Charlie Flanagan TD

Charlie Flanagan TD is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was re-appointed to this role on 6 May 2016 having served in the role since July 2014.  He previously served as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

He was first elected to represent Laois-Offaly (now the constituency of Laois and South Kildare) in Dáil Éireann in 1987 and was a member of Laois County Council from 1987 to 2004. His father, Oliver J. Flanagan TD, represented Laois-Offaly from 1943 to 1987.

Minister, Parliamentary Party Chairperson and Front Bench Spokesperson 

He served as Chairperson of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party 2011-2014 and was the Fine Gael leader on the Constitutional Convention. He served as Fine Gael Chief Whip 2000-2002 and was the Party’s spokesperson in a diverse range of portfolios during his career as a TD including Health and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

During the last Dáil he was Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs (2010-2011) and Justice, Equality and Defence (2007-2010), playing a very active role in contributing to legislation and Fine Gael policy.

He was Fine Gael Spokesperson on Northern Ireland from 1997-2000 and Vice Chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary group from 1997 to 2000. He chaired, inter alia, the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Legislation and Security (1994-1997) and served as Vice-Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women’s Rights (1995-1997).

A qualified solicitor who practised law for many years, he has published draft bills and amendments in a range of legislative areas including Competition Law, Corruption, White Collar Crime, Fraud and Bribery. He was educated in Knockbeg College, University College Dublin (BA degree in History and Politics) and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

As your local Fine Gael TD in Laois and South Kildare

Charlie represents a large constituency with a number of rapidly growing towns and a significant rural hinterland. He is a strong advocate of sustainable development and the need to develop infrastructure such as schools and transport links in tandem with new housing projects in order to develop and maintain thriving communities. He is committed to promoting locally grown Irish produce and strengthening the agri-food sector. He is at all times a strong and vociferous advocate in Dáil Éireann.

Born and raised in Mountmellick, he now lives in Portlaoise with his wife Mary. He has two daughters, Olwyn and Sophie.

He has a full-time constituency office based in Portlaoise and also regularly holds clinics throughout Laois and South Kildare in response to requests. Please contact the constituency office at 057 86 20232 for further details.