Billy Kelleher
Billy Kelleher is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2019. He is a member of Fianna Fáil, part of Renew Europe. He previously served Minister of State for Trade and Commerce from 2009 to 2011 and Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2007 to 2009. He was a Teachta Dála for the Cork North-Central constituency from 1997 to 2019. He was also a Senator from 1993 to 1997, having been nominated by the Taoiseach.
He was educated at Sacred Heart College, Carrignavar, County Cork and Agricultural College Pallaskenrey, County Limerick. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1992 general election but was nominated by the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to the 20th Seanad in 1993. Kelleher was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election and retained his seat at the 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2016 general elections.
He was Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade and Commerce from 2009 to 2011. He previously served as the Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2007 to 2009. He was previously the assistant Government Chief Whip.
In January 2006, Kelleher became embroiled in a minor controversy when he was caught speeding outside Cashel, County Tipperary on his way to Leinster House in Dublin. He was fined and received two penalty points on his driving licence. The misdemeanour was ironic, for it came in a week when the government was coming under fire over poor road safety statistics.
He retained his seat at the 2011 general election, though an opinion poll from The Irish Times had predicted that he was in danger of losing his seat. He was re-elected at the 2016 general election.
He is married to Liza Davis. They have two daughters and one son. He was a cousin of Fine Gael TD Liam Burke.
Kelleher was the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Health. He had called for a rise in the legal age to purchase alcohol from off-licences.
