Martin_Heydon

Martin Heydon

Martin Heydon

Irish politician (born 1978)

Martin Heydon (born 9 August 1978) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency since 2011. He previously served as the Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party from 2016 to 2020.[1][2]

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Heydon's constituency office in Newbridge

Early life

Heydon is a native of South County Kildare and lives outside of Kilcullen town, owning a family farm.[3] He was educated in Crookstown National School, Cross and Passion College Kilcullen and Teagasc Kildalton Agricultural College in County Kilkenny.[4]

Political career

Heydon joined Fine Gael in 2008. He was elected to Kildare County Council following 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.[4]

Heydon contested Kildare South for the party in 2011 and polled over 12,000 votes, being elected on the first count, more than 3,000 votes over the quota, his first attempt in a general election.[5] Fine Gael had been unrepresented in the constituency since Alan Dukes had lost his seat in 2002.

He served as Chair of Fine Gael's Internal Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs between 2011 and 2016.[6]

Newbridge Fine Gael Councillor Fiona McLoughlin Healy was added to the ticket for the 2016 general election as his running mate.[7] Heydon won re-election, topping the poll in Kildare South.[8]

On 8 June 2016, Heydon was elected Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, succeeding retired Limerick TD Dan Neville. Heydon's responsibilities in this role included chairing the weekly meeting of the party's TDs, Senators and MEPs.[9][10]

Following the formation of the Government of the 33rd Dáil, Heydon was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Personal life

Heydon is married to pharmacist and former ladies' GAA All-Star Brianne Leahy.[11] The couple have three sons and a daughter.[12]

He is an officer of his local Gaelic football club, St Laurence's GAA.[13]

References

  1. [1]
    "Martin Heydon". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  2. [2]
    "Martin Heydon". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  3. [3]
    "Hunk Heydon is top of the sex-appeal poll". Irish Independent. 30 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Martin Heydon TD". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  5. [5]
    "Martin Heydon". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  6. [6]
    "New Fund for Agri-Business Start Ups recognises Importance of this sector for Rural Ireland – Heydon". Martin Heydon TD. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  7. [7]
    Davin-Power, David. "Kildare South constituency". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  8. [8]
    Gartland, Fiona (27 February 2016). "Kildare South results: Mark Heydon (FG) tops poll as Fianna Fáil takes 2 remaining seats". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  9. [9]
    "Heydon honoured to be elected Chair of Fine Gael Parliamentary Party". Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. [10]
    "Fellow politicians congratulate Kildare TD on appointment to major new role". Kildare Now. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  11. [11]
    "TD Martin Heydon marries his All-Star Brianne Leahy". Leinster Leader. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  12. [12]
    "Kildare Now". Kildare Now. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  13. [13]
    Gartland, Fiona (27 February 2016). "Profile: Martin Heydon (FG)". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
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