Enda Kenny | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Kenny in 2012 | |
| 13th Taoiseach | |
| In office 9 March 2011 – 14 June 2017 | |
| President | |
| Tánaiste | |
| Preceded by | Brian Cowen |
| Succeeded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 6 May 2016 – 14 June 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Simon Coveney |
| Succeeded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Acting 7 May 2014 – 11 July 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Alan Shatter |
| Succeeded by | Simon Coveney |
| Leader of Fine Gael | |
| In office 5 June 2002 – 2 June 2017 | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Michael Noonan |
| Succeeded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 5 June 2002 – 9 March 2011 | |
| President | Mary McAleese |
| Taoiseach |
|
| Preceded by | Michael Noonan |
| Succeeded by | Micheál Martin |
| Minister for Tourism and Trade | |
| In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997 | |
| Taoiseach | John Bruton |
| Preceded by | Charlie McCreevy |
| Succeeded by | Jim McDaid |
| Minister of State | |
| 1986–1987 | Education |
| 1986–1987 | Labour |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1997 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Mayo |
| In office November 1975 – June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Mayo West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1951 Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Henry Kenny (father) |
| Education | St Gerald's College, Castlebar |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature |  |
Enda Kenny (born 24 April 1951) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 2011 to 2017, Leader of Fine Gael from 2002 to 2017, Minister for Defence from May to July 2014 and 2016 to 2017, Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2011, Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997 and Minister of State at the Department of Labour and Department of Education with responsibility for Youth Affairs from 1986 to 1987. He served as Teachta Dála (TD) for Mayo West from 1975 to 1997 and for Mayo from 1997 to 2020.[1]
Kenny led Fine Gael to a historic victory at the 2011 general election, his party becoming the largest in the country for the first time, forming a coalition government with the Labour Party on 9 March 2011.[2] He subsequently became the first Fine Gael member to be elected Taoiseach for a second consecutive term on 6 May 2016, after two months of negotiations, following the 2016 election, forming a Fine Gael-led minority government.[3] He was the first Taoiseach from Fine Gael since John Bruton (1994–1997), and the first Leader of Fine Gael to win a general election since Garret FitzGerald in 1982. He became the longest-serving Fine Gael Taoiseach in April 2017.[4]
Kenny stepped down as Leader of Fine Gael on 2 June 2017, and announced he would resign as Taoiseach once a new leader was chosen in early June.[5] In the following leadership election, the then Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, was elected to succeed him as Leader of Fine Gael.[6] Kenny tendered his resignation as Taoiseach on 13 June 2017, and was succeeded by Varadkar the following day.[7] On 5 November 2017, Kenny announced that he would not contest the following general election.[8]
- ^ "Enda Kenny". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
- ^ "Irish parties agree to form coalition government". CNN. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Doyle, Kevin; Downing, John. "Historic deal to see first Fine Gael Taoiseach re-elected". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Kenny becomes Fine Gael's longest serving Taoiseach". RTE. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
- ^ "Kenny to retire as Fine Gael leader at midnight". RTÉ News. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Varadkar outlines his priorities after winning election". RTE News. 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Kenny's farewell: 'This has never been about me'". RTÉ News. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Fine Gael in Castlebar begin search for new candidate after Enda Kenny announcement". The Connacht Telegraph. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2017.