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 Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for Integration Policy.

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 at the Department of Foreign Affairs with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights. Lenihan restructured Ireland's international aid programme, creating Irish Aid, the Irish Government’s programme of assistance to developing countries. Through Irish Aid, Lenihan administered a budget of almost a billion euros which is used to help developing nations thus continuing Ireland's tradition of reaching out to other post-colonial nations.

Lenihan is also the editor of 'The Nation', the official publication of the Fianna Fáil party.

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 a Fianna Fáil TD while his brother, Brian Lenihan, Jnr, is Minister for Finance.

[edit] Attitude to immigrants

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 being exploited by their employer, GAMA. Lenihan apologised in the Dáil for the remarks.[1]

In 2007 he effectively banned Sikh men from joining an Garda Siochána by banning the Sikh Turban, saying "if we are to take integration seriously, people who come here must understand our way of doing things. When the President and Ministers travel to the middle-east, they accept cultural requirements of the country and the culture they are operating in. It is a vice-versa situation with regard to Ireland".

Lenihan has recently been diagnosed with a benign tumour.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lenihan withdraws 'kebabs' remark in Dáil
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Eamonn Walsh
(Labour Party)		 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)
2004–2007		 Succeeded by
Michael Kitt
Preceded by
Newly created office		 Minister of State (with special responsibility for Integration Policy)
2007 – present		 Incumbent
Languages