Martin Heydon constituency office Newbridge

Martin Heydon (born 9 August 1978) is an Irish

Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil � ...

politician who has served as

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the Government of Ireland and assists the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Mar ...

with responsibility for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development since July 2020. He 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 Kildare South constituency since 2011. He previously served as the Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2016 to 2020.

Early life

Heydon is a native of South

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

and lives outside of

Kilcullen Kilcullen (), formally Kilcullen Bridge, is a small town on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Its population of 3,473 at the 2011 census made it the 12th largest settlement in County Kildare and the fastest growi ...

town, owning a family farm. He was educated in Crookstown National School, Cross and Passion College Kilcullen and

Teagasc Teagasc (, meaning "Instruction") is the semi-state authority in the Republic of Ireland responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector. The official title of the body is Teagasc - The Agriculture ...

Kildalton Agricultural College in

County Kilkenny County Kilkenny ( gle, Contae Chill Chainnigh) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the South-East Region. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. Kilkenny County Council is the local authority for the cou ...

Political career

Heydon joined Fine Gael in 2008. He was elected to

Kildare County Council Kildare County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Chill Dara) is the authority responsible for local government in County Kildare, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housin ...

following the 2009 local elections, at his first attempt. He was replaced on Kildare County Council following his

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

election in February 2011, by Councillor Ivan Keatley. Heydon contested Kildare South for the party in 2011 and polled over 12,000 votes, being elected on the first count, more than 3,000 votes over the quota, his first attempt in a general election. Fine Gael had been unrepresented in the constituency since

Alan Dukes Alan Dukes (born 1945) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communication from 1996 to 1997, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael from 1987 to 1990, Minister for Justice from 1986 t ...

had lost his seat in 2002. He served as Chair of Fine Gael's Internal Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs between 2011 and 2016. Newbridge Fine Gael Councillor Fiona McLoughlin Healy was added to the ticket for the 2016 general election as his running mate. Heydon won re-election, topping the poll in Kildare South. On 8 June 2016, Heydon was elected Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, succeeding retired

Limerick Limerick ( ; ga, Luimneach ) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 ...

TD Dan Neville. Heydon's responsibilities in this role included chairing the weekly meeting of the party's TDs, Senators and MEPs. Following the formation of the

Government of the 33rd Dáil There were two Governments of the 33rd Dáil, which was formed on 27 June 2020, following negotiations on a programme for government for a coalition government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party that followed the 2020 general elect ...

, Heydon was appointed

Personal life

Heydon is married to pharmacist and former ladies' GAA All-Star Brianne Leahy. The couple have three sons and a daughter. He is an officer of his local Gaelic football club,

St Laurence's GAA St Laurence's GAA LG Naomh Lorcán'' is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in south County Kildare, Ireland. History St. Laurence's G.A.A. Gaelic Athletic Association Club, Oldgrange, Narraghmore, Co. Kildare is based in the parish of Narragh ...

References

External links

*
Martin Heydon's page on the Fine Gael website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heydon, Martin 1978 births Living people Fine Gael TDs Irish farmers Local councillors in County Kildare Members of the 31st Dáil Members of the 32nd Dáil Members of the 33rd Dáil Politicians from County Kildare Ministers of State of the 33rd Dáil