Gerald Henry Nash (born 7 December 1975) is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...

(TD) for the

Louth Louth may refer to: Australia *Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia * Louth, New South Wales, a town * Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia **Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality Canada * Louth, Ontario Ireland * Cou ...

constituency since

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

, and previously from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as Minister of State for Business and Employment from 2014 to 2016. He was a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

for the

Labour Panel The Labour Panel ( ga, An Rolla Oibreachais) is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). The Labour Panel elects eleven senators. ...

from 2016 to 2020.

Early life

Nash was born on 7 December 1975. His father was a

union representative A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold ...

in a factory and active in the Labour Party. He attended St. Joseph's CBS, Drogheda and graduated with an Hons. BA in Politics & History from

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

. He was a former

PR consultant Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to influence their perception. Pu ...

to the

trade unions A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and Employee ben ...

and the

not-for-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

sector. He was a former manager of the Upstate Theatre Project company in Drogheda and was a former teacher in St. Oliver's Community College in Drogheda.

Political career

Councillor and mayor of Drogheda (1999–2011)

Nash was a member of Louth County Council for the

Drogheda Drogheda ( , ; , meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth ...

local electoral area from 2000 to 2011, and a member of Drogheda Town Council from 1999 to 2011. He served as mayor of Drogheda from 2004 to 2005.

Dáil Éireann (2011–2016)

He was elected as a Labour Party TD for the

constituency at the 2011 general election. He lost his seat at the 2016 general election.

Minister of State

In July 2014, he was appointed as Minister of State for Business and Employment, with responsibility for small and medium business, collective bargaining and low pay commission at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. He was also made a

Super Junior Minister A Minister of State ( ga, Aire Stáit) in Ireland (also called a junior minister) is of non-cabinet rank attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland and assists the Minister of the Government responsible for that ...

, which meant he attended cabinet meetings but did not have a vote. While a Minister of State, Nash commissioned the first major independent study of zero and low hour contracts in the Irish labour market. The research was carried out by the

University of Limerick The University of Limerick (UL) ( ga, Ollscoil Luimnigh) is a Public university, public research university institution in Limerick, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it beca ...

and published in November 2015. At the time Nash, himself a former National Secretary of

Labour Youth Labour Youth is the youth wing of the Labour Party of Ireland. Membership is open to those aged from 16 to 30 years old. History 1979–2000 Labour Youth succeeded the Young Labour League as a full section of the Party in 1979, under Party L ...

, praised the "vocal campaign" run by his party's youth wing on the issue of zero hour contracts.

Seanad Éireann (2016–2020)

In April 2016, Nash was elected to

Seanad Éireann Seanad Éireann (, ; "Senate of Ireland") is the upper house of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (the lower house). It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its memb ...

as a Senator for the

. Party leader

Brendan Howlin Brendan Howlin (born 9 May 1956) is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency since 1987. He previously served as Leader of the Labour Party from 2016 to 2020, Minister for Public Expenditu ...

subsequently appointed him as Labour Party Spokesperson on Equality, and Labour Affairs and Workers Rights. Nash is currently party Spokesperson on Employment and Social Protection. In 2018, Nash put forward a bill to issue an apology to men convicted of homosexual activity, prior to its

legalisation Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal. Legalization is a process often applied to what are regarded, by those working towards legalization, as victimless crimes, of which one ...

. The motion received all-party support, and Taoiseach

Leo Varadkar Leo Eric Varadkar ( ; born 18 January 1979) is an Irish politician who has served as Taoiseach since December 2022, and previously from 2017 to 2020. He served as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to De ...

delivered an apology to the Dáil later that year. Nash put forward a bill in 2019 which aimed to provide greater protection for low paid workers, reform Joint Labour Committees and give the Labour Court the ability to set rates of pay above the minimum wage in low paid sectors of the economy.

Return to Dáil (2020–)

Nash was re-elected to the Dáil following the 2020 general election. After Brendan Howlin announced his intention to step down as leader of the Labour Party, Nash was considered a potential candidate for the party leadership race. However, he ruled himself out shortly afterwards, saying "There is a responsibility on my local Dáil colleagues and I to work night and day both locally and nationally to fix them. This is where my immediate focus must lie". Nash nominated

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (; born 22 July 1976) is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay North constituency since the 2020 general election, and previously from 2011 to 2016 for the Dublin North-Ce ...

for the position of leader.

Personal life

Nash is a director of Drogheda Youth Development, the Calipo Theatre and Picture Company, a Member of Board of the Droichead Arts Centre, a member of Drogheda Rotary Club and a former member of Louth VEC. Nash suffers from

Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distension ...

, and has spoken about being bullied as a teenager for it.

References

External links

Gerald Nash's page on the Labour Party website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Gerald 1975 births Living people Alumni of University College Dublin Labour Party (Ireland) TDs Local councillors in County Louth Mayors of places in the Republic of Ireland Members of the 25th Seanad Members of the 31st Dáil Members of the 33rd Dáil Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil Politicians from County Louth Labour Party (Ireland) senators People with Crohn's disease