Nationality Irish Preceded by New office Name Tony Killeen Party Fianna Fail | Preceded by Frank Fahey Role Teachta Dala Succeeded by Eamon O Cuiv Constituency Clare Spouse Lily O'Keeffe | |
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Preceded by John Browne (Fisheries) Office Member of Dail Eireann since 1992 | ||
Tony Killeen (born 9 June 1952) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Clare constituency from 1992 to 2011, and also served as Minister of Defence from 2010–11.
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Early and personal life
Killeen was born in Corofin, County Clare, and educated at St. Flannan's College, Ennis and Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. He worked as a national school teacher 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 and served on that body until 1997. He was chairman from 1989–1991. At the 1992 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann 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 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 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, he was at the centre of a controversy when it became public that he had made representations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on behalf of convicted criminals including a murderer.
On 23 March 2010 Taoiseach Brian Cowen appointed Killeen as Minister of Defence replacing Willie O'Dea 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 as his reason, having been diagnosed with bowel cancer 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.