Thomas Byrne (Meath politician)
Thomas Byrne is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister of State for European Affairs since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Meath East constituency since 2016, and previously from 2007 to 2011. He was a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel 2011 to 2016.
He was Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on Education and Skills before becoming Minister of State for European Affairs.Personal life
Byrne is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin where he gained a Law degree. He is a qualified solicitor and is also qualified as Attorney at law in New York. He is a member of the Law Society of Ireland, and a member of the Law Council in Maynooth University.
He is married to a former Seneschalstown and Meath ladies' footballer Ann Hunt. They have three children. His father Thomas Byrne is a Fianna Fáil County Councillor in County Louth. Before his son's election to Dáil Éireann he sat as an Independent member of Louth County Council.Political career
He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the East constituency.
In November 2009, he was appointed Cathaoirleach of Ógra Fianna Fáil by then Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil, Brian Cowen, at the National Youth Conference.
He lost his seat at the 2011 general election. He was elected to Seanad Éireann for the Cultural and Educational Panel in April 2011. He was the Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Byrne was a candidate in the Meath East by-election held on 27 March 2013. He lost on the third count to the Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee, coming in second place overall. He was re-elected in the 2016 general election.
He ran unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Midlands–North-West constituency at the 2014 European Parliament election.
He is opposed to abortion and the repealing of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
