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Paschal Mooney is an Irish politician from County Leitrim and a former member of the Seanad Éireann for Fianna Fáil. A journalist and broadcaster, he was first elected to the Seanad in 1987, on the Cultural and Educational Panel. He retained his seat at each subsequent election until losing it in the 2007 elections to the 23rd Seanad.
Born in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, he is married to Sheila (nee Baldrey of Castletownbere, Co. Cork) and has five children (2 girls and 3 boys). His late father Joseph Mary Mooney (died 1988) was a former member of the Seanad (1961-65) and Leitrim County Council (1943-88) while his Mother Eva Mooney also served as a member of Leitrim County Council (1988-91). Paschal Mooney is the third generation of his family to contribute to public service locally and nationally as his late Grandfather Andrew Mooney served as a member of Leitrim County Council from 1920-1943.
A journalist and broadcaster, he was first elected to the Seanad in 1987, on the Cultural and Educational Panel as a nominee of the Library Association of Ireland (LAI). He retained his seat at each subsequent election until losing it in the 2007 elections due to the reduction in the number of Fianna Fáil Councilors who vote in Senate elections following the 2004 Local Government Elections and the imposition of a defeated FF Deputy from his region as a Senate candidate on the same Panel.
Govt. Spokesperson in Seanad Éireann on Foreign Affairs (2002-07).Member Joint House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chairman Sub-Committee on Human Rights (2002-07).Member of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body(1997-2007).Member of Management Committee National Economic & Social Forum (NESF) 1994-2007). Member of Irish Delegation to Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly(PACE) (2002-07) Chairman of Sub-Committee on Human Rights and member of Migration Committee. Former member of Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women & Men. Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe (PACE)Rapporteur on the Media 2002-04.Rapporteur for following PACE Reports: Public Service Broadcasting:Women's Participation in Politics;Possible Abuse of Power in the Italian media. Europe's Response to Humanitarian Disasters(2007).Member Leitrim Co. Council(1991-199) Chairman 1994. Chairman Co. Leitrim, Vocational Education Committee (2007).Chairman Co. Leitrim Childcare Committee.
Paschal Mooney has also enjoyed a distinguished Broadcasting career with RTÉ, Ireland's National Broadcaster. A presenter of a variety of Irish Traditional and Country Music and Sports programmes, he has also devised, scripted and presented numerous music documentaries on Irish and American country music stars. He is currently presenting an annual four part series for and about the Irish abroad titled 'The Irish Experience' on RTÉ Radio 1 transmitted over four Fridays in December. In September 2007,Paschal Mooney was the recipient of the UK based Irish Post Newspaper Readers Award for 'services to the Irish Community in Britain' and as a Senator was a leading campaigner for the undocumented Irish in the USA as well as being the 'Voice of the Irish Disapora' in Seanad Éireann.He was also in the forefront of the 'Shot At Dawn' campaign led in the British House of Commons by Andrew MacKinlay MP and in the House of Lords by Alf Lord Dubs seeking a pardon for over 300 soldiers of the First Wold War (including 31 Irish servicemen) shot in questionable circumstances following Field Courts Martial. He currently presents music programmes on oceanfm.ie and countrymix 106.8fm www.perfectstation.com and has completed a further 4-part series for RTE Radio 1 titled 'Irish Music Legends' which will be transmitted in August 2008. In April of 2008,paschal Mooney was nominated to the positon of Chairman of Failte Ireland North West ,one of five Regional Tourism Boards in Ireland charged with promoting their regions and attracting tourists.
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