Cecilia Keaveney (born 27 November 1968) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and teacher. She is currently a member of Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel.
Her father Paddy Keaveney was an Independent Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal North East from 1976–77. She was co-opted to Donegal County Council in 1995 following his death.
Keaveney was first elected to Dáil Éireann for Donegal North East in a by-election on 2 April 1996 following the death of Independent Fianna Fáil TD Neil Blaney. She was re-elected in the 1997 general election and 2002 general election but lost her seat at the 2007 general election.
Keaveney was formerly chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
[edit] 2007 general election
Keaveney lost her seat in a tough 2007 election battle where all three outgoing TDs were Fianna Fáil members. Under the Single Transferable Vote proportional representation electoral system used in Ireland, it was virtually impossible for all three to be elected. This unusual situation arose when in July 2006 outgoing FF TD Jim McDaid reversed his earlier announcement that he would not seek a nomination to contest the election[1]. In the intervening period Independent Fianna Fáil and its sole TD Niall Blaney had been absorbed into Fianna Fáil. As a result, Joe McHugh of Fine Gael won a seat at her expense.
Keaveney stood successfully for election to Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel in the 2007 election.
[edit] References
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
