John Deasy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Deasy (born 1967) is an Irish Fine Gael politician, representing the Waterford constituency as Teachta Dála since the 2002 General Election.

John Deasy was born in Abbeyside, Dungarvan, County Waterford. He was educated at Coláiste na Rinne, Ring, County Waterford, and at St. Augustine's College in Dungarvan, County Waterford. Deasy studied at Mercyhurst College, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, on a golfing scholarship where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communications.

In 1990, Deasy was employed as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate, handling trade and foreign affairs for (the now-deceased) Republican United States Senator, John Heinz. The following year he became manager of public affairs for a multinational waste company. Deasy was also legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives, handling trade, foreign affairs, energy, environment, banking, economic development, immigration and human rights for U.S. Representative, Ronald K. Machtley.

He returned to the Republic of Ireland, where he studied at University College Cork, qualifying with a degree in law. In 1999 he embarked on a political career and was elected to Waterford County Council. In the 2002 General Election he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time, succeeding his father Austin Deasy who was retiring. He was appointed Spokesperson on Justice, Equality & Law Reform by the new leader, Enda Kenny. He was controversially sacked from the Fine Gael front bench in 2004 for smoking tobacco in the members bar at Leinster House, the home of the Irish parliament, just days after a nationwide ban on smoking in the workplace had come into effect. In October, 2004 he failed to return to the front bench in the reshuffle, but was appointed Chairman of the Dáil's European Affairs Committee.

In January 2007 he announced his intention to challenge Enda Kenny for the Fine Gael Leadership should the party fail to enter government after the 2007 General Election.

In May 2005, John Deasy married the TV3 presenter, Maura Derrane.