Martin Heydon


Martin Heydon is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development since July 2020. He previously served as the Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from June 2016 to July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Kildare South constituency since 2011.

Background

Heydon is a native of South Kildare and lives outside of Kilcullen town, owning a family farm. He was educated in Crookstown National School, Cross and Passion College Kilcullen and Teagasc Kildalton Agricultural College in County Kilkenny.

Political career

Heydon joined Fine Gael in 2008. He was elected to Kildare County Council at the 2009 local elections, at his first attempt. He was replaced on Kildare County Council following his Dáil Éireann election in February 2011, by Councillor Ivan Keatley.
He was the first Fine Gael TD to be elected in the Kildare South constituency, after Alan Dukes lost his seat in 2002. Heydon ran on his own for the party in 2011 and polled over 12,000 votes to be returned as a first-time TD on the first count, his first attempt in a general election. He was more than 3,000 votes above the quota and as a result Newbridge Fine Gael Councillor Fiona McLoughlin Healy was added to the ballot for the 2016 general election as his running mate.
Heydon won parliamentary re-election following the 2016 general election, topping the poll in Kildare South.
He served as Chair of Fine Gael's Internal Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs between 2011 and 2016.
On 8 June 2016, Heydon was elected Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, succeeding retired Limerick TD Dan Neville. Carlow–Kilkenny TD Pat Deering was elected Vice Chair, by the Parliamentary Party. Heydon's responsibilities in this role include chairing the weekly meeting of Fine Gael TDs and Senators in Leinster House, and representing the party through the European People's Party in the European Parliament.

Personal life

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