| Ciarán Cannon TD | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State for Training and Skills | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 10 March 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | New Office |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office February 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Galway East |
| Senator | |
| In office August 2007 – February 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Leader of the Progressive Democrats | |
| In office 17 April 2008 – 24 March 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Mary Harney |
| Succeeded by | Noel Grealish (Interim) |
| County Councillor for Loughrea | |
| In office June 2004 – August 2007 |
|
| Succeeded by | Michael Maher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 September 1965 Galway, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Other political affiliations |
Progressive Democrats (2003–09) |
Ciarán Cannon (born 19 September 1965) is an Irish politician and the current Minister of State for Training and Skills.[1] He is a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for Galway East since the 2011 general election. He is a former leader of the Progressive Democrats (PD) party.[2]
Before entering politics he was CEO (2002–06) and secretary (2000–02) of IHCPT – The Irish Pilgrimage Trust. In 2002 he was honoured as one of the Galway People of the Year.
He was elected to Galway County Council in 2004 to represent the Loughrea electoral area with 1,307 first preferences. He was an unsuccessful PD candidate at the 2007 general election for the Galway East constituency.[3] He received 3,321 first preferences in the 2007 poll.
He was nominated by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern to the Seanad as a Progressive Democrats member in 2007.
Cannon was elected as Leader of the Progressive Democrats on 17 April 2008.[4] Cannon was the first leader of the Progressive Democrats to come from Seanad Éireann. At his first press conference as party leader Cannon stated that he believed "there was passion, commitment, talent and knowledge within the PDs' ranks to stage a big comeback".
However, after speculation increased that Noel Grealish, one of the party's two TDs, intended to leave the party, he announced in September 2008 that a party conference would be held on 8 November 2008 at which he would recommend that the party disband.[5] At that conference, the delegates present voted by 201–161 that the party should disband.[6]
Cannon announced on the 24 March 2009 his decision to resign the leadership of the Progressive Democrats and on the same day he joined Fine Gael.[7]
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for Training and Skills.
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ulick Burke (Fine Gael) |
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Galway East 2011–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Minister of State for Training and Skills 2011–present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Mary Harney |
Leader of the Progressive Democrats 2008–2009 |
Succeeded by Noel Grealish (Interim) |
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