Lucinda Creighton
Encyclopedia
Lucinda Creighton is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. She has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Dublin South East
constituency since 2007. She was appointed the Minister of State for European Affairs in March 2011.
, she is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin
, where she gained a Law degree (LL.B.) in 2002. She was a member of the Trinity College branch of Young Fine Gael
, as was fellow 2007 Dáil entrant Leo Varadkar
.
In 2003 she qualified as an Attorney at law for the state of New York
. She was called to the Irish bar
in 2005.
She is married to Fine Gael Senator
Paul Bradford
.
. She was elected to Dublin City Council
in 2004 to represent the Pembroke
local electoral area and served until 2007. She was elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2007 general election. She was the youngest member (see Baby of the Dáil) of the 30th Dáil and the first to be born in the 1980s.
She was party Deputy spokesperson on Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs from 2007–10. She has been critical of party leader Enda Kenny
. In July 2010 she criticised what she termed the "cute hoor politics" in Fine Gael.
In October 2010, she was appointed as party Deputy spokesperson on Justice with special responsibility for Immigration, Integration and Equality. She stated in February 2011 that while she supported civil partnerships, she opposed same-sex marriage
and that she believed that "marriage is primarily about children, main purpose being to propagate and create". Controversy surrounding the comment, and its resulting backlash made national papers, and led to official statements being issued by Fine Gael distancing her comments from the party.
In March 2011, she was appointed by Enda Kenny as the Minister of State for European Affairs.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. She has been a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Dublin South East
Dublin South East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency since 2007. She was appointed the Minister of State for European Affairs in March 2011.
Early and private life
Originally from County MayoCounty Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, she is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, where she gained a Law degree (LL.B.) in 2002. She was a member of the Trinity College branch of Young Fine Gael
Young Fine Gael
Young Fine Gael is the autonomous youth wing of the major Irish political party Fine Gael. It offers its members scope to assist in formulation of political policy, and the day to day running of the senior party...
, as was fellow 2007 Dáil entrant Leo Varadkar
Leo Varadkar
Leo Varadkar is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency since June 2007. He is currently the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, being appointed on 9 March 2011....
.
In 2003 she qualified as an Attorney at law for the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She was called to the Irish bar
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
in 2005.
She is married to Fine Gael Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
Paul Bradford
Paul Bradford
Paul Bradford is an Irish Fine Gael politician and member of Seanad Éireann.-Early and private life:Bradford was born in Mourne Abbey near Mallow, County Cork in 1963. He was educated at the Patrician Academy in Mallow...
.
Political career
Creighton is a former Vice President of Youth of the European People's PartyYouth of the European People's Party
Youth of the European People's Party is an umbrella organization of European political youth organisations and is the official youth wing of the European People's Party. YEPP bring together over 54 Centre-Right youth political organisations from over 35 countries all over Europe...
. She was elected to Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
in 2004 to represent the Pembroke
Pembroke Township
Pembroke Township was an area adjoining the City of Dublin, Ireland formed for local government purposes by private Act of Parliament in 1863. The township took its name from the fact that most of the area was part of the estate of the Earl of Pembroke. The township was governed by commissioners...
local electoral area and served until 2007. She was elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 2007 general election. She was the youngest member (see Baby of the Dáil) of the 30th Dáil and the first to be born in the 1980s.
She was party Deputy spokesperson on Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs from 2007–10. She has been critical of party leader Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
. In July 2010 she criticised what she termed the "cute hoor politics" in Fine Gael.
In October 2010, she was appointed as party Deputy spokesperson on Justice with special responsibility for Immigration, Integration and Equality. She stated in February 2011 that while she supported civil partnerships, she opposed same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
and that she believed that "marriage is primarily about children, main purpose being to propagate and create". Controversy surrounding the comment, and its resulting backlash made national papers, and led to official statements being issued by Fine Gael distancing her comments from the party.
In March 2011, she was appointed by Enda Kenny as the Minister of State for European Affairs.