Dinny McGinley

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Dinny McGinley (Irish: Donnchadh Mac Fhionnghaile) (born 27 April 1945) is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal South West and is currently the Fine Gael Spokesperson for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.

Dinny McGinley was born in Gweedore, County Donegal. He was educated at St. Patrick's Teachers' Training College, Dublin, University College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Coláiste Íosagáin, Ballyvourney, County Cork. He worked as a teacher before entering into politics. McGinley was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1982. During this time he has held a number of Front Bech positions within the Party, including spokesman on Youth Affairs (1987-1988), the Gaeltacht (1988-1991), the Gaeltacht & Emigrant Welfare (1991-1994), Youth Affairs (1994), Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands (2001-2002) and Defence (2002-2004). In Enda Kenny's Front Bench reshuffle in October 2004 McGinley received his current position.

McGinley was Chairman of An Comhchoiste don Ghaeilge (Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language) from 1995 to 1997. He is a former member of the Joint Oireachtas Committees on Social Affairs and on Small Business and is a member of the British Irish Parliamentary Body since 1993.

In June 2006, he announced his intention to retire at the 2007 General election [1], but announced in February 2007 that he had changed his mind and would stand as he stood a better chance of being elected than the selected candidate[2].