "Labour's Penrose resigns from Government over barracks closure". Irish Independent. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ↑ "Penrose welcomed 'back into Labour fold' by Gilmore". TheJournal.ie. 7 October 2013.
External links
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Labour Party Teachta Dála for Westmeath 1992–2007 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Labour Party Teachta Dála for Longford–Westmeath 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Minister of State for Housing and Planning 2011 |
Succeeded by Jan O'Sullivan |