Newly re-elected Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary (51) followed in his father Sean’s, and grandfather Phelim’s, footsteps into national politics.
He was first elected as a TD in the Mayo constituency in 2007.
From 2009 to 2011 he was minister of state for labour affairs and public service transformation.
Controversy erupted in 2020 when, while minister for agriculture, Calleary attended a parliamentary golf club dinner in Clifden in breach of Covid regulations.
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Afterwards, during what the media labelled “Golfgate”, he resigned as minister.
After the 2020 general election, Calleary was snubbed for a full cabinet portfolio, instead being appointed chief whip.
That rebuff caused particular indignation in Calleary’s hometown Ballina, with the local paper, The Western People, describing the omission as “egregious”.
Calleary returned to the Cabinet table earlier this year when he was appointed Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital Transformation and Company Regulation.
He is married to Siobhan, a primary schoolteacher.
