| Seán Sherlock TD | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State for Research and Innovation | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 10 March 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | New Office |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office May 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Joe Sherlock |
| Constituency | Cork East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 December 1972 Mallow, County Cork, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Alma mater | University College Galway |
| Occupation | Minister of State |
| Website | seansherlock.ie |
Seán Sherlock (born 6 December 1972) is an Irish Labour Party politician. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork East since May 2007, and is the Minister of State for Research and Innovation.[1]
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Born in Mallow, County Cork, Sherlock is the son of Joe Sherlock, then an Official Sinn Féin local councillor. He was educated locally at St. Patrick's boys' national school and the Patrician Academy before later attending the College of Commerce in Cork. Sherlock subsequently studied at University College Galway where he completed a degree in Economics and Politics.
Sherlock first became directly involved in politics when he served a six month internship with MEP Proinsias De Rossa in his office in the European Parliament. Following the completion of his internship he was offered a full-time job working as an assistant to de Rossa.
In 2002 Sherlock served as election manager for his father in his attempt to win back a seat at the general election as a Labour Party candidate. The campaign was a successful one and Joe Sherlock returned to Dáil Éireann after a ten-year absence.
The abolition of the dual mandate in 2003 meant that Sherlock's father had to vacate his seats on Mallow Town Council and Cork County Council. Sherlock was chosen as his replacement and he was co-opted onto both councils that year. The following year he won both seats in his own right when he was successful at the local elections. Sherlock also had the honour of being elected mayor of Mallow shortly after his election.
When Sherlock's father announced that he would not be contesting the 2007 general election he was once again chosen as a replacement candidate. He contested the Cork East constituency for the Labour Party and was elected.[2] A Fianna Fáil-headed government returned to power once again. Sherlock was subsequently appointed Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food.
Sherlock retained his Dáil seat at the 2011 general election after topping the poll in Cork East. When the new coalition government was formed he was tipped for possible inclusion at the cabinet, however, he joined the junior ministerial ranks as Minister of State for Research and Innovation.[3]
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joe Sherlock (Labour Party) |
Labour Party Teachta Dála for Cork East 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Minister of State for Research and Innovation 2011–present |
Incumbent |