Denis O'Donovan
Denis O'Donovan is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from 2016 to 2020. He has been a Senator for the Agricultural Panel since 2011. He previously served as Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from April 2011 to 2016. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Cork South-West constituency from 2002 to 2007.
A native of Bantry, he was elected to Cork County Council in 1985, and re-elected in 1991 and 1999. He was nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad in 1989. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1993 Seanad election but was elected to the Seanad in 1997 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. O'Donovan was elected to Dáil Éireann, on his fifth attempt, at the 2002 general election for the Cork South-West constituency. He lost his Dáil seat at the 2007 general election, however he was subsequently elected to the Seanad.
O'Donovan was the Chairman of the all-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, established in December 2002 to review the Constitution. He has a degree in law from University College Cork and is a qualified solicitor.
In June 2010, he lost the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party whip when he failed to support the government on the Dog Breeding Establishment bill. He was a Fianna Fáil candidate at the 2011 general election for Cork South-West but was not elected. He was re-elected to the Seanad in April 2011. He was Leas-Chathaoirleach of the 24th Seanad. and was re-elected again to Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel in April 2016.
He served as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from 8 June 2016 until 29 June 2020.
