| Paul Bradford | |
|---|---|
| Senator | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office September 2002 |
|
| In office April 1987 – June 1989 |
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| Constituency | Agricultural Panel |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1989 – May 2002 |
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| Constituency | Cork East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 December 1963 County Cork, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse(s) | Lucinda Creighton |
| Website | paulbradford.ie |
Paul Bradford (born 1 December 1963) is an Irish Fine Gael politician and member of Seanad Éireann.[1]
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Bradford was born in Mourne Abbey near Mallow, County Cork in 1963. He was educated at the Patrician Academy in Mallow. He is married to Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton.[2]
Bradford became involved in politics at a young age, becoming the youngest ever member of Cork County Council when he was elected in 1985 at the age of 21. Two years later, in 1987, he was elected to the 18th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel, becoming the youngest ever elected Senator. As a member of Seanad Éireann he was Fine Gael spokesperson on Communications and Energy. At the 1989 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time for the Cork East constituency.[3] In 1994 he joined John Bruton's front bench as spokesperson on Defence and the Marine.
In 1994 Fine Gael came to power and Bradford became Co-Chair of the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly. In 1997 the party was back in opposition and he was appointed spokesperson on Health, Food Safety and Older People. In 2000 Bradford became spokesperson on Youth Affairs, School Transport and Adult Education. Under Michael Noonan's leadership he was promoted to party Chief Whip, a position he served in until he lost his seat at the 2002 general election. He was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann by the Agricultural Panel. He is Fine Gael spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the Seanad.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in Cork East for Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election but was re-elected to the Seanad. He again re-elected to the Seanad in 2011. He is currently the Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Justice.
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Patrick Hegarty (Fine Gael) |
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Cork East 1989–2002 |
Succeeded by Joe Sherlock (Labour Party) |
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