Why I got involved in politics

I came from a very political family, committed to community activity and political involvement was a natural evolution of that.

My priorities

Community support, housing delivery, local government reform and supporting the voluntary youth sector.

My background

Growing up in Donnybrook, where I still live, I was always in involved in community life particularly through my membership of Donnybrook Scout Group. I was co-opted to Dublin City Council in 1993 to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Ruairi Quinn as Minister for Enterprise and Employment.

Since then I have been re-elected at each local elections in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 in varying parts of Dublin Bay South as the electoral areas changed. On the Council I have served as Chairperson of the Employment Committee, Finance Committee, Arts and Sports Committee, Housing Committee, Protocol Committee and the Council itself as Lord Mayor of Dublin. I have also served as Chairperson of the South East Area Committee. I was elected Leader of the Labour Group in 2011.

I have served as Cathaoirleach of the Dublin Regional Authority, the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly and the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly. The only person to chair all three.

I pioneered the 20% Social and Affordable Housing concept though the Dublin Docklands Development MasterPlan and have established a housing co-op in my own area and am a Board member of an Approved Housing Body. I was for ten years Chairperson of the South Dublin/Wicklow Branch of the Irish Foster Care Association.

Clubs and Committees

Currently on Dublin City Council I Chair the South East Area Committee and the Housing Strategic Policy Committee.

I am Board member of Donnybrook Community Employment and Sandymount Community Services, Donnybrook Community Playschool and numerous other local, community and Dublin wide organisations.

I am member of the Board of Scouting Ireland, the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and the Royal Hospital Donnybrook Board.

I have published “A Fair City -one Dublin, many Dubliners” a road map for better Local Government in Dublin and “All the Red Ties” a history of Donnybrook Scout Group.