Denis Naughten

Denis Naughten
TD

Naughten in 2016
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Assumed office
6 May 2016
Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Preceded by Alex White as Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2016
Constituency Roscommon–Galway
In office
May 2007  February 2016
Constituency Roscommon–South Leitrim
In office
June 1997  May 2007
Constituency Longford–Roscommon
Senator
In office
January 1992  June 1997
Constituency Agricultural Panel
Personal details
Born (1973-06-23) 23 June 1973
Drum, Roscommon, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Fine Gael (1997–2011)
Independent (since 2011)
Spouse(s) Mary Tiernan
Children 3
Alma mater University College Dublin,
University College Cork
Website www.denisnaughten.ie

Denis Naughten (born 23 June 1973) is an Irish politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Roscommon–Galway constituency.[1] He sits as an independent TD, having lost the Fine Gael parliamentary party whip in July 2011.[2]

Family and early life

Naughten was born in Drum, County Roscommon. He was educated St. Aloysius College, Athlone, University College Dublin and University College Cork where he did a research project in Food Microbiology. His father, Liam Naughten, was also a Fine Gael TD, who served between 1982 and 1989.

Political career

Naughten was elected at a by-election to Seanad Éireann in 1997 to the seat vacant since the death of his father Liam Naughten. At the 1997 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Longford–Roscommon constituency and was re-elected at the 2002 general election.[3] He was also a member of Roscommon County Council and the Western Health Board from January 1997 to October 2003.

Within his first few weeks in the Dáil he became Fine Gael spokesperson on Youth Affairs, School Transport and Adult Education. Between 2000 and 2001 he served as Opposition spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Although indicating that he might, Naughten declined to stand in the party's leadership election in 2002. He was later appointed spokesperson on Transport. He was party spokesperson on Agriculture from 2004–2007.

He was re-elected at the 2007 general election for the new constituency of Roscommon–South Leitrim. He was party spokesperson on Immigration and Integration from 2007–2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, Naughten was not re-appointed to the front bench. In October 2010, he was appointed as party Deputy spokesperson on Health with special responsibility for Primary Care and Disability.

He was re-elected at the 2011 general election. He voted against the government's decision to close the Roscommon County Hospital emergency department on 6 July 2011.[4][5] He lost the Fine Gael party whip the following day.[2][6] On 13 September 2013, he and six other expellees formed the Reform Alliance, described as a "loose alliance" rather than a political party.[7] He was re-elected for Roscommon–Galway at the 2016 general election.

Naughten was appointed as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in Enda Kenny's Fine Gael/Independent minority government after two months of negotiation following the 2016 general election.

See also

References

  1. "Mr. Denis Naughten". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Naughten loses Fine Gael whip". The Irish Times. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  3. "Denis Naughten". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  4. "Naughten votes against Govt on hospital motion". RTÉ News. 6 July 2011.
  5. "Naughten votes against Govt in Roscommon Hospital Dáil motion". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  6. "FG rebel Naughten ejected from coalition". Irish Examiner. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  7. "The politicians formerly known as the Fine Gael rebels are now the Reform Alliance". TheJournal.ie. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Tom Foxe
(Independent)
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Longford–Roscommon
19972007
Constituency abolished
New constituency Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Roscommon–South Leitrim
2007–present
Incumbent
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Mildred Fox
Baby of the Dáil
1997–2002
Succeeded by
Damien English
Political offices
Preceded by
Alex White
as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment
2016–present
Incumbent
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