Brian Walsh (politician)
| Brian Walsh TD | |
|---|---|
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office February 2011 – January 2016 | |
| Constituency | Galway West |
| Galway City Councillor | |
|
In office 2004–2011 | |
| Constituency | Galway |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
28 September 1972 Galway, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party |
Fine Gael, Independent (Jul. 2013–Apr. 2014) |
| Spouse(s) | Fiona Flatley |
| Alma mater | Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology |
Brian Walsh (born 28 September 1972) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who was a TD for the Galway West constituency from 2011 to 2016.[1] He sat as an independent TD, having lost the Fine Gael parliamentary party whip, from July 2013 to April 2014.[2]
Local politics
He was elected to Galway City Council in 2004 and re-elected in 2009.[3] He was the Mayor of Galway from 2005 to 2006 and was the city's youngest ever mayor.[4]
Redevelopment work on Eyre Square in Galway began in 2004.[5] There was controversy when the building contractors, Samuel Kingston Construction, left the site and did not return. Some businesses were affected by the abandoned building site which had become an embarrassment to the city.[6] On becoming Mayor of Galway, Walsh set up a task force to take charge of the project, and he led the effort to complete the works. The square re-opened on 13 April 2006.
2011 general election
In December 2010 Walsh was selected by Fine Gael to contest the next general election in Galway West. The then Fine Gael deputy Pádraic McCormack subsequently announced his retirement after not being selected at the party convention. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames was also selected by the party to contest the election. Councillors Seán Kyne and Hildegarde Naughton were subsequently added to the ticket as the party adopted an offensive electoral strategy in the constituency.
Expulsion from parliamentary party
Walsh was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party on 2 July 2013 when he defied the party whip by voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.[2][7] He was re-admitted to the parliamentary party on 30 April 2014.[8]
He is not contesting the 2016 general election.[9] He resigned as a TD on 14 January 2016, due to health concerns.[10]
References
- ↑ "Mr. Brian Walsh". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- 1 2 "Abortion law moves one step closer". Irish Independent. 2 July 2013.
- ↑ "Brian Walsh". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ↑ "Mayors of Galway City". Galway City Council. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ↑ "Eyre Square Enhancement Project". Galway City Council. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ "More difficulty for Eyre Square redevelopment". RTÉ News. 27 June 2005.
- ↑ "Fine Gael expels four TDs for voting against abortion Bill". The Irish Times. 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Walsh readmitted to Fine Gael after losing whip". RTÉ News. 30 April 2014.
- ↑ "Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh will not contest the next election". The Irish Times. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ↑ "Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh resigns from Dáil over health concerns". Irish Examiner. 15 January 2015.
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Pádraic McCormack (Fine Gael) |
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Galway West 2011–2016 |
Vacant |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by Catherine Connolly |
Mayor of Galway 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by Niall Ó Brolcháin |