Willie O'Dea
|
Willie O'Dea TD |
|
|---|---|
O'Dea in 2009
|
|
| Opposition Spokesperson for Social Protection | |
|
Assumed office 10 July 2012 |
|
| Leader | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Barry Cowen |
| Opposition Spokesperson for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | |
|
In office 8 April 2011 – 10 July 2012 |
|
| Leader | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Simon Coveney |
| Succeeded by | Michael Moynihan |
| Minister for Defence | |
|
In office 29 September 2004 – 18 February 2010 |
|
| Taoiseach |
Bertie Ahern Brian Cowen |
| Preceded by | Michael Smith |
| Succeeded by | Brian Cowen (acting) |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
Assumed office February 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Limerick City |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office February 1982 – February 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Limerick East |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 November 1952 Limerick, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Geraldine Kennedy |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Website | www |
Willie O'Dea (born 1 November 1952) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick City constituency. He served as the Minister for Defence from September 2004 until 18 February 2010, when he resigned from his post due to controversy over a defamation case.
O'Dea was born in Limerick and raised in Kilteely, County Limerick. He was educated at the Patrician Brothers College in Ballyfin, County Laois, and University College Dublin where he studied law. He qualified as a barrister at King's Inns, Dublin. He has an accountancy qualification from the Institute of Certified Accountants. He worked as both a barrister and as an accountant before embarking on a career in politics. He also spent some time lecturing in the Law faculty in University College Dublin and in the University of Limerick.
O'Dea is married to Geraldine Kennedy. He writes regularly for the Sunday Independent and occasionally for other national newspapers.
O'Dea first held political office as a Fianna Fáil member of Limerick County Council. He served on that authority until 1992. He first stood for election to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election but was unsuccessful. He was elected to the Dáil on his second attempt at the February 1982 general election for the Limerick East constituency. Like his former constituency colleague Desmond O'Malley, O'Dea was opposed to Charles Haughey's leadership throughout the 1980s, becoming a member of the so-called Gang of 22. Following the founding of the Progressive Democrats by Desmond O'Malley in 1985, O'Dea became the only Fianna Fáil TD in the five-seat Limerick East constituency.
...
Wikipedia