Charles Flanagan

Charlie Flanagan (born 1 November 1956) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency since 2020, and previously from 1987 to 2002, 2007 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2020 for the Laois constituency. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence in September 2020. He previously served as Minister for Justice and Equality from 2017 to 2020, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2014 to 2017, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from May to July 2014 and Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2011 to 2014.[1]

Charles Flanagan TD
Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 September 2020
Preceded by	Brendan Smith
Minister for Justice and Equality
In office 14 June 2017 – 27 June 2020
Taoiseach	Leo Varadkar
Preceded by	Frances Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Helen McEntee (Justice) Roderic O'Gorman (Equality)
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office 11 July 2014 – 14 June 2017
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	Eamon Gilmore
Succeeded by	Simon Coveney
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
In office 8 May 2014 – 11 July 2014
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	Frances Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	James Reilly
Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
In office 9 March 2011 – 8 May 2014
Leader	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	Pádraic McCormack
Succeeded by	Dan Neville
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2020
In office May 2007 – February 2016
In office February 1987 – May 2002
Constituency	Laois–Offaly
In office February 2016 – February 2020
Constituency	Laois
Personal details
Born	Charles Flanagan 1 November 1956 Mountmellick, County Laois, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse(s)	Mary Flanagan (m. 1994)
Relations	Oliver J. Flanagan (Father)
Children	2
Alma mater	University College Dublin

Personal life

His father was Oliver J. Flanagan, an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Defence in the late 1970s. Flanagan is married and has two daughters.[2]

Career

Flanagan was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, succeeding his father Oliver J. Flanagan. He retained his seat at each election until losing it at the 2002 general election, but regained it at the 2007 general election.[3] He was a member of Laois County Council from 1985 until he stepped down in 2004. He was party Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2007 to 2010, and was the party Spokesperson on Children from 2010 to 2011.[4]

He was Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from June 2011 to May 2014.[5]

On 7 May 2014, following the resignation of Alan Shatter as Minister for Justice and Minister for Defence, Flanagan was appointed the following day as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to succeed Frances Fitzgerald, who assumed the Justice portfolio. On 11 July 2014, Flanagan was appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, succeeding the former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.[6]

Upon the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017, Flanagan was appointed as Minister for Justice and Equality.[7] He campaigned in favour of a Yes vote in the 2018 Irish abortion referendum.[8] Flanagan was replaced as Minister for Justice by Helen McEntee on the election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach on 27 June 2020.[9]

References

1. "Charles Flanagan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
2. McGee, Harry; Kelly, Fiach. "Profile: Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
3. "Charles Flanagan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
4. "Bruton & Noonan return to Fine Gael frontbench". RTÉ News. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
5. "Dan Neville elected as Fine Gael party chairman". The Irish Times. 14 May 2014.
6. "Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion | Friday, 11 July 2014". Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
7. "Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces new Cabinet positions". RTÉ News. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017. Charlie Flanagan has moved to become Minister for Justice in place of Ms Fitzgerald., ...
8. "Charlie Flanagan on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
9. Bray, Jennifer. "Eight high-profile Fine Gael ministers have lost their Cabinet positions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

External links

• Charlie Flanagan's page on the Fine Gael website