Andrew Doyle (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew Doyle
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|---|---|
 |
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| Minister of State | |
| 2016–2020 | Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 2007 – February 2020 |
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| Constituency | Wicklow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 July 1960 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Ann Smith
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Rockwell Agricultural College |
Andrew Doyle, born on July 2, 1960, is an Irish politician. He was a member of the Irish Parliament, called a Teachta Dála (TD). He represented the Wicklow area from 2007 to 2020. From 2016 to 2020, he also worked as a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This role involved helping with farming, food, and sea-related matters in Ireland.
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Early Life and Education
Andrew Doyle studied at Rockwell Agricultural College. He finished his studies there in 1978. In 1981, as a young farmer, he won a special scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to travel to New Zealand. While in New Zealand, he played rugby in the Canterbury region.
Personal Life and Family
Andrew Doyle manages his family's farm in County Wicklow. This farm has been owned by his family for six generations. He is married to Ann Smith. Together, they have four children: three sons and one daughter.
Andrew Doyle's Political Career
Andrew Doyle joined the Fine Gael political party in 1983. His first step into politics was running for the Wicklow County Council. He was elected to the council in 1999. He served on the council until 2007. From 2005 to 2006, he was the chairman of the council.
Becoming a Teachta Dála
In 2007, Andrew Doyle ran for the Dáil, which is the main part of the Irish Parliament. He was elected on his first try in the general election that year. During his first time in the Dáil, he became a spokesperson for his party. From 2010 to 2011, he spoke about farming, fishing, and food. Before that, from 2007 to 2010, he was a deputy spokesperson. He focused on food and growing plants.
Andrew Doyle was re-elected to the Dáil in 2011. He received the most votes in his area during the 2011 general election. He was elected for a third time in the 2016 general election.
Bills and Committee Work
Andrew Doyle introduced two special bills in the Dáil. These are ideas for new laws. One bill, from 2009, aimed to make trade in grocery goods fairer. It wanted to stop unfair practices in the food industry. The second bill, from 2013, was about voting hours. It suggested setting clear times for voting in different elections. Neither of these bills became law.
He also led the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. This committee looks at issues related to farming and the sea. In 2012, he helped create the first report on oil and gas exploration off Ireland's coast. The report suggested new rules for finding oil and gas there.
In 2013, Ireland held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. During this time, Andrew Doyle hosted a big meeting in Dublin Castle. He invited leaders from agriculture committees in 27 European countries. They discussed important farming topics with top European officials.
Minister of State Role
In the 2016 general election, Andrew Doyle won the fourth seat for Wicklow. On May 19, 2016, he was chosen to be a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The leader of Ireland at the time, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, appointed him. His special responsibilities included food, forestry, and growing plants.
He continued in the same role when Leo Varadkar became the new Taoiseach. This happened on June 20, 2017. Andrew Doyle served as a minister until a new government was formed in June 2020. He lost his seat in the general election on February 8, 2020.
