Conor Lenihan

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Conor Lenihan (born 3 March 1963), is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South West and is currently the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Lenihan has since restructured Ireland's international aid program, creating Irish Aid the Irish Government’s program of assistance to developing countries. Through Irish Aid Lenihan administers a budget of almost a Billion Euro's which is used to help developing nations thus continuing Ireland's tradition of reaching out to other Post-Colonial nations.

Conor Lenihan was born in Dublin. He was educated at Belvedere College, University College Dublin where he was chair of the Kevin Barry Cumann, Dublin City University and the European School of Business. Before his political career Lenihan worked as an executive with Esat Digifone (now O2). He also worked as a journalist with the Dublin radio station 98FM. While working in London he covered the House of Commons and lectured^{[citation needed]} on European issues as a member of the European Commission’s Speakers panel. Lenihan was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1997.

In Bertie Ahern's Cabinet reshuffle of 2004 he was appointed as Minister of State^[1] at the Department of Foreign Affairs with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights. Lenihan is also the editor of 'The Nation', the official publication for the Fianna Fáil party members.

Conor Lenihan is the son of former Fianna Fáil Tánaiste Brian Lenihan. His grandfather Patrick Lenihan also served in the Irish parliament. His aunt, Mary O'Rourke is the current Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad (Senate) while his brother, Brian Lenihan, Jr is also a Minister of State.

Lenihan was involved in some controversy on 18 May 2005, when off microphone he told opposition TD Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party that he should "stick to the kebabs", a reference to the Turkish workers aided by Higgins who were exploited by their employer "GAMA Turkish Construction Company|GAMA". Lenihan apologised in the Dáil for the remarks.

Lenihan has recently been diagnosed with a benign tumor.

Preceded by Eamonn Walsh	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Dublin South West 1997 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Tom Kitt	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights) 2004 – present	Incumbent

[edit] Footnotes

¹ Irish Ministers of State are appointed by the Government collectively, not by the President of Ireland, as is the case with cabinet ministers. The offices exist in statute law, not the Irish constitution.

[edit] References

1. ^ In the British Parliament, a Minister as defined in Ireland is a Secretary of State in the British Parliament. An Irish Minister of State was fomerly known as a Parliamentary Secretary

• [1] Lenihan withdraws 'kebabs' remark in Dáil

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database