Seán Haughey

Seán Haughey (born 8 November 1961) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay North constituency from 2016 to 2024, and previously from 1992 to 2011 for the Dublin North-Central constituency. He served as a Minister of State from 2006 to 2011 and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1989 to 1990. He was a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 1987 to 1992.^[1]

Seán Haughey
Haughey in 2024
Minister of State
2010–2011	Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
2010–2011	Education and Skills
2007–2010	Enterprise, Trade and Employment
2006–2010	Education and Science
Lord Mayor of Dublin
In office 20 June 1989 – 20 June 1990
Preceded by	Ben Briscoe
Succeeded by	Michael Donnelly
Teachta Dála
In office February 2016 – November 2024
Constituency	Dublin Bay North
In office November 1992 – February 2011
Constituency	Dublin North-Central
Senator
In office 25 April 1987 – 25 November 1992
Constituency	Administrative Panel
Personal details
Born	(1961-11-08) 8 November 1961 (age 63) Raheny, Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Orla O'Brien ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	4
Parents	Charles Haughey (father) Maureen Lemass (mother)
Relatives	Seán Lemass (grandfather)
Education	St Paul's College, Raheny
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin
Website	seanhaughey.ie

Early life

The son of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and Maureen Lemass, Haughey was educated at St Paul's College, Raheny, Dublin, and Trinity College Dublin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Politics.^[2]

Political career

Haughey entered politics in 1985 when he was elected to Dublin City Council for the Artane local electoral area. He was re-elected to the council in 1991 and 1999 and served until 2003. He was Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1989 to 1990.^[3]

Haughey served as a member of Seanad Éireann from 1987 until 1992. In that year he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North-Central.^[4] He had unsuccessfully contested the Dublin North-East constituency at the 1987 and 1989 general elections.

In June 2006, Haughey apologised for failing to disclose receiving £2,300 from Monarch Properties to the Mahon Tribunal.^[5] Haughey was appointed by Bertie Ahern in December 2006 as a Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, with responsibility for Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage.^[6][7] In June 2007, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science and at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Lifelong Learning, Youth Work and School Transport.^[8][9] He was re-appointed by Brian Cowen in 2008,^[10][11] and again when the number of junior ministers was reduced.^[12][13]

He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.^[4] He was elected to Dublin City Council for the Clontarf local electoral area at the 2014 local elections. He regained a seat in the Dáil at the 2016 general election, when he was returned for the new Dublin Bay North constituency. He was re-elected at the general election in February 2020.^[14][15]

As of 2021, Haughey is the biggest stock market shareholder in the Dáil, holding at least €442,000 in shares, including shares in Pfizer and Amazon.^[16]

On 6 February 2024, Haughey announced that he would not contest the next general election.^[17]

Personal life

Haughey is a member of a political family. His father was Charles Haughey, while his maternal grandfather was Seán Lemass; each served as Taoiseach. His uncle Noel Lemass and aunt Eileen Lemass were also members of Dáil Éireann. Through his father, Haughey is also related to Olympic medalist Siobhán Haughey.^[18]

Haughey is married to Orla O'Brien, and the couple have four children.^[2]

On 4 February 2021, he undertook godparenthood for Vitold Ashurak, Belarusian activist and political prisoner.^[19][20] After the death of Ashurak in May, Haughey took over the patronage of Dzyanis Ivashin, a journalist of Novy Chas and Belarusian political prisoner, on 30 June 2021.^[21][20]

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

References

1. "Seán Haughey". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
2. O'Halloran, Marie. "Profile: Seán Haughey (FF)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
3. "Lord Mayors of Dublin 1665–2020" (PDF). Dublin City Council. June 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
4. "Seán Haughey". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
5. "Haughey apologises for non-disclosure". RTÉ. 2 June 2006.
6. "Appointment of Minister of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2006 (100): 1281. 15 December 2006.
7. "Appointment of Minister of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
8. "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2007 (52): 692–694. 29 June 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
9. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 638 of 2007). Signed on 25 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 September 2021.
10. "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2008 (43): 562–563. 16 May 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
11. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 193 of 2008). Signed on 17 June 2008. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
12. "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2009 (49): 833–834. 19 June 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
13. Education and Science (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 210 of 2009). Signed on 19 May 2009. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.; Education and Skills (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 411 of 2010). Signed on 26 July 2010. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.
14. Cullen, Paul (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Dublin Bay North results: Social Democrats, Labour, FF take final seats". Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
15. "Election 2020: Dublin Bay North". Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
16. "Seán Haughey share portfolio includes Pfizer and Amazon". independent. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
17. "Seán Haughey decides not to contest next general election". RTÉ News. 6 February 2024.
18. "TD Sean Haughey reveals family's 'great excitement' at swimming star Siobhan's Olympic medal". sundayworld. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
19. "Members of Parliament from Switzerland, Germany and Ireland take over godparenthood for Yuliya Slutskaya, Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Vitold Ashurak". Libereco. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
20. Cunningham, Paul (15 July 2021). "Irish politicians sponsor Belarus political prisoners". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
21. "Irish and German MPs adopt three political prisoners from Belarus". Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

External links

• Seán Haughey's page on the Fianna Fáil website

Civic offices
Preceded by Ben Briscoe	Lord Mayor of Dublin 1989–1990	Succeeded by Michael Donnelly
Political offices
Preceded by Síle de Valera	Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Education and Skills from 2010) 2006–2011	Succeeded by Seán Sherlock Ciarán Cannon
Preceded by Michael Ahern Tony Killeen	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Enterprise, Trade and Innovation from 2010) 2007–2011 With: Billy Kelleher John McGuinness (2007–2009) Jimmy Devins (2007–2009) John Moloney (2008–2010) Conor Lenihan (2009–2011) Dara Calleary (2009–2011)	Succeeded by Seán Sherlock John Perry