Tony Killeen (born 9 June 1952) is a former Irish

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian ...

politician who served Minister for Defence from 2010 to 2011, Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry from 2008 to 2010, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2008 and Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2004 to 2007. He served as 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 Parlia ...

(TD) for the Clare constituency from 1992 to 2011.

Early and personal life

Killeen was born in Corofin, County Clare, and educated at St. Flannan's College in

Ennis Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25, ...

and

Mary Immaculate College Mary Immaculate College (Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál), also known as MIC and Mary I, is a College of Education and Liberal Arts. Founded in 1898, the university level College of Education and the Liberal Arts is academically linked with the Univ ...

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 ...

. He worked as a national school

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

before entering into politics. He is married to Lily O'Keeffe; they have five sons and live in Kilnaboy, County Clare.

Political career

Killeen first became involved in politics in 1985 when he was elected to

Clare County Council Clare County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae an Chláir) is the authority responsible for local government in County Clare, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and ...

and served on that body until 1997. He was chairman from 1989–1991. At the 1992 general election he was elected to

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 reads: ...

for the Clare constituency for the first time and retained his seat at each subsequent election until his retirement in 2011. Killeen has served on a number of committees, including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and the Committee on Members' Interests in Dáil Éireann. In 2004 he was appointed as

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the Government of Ireland and assists the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ ...

with special responsibility for Labour Affairs. In June 2007 he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for Environment and Energy. In May 2008, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry. In January 2007, it emerged that Killeen's office had sent letters to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform advocating for the early release of a convicted child rapist. Killeen refused to resign as Minister of State. On 23 March 2010

Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the office ...

Brian Cowen Brian Bernard Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011. Cowen was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984, for the constituency of Laois–Offaly and served in a ...

appointed Killeen as

Minister of Defence A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in so ...

replacing

Willie O'Dea Willie O'Dea ( ; born 1 November 1952) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick City constituency since 2011, and previously from 1982 to 2011 for the Limerick East constituency. He has served as M ...

who had resigned for committing perjury in front of the High Court. On 6 January 2011, Killeen announced his decision not to contest the 2011 general election, citing medical advice, having been diagnosed with

bowel cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel m ...

in 2008. He resigned as Minister for Defence on 19 January 2011. On retirement he received a lump sum of €221,000 and an annual pension of €69,000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Killeen, Tony 1952 births Living people Alumni of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick Fianna Fáil TDs Irish schoolteachers Local councillors in County Clare Members of the 27th Dáil Members of the 28th Dáil Members of the 29th Dáil Members of the 30th Dáil Ministers for Defence (Ireland) Ministers of State of the 29th Dáil Ministers of State of the 30th Dáil People educated at St Flannan's College Politicians from County Clare