Seán Sherlock
Encyclopedia
Seán Sherlock is an Irish
Labour Party
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for Cork East
since May 2007, and is the Minister of State for Research and Innovation
.
, County Cork
, Sherlock is the son of Joe Sherlock
, then an Official Sinn Féin local councillor. He was educated locally at St. Patrick's boys' national school and the Patrician Academy before later attending the College of Commerce
in Cork
. Sherlock subsequently studied at University College Galway
where he completed a degree in Economics and Politics.
Proinsias De Rossa
in his office in the European Parliament
. Following the completion of his internship he was offered a full-time job working as an assistant to de Rossa.
In 2002 Sherlock served as election manager for his father in his attempt to win back a seat at the general election
as a Labour Party
candidate. The campaign was a successful one and Joe Sherlock returned to Dáil Éireann
after a ten-year absence.
The abolition of the dual mandate
in 2003 meant that Sherlock's father had to vacate his seats on Mallow Town Council and Cork County Council
. Sherlock was chosen as his replacement and he was co-opted onto both councils that year. The following year he won both seats in his own right when he was successful at the local elections. Sherlock also had the honour of being elected mayor of Mallow shortly after his election.
When Sherlock's father announced that he would not be contesting the 2007 general election he was once again chosen as a replacement candidate. He contested the Cork East
constituency for the Labour Party and was elected. A Fianna Fáil
-headed government returned to power once again. Sherlock was subsequently appointed Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food
.
Sherlock retained his Dáil seat at the 2011 general election after topping the poll in Cork East. When the new coalition government
was formed he was tipped for possible inclusion at the cabinet, however, he joined the junior ministerial ranks as Minister of State for Research and Innovation
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
politician. He 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 Cork East
Cork East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
since May 2007, and is the Minister of State for Research and Innovation
Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil
This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President...
.
Early life
Born in MallowMallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Sherlock is the son of Joe Sherlock
Joe Sherlock
Joe Sherlock was an Irish politician from County Cork. A member of Sinn Féin, then the Workers' Party and then the Labour Party, he was a Teachta Dála for Cork East from 1981–1982, 1987–1992 and 2002–2007....
, then an Official Sinn Féin local councillor. He was educated locally at St. Patrick's boys' national school and the Patrician Academy before later attending the College of Commerce
Cork College of Commerce
Cork College of Commerce is a college that was established by the business and education communities on the banks of the River Lee in Cork, Ireland in 1908...
in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Sherlock subsequently studied at University College Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
where he completed a degree in Economics and Politics.
Politicial career
Sherlock first became directly involved in politics when he served a six month internship with MEPMember of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Proinsias De Rossa
Proinsias De Rossa
Proinsias De Rossa is an Irish Labour Party politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency. He a former President of the Workers' Party and subsequently leader of Democratic Left, and later, a senior member of the Labour Party. He was Minister for Social Welfare from...
in his office in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. Following the completion of his internship he was offered a full-time job working as an assistant to de Rossa.
In 2002 Sherlock served as election manager for his father in his attempt to win back a seat at the general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
as a Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
candidate. The campaign was a successful one and Joe Sherlock returned 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...
after a ten-year absence.
The abolition of the dual mandate
Dual mandate
A dual mandate is the practice in which elected officials served in more than one elected or other public position simultaneously. This practice is known as double jobbing in Britain and distinguished from double dipping in the United States For example, suppose a...
in 2003 meant that Sherlock's father had to vacate his seats on Mallow Town Council and Cork County Council
Cork County Council
Cork County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Cork in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach...
. Sherlock was chosen as his replacement and he was co-opted onto both councils that year. The following year he won both seats in his own right when he was successful at the local elections. Sherlock also had the honour of being elected mayor of Mallow shortly after his election.
When Sherlock's father announced that he would not be contesting the 2007 general election he was once again chosen as a replacement candidate. He contested the Cork East
Cork East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency for the Labour Party and was elected. A Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
-headed government returned to power once again. Sherlock was subsequently appointed Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food
Minister for Agriculture and Food
The Minister for Agriculture and Food is a union cabinet position in the Indian government, responsible for agricultural and food related policy, and heads the Ministry of Agriculture.-Previous ministers:* C...
.
Sherlock retained his Dáil seat at the 2011 general election after topping the poll in Cork East. When the new coalition government
Government of the 31st Dáil
The Government of the 31st Dáil is the present Government of Ireland, formed after the 2011 general election to Dáil Éireann on 25 February 2011. Fine Gael entered into discussions with the Labour Party which culminated in a joint programme for government. The 31st Dáil first met on 9 March 2011...
was formed he was tipped for possible inclusion at the cabinet, however, he joined the junior ministerial ranks as Minister of State for Research and Innovation
Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil
This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President...
.