By Dan Walsh
Long serving Wexford Oireachtas members Brendan Howlin TD and Paul Kehoe TD have spent their last hours in Leinster House and will cease their careers as parliamentarians when the 33rd Dail is dissolved today (Friday) and the way is officially opened for the General Election on Friday, November 29th.
Both deputies, Brendan Howlin who has served 42 years in public life and Paul Kehoe, with 22 years’ service to his credit, announced to their parties and made public their intention not to contest the next General Election.
It is the end of an era and WexfordLocal.com feel it is fitting to acknowledge the long and dedicated public representation on behalf of the people of Wexford over such a long period and to wish both a long and healthy retirement. We pay tribute by way of short biographies focussing on their political life!
Paul Kehoe comes from a farming background in Bree and was first elected to Dáil Éireann on a Fine Gael ticket succeeding Ivan Yates in May 2002.
He served as Minister with Responsibility for Defence from May 2016 to June 2020. Paul previously served as the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence.
He was appointed Fine Gael Chief Whip in October 2004, a position he held in opposition until March 2011 when he was appointed Government Chief Whip by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. In this role he has introduced a significant amount of Dáil Reform, which has enhanced the way the Oireachtas does its business, a huge increase in Dáil sitting days, the introduction of Friday sittings and Topical Issues Debates.
Brendan Howlin was born in William Street in Wexford town, the son of John and Molly Howlin (née Dunbar). His father was a trade union official who served as secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union in Wexford for 40 years, served 18 years as a Labour member of Wexford Corporation and was election agent for the former Leader of the Labour Party and Tánaiste, Brendan Corish TD.
He first contested the 1982 General Election as a Labour candidate in the Wexford Constituency, but failed to get elected, however, when the Fine Gael-Labour coalition came to power he was nominated by the Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald to serve in Seanad Éireann. He was a Senator (1983-’87), member of Wexford County Council in 1985, Mayor of Wexford in 1986, and a TD for Wexford constituency since 1987.He has many other accolades to his credit including Leader of the Labour Party (2016-’20), Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2011-’16), Leas Cheann Comhairle (2007-’11), Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (1997-2002), Minister for the Environment (1994-’97), and Minister for Health (1993-’94
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