Billy Kelleher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Kelleher
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|---|---|
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2019 |
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| Constituency | South |
| Minister of State | |
| 2007–2011 | Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1997 – July 2019 |
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| Constituency | Cork North-Central |
| Senator | |
| In office 17 February 1993 – 6 June 1997 |
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| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Kelleher
20 January 1968 Cork, Ireland |
| Political party |
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| Spouse |
Liza Davis
(m. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Pallaskenry Agricultural College |
William Kelleher (born 20 January 1968) is an Irish politician. He is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South area of Ireland. He has held this role since July 2019.
Mr. Kelleher is a member of the Fianna Fáil political party in Ireland. In the European Parliament, his party is part of a group called Renew Europe. Before becoming an MEP, he held several important jobs in Irish politics. He was a Teachta Dála (TD), which is like a member of the Irish parliament, for the Cork North-Central area from 1997 to 2019. He also served as a Senator from 1993 to 1997.
Contents
About William Kelleher
Early Life and Education
William Kelleher was born in Cork, Ireland, on 20 January 1968. He went to school at Sacred Heart College in Carrignavar, County Cork. For his college education, he studied at Pallaskenry Agricultural College in County Limerick. Before he became a politician, he worked as a farmer.
Family Life
William Kelleher is married to Liza Davis. They got married in 2002. Together, they have three children: two daughters and one son.
His Political Journey
Starting in Politics
William Kelleher first tried to become a TD in the 1992 general election. He didn't win that time, missing out by a very small number of votes. However, in 1993, the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister) at the time, Albert Reynolds, chose him to be a Senator. This was his first step into national politics.
Becoming a TD
In 1997, William Kelleher was successfully elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central area. He kept his seat in the Irish parliament in several elections after that, including in 2002, 2007, 2011, and 2016. This shows he was a popular representative for his local area for many years.
Roles as Minister of State
During his time as a TD, Mr. Kelleher also served as a Minister of State. These roles are like junior ministers who help a main minister with specific tasks.
- From 2007 to 2009, he was the Minister of State for Labour Affairs. This meant he helped with issues related to jobs and workers' rights.
- From 2009 to 2011, he was the Minister of State for Trade and Commerce. In this role, he helped with matters related to business and trade.
Moving to the European Parliament
In 2019, William Kelleher ran for election to the European Parliament. He was elected as an MEP for the South constituency of Ireland. As an MEP, he represents Ireland's interests in the European Union. He works on committees and helps make decisions that affect all EU countries.
Key Actions and Views
Working in Europe
As an MEP, William Kelleher has been a full member of the ANIT committee. This committee looks into how animals are transported and related issues. He works with other MEPs from different countries to create new laws and policies for the European Union.
Views on Important Issues
- Party Future: In 2020, he asked his party leader, Micheál Martin, to look into why the Fianna Fáil party's support was changing.
- Ukraine Conflict: In 2022, after the conflict in Ukraine began, he was one of many politicians who asked the Irish government to remove the Russian ambassador. He also traveled to Poland and Ukraine to see the situation firsthand. He met with local leaders in the city of Lviv.
- Refugee Support: When asked about Ukrainian refugees, Mr. Kelleher said that Ireland should help by providing lots of places for them to stay.
- Business and Russia: In April 2022, he asked Kerry Group, a large company, to stop its business operations in Russia. Kerry Group later decided to suspend their operations there, which Mr. Kelleher supported.
Images for kids
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William Kelleher, an Irish politician and MEP.
