Brendan Kenneally

Brendan Kenneally (born 1 April 1955) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Waterford constituency.[1] He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1989 general election. He retained the seat at subsequent elections until losing it at the 2002 general election.[2] He then became a member of the 22nd Seanad, nominated by the Taoiseach. He regained his Dáil seat at the 2007 general election.

Not to be confused with Brendan Kennelly.

Brendan Kenneally
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
In office
June 1989 – May 2002
ConstituencyWaterford
Senator
In office
September 2002 – May 2007
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born (1955-04-28) 28 April 1955
Waterford, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Alma materWaterford RTC

Kenneally's father Billy Kenneally also served as a TD for Waterford from 1965 to 1982, and his grandfather William Kenneally served as a TD for Waterford from 1952 to 1961.

He was appointed a Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications by the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds in 1992. The Sunday Tribune reported that while a senator, between 2005 and 2007, Kenneally ran up total expenses amounting to €139,189.[3] On 3 August 2009, the Irish Independent revealed that Kenneally was one of the TDs with the highest expense claims in Dáil Éireann in 2008. He claimed €73,857 in expenses.[4] He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.[2]

In 2016, after his cousin was convicted of 1980s sexual abuse of boys, Brendan Kenneally revealed that he had been approached in 2002 by one victim's family but had not informed the Garda because the victim did not want him to.[5] This caused controversy in 2020 for Mary Butler, his successor as Waterford Fianna Fáil TD, who apologised for allowing him to canvass for her in the general election and for renting an office from him.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Brendan Kenneally". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  2. "Brendan Kenneally". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  3. "Seanad members claim over €10m in expenses for last four years". Sunday Tribune. 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  4. Brennan, Michael (3 August 2009). "Publication of figures backed by politicians". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  5. Tiernan, Damien (25 September 2016). "Former TD 'was told cousin abused boys but he said nothing'". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  6. Parker, Christy (26 February 2020). "Mary Butler apologises for 'huge error of judgment'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Brian Swift
(Fianna Fáil)		 Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Waterford
1989–2002		 Succeeded by
Ollie Wilkinson
(Fianna Fáil)
Preceded by
Ollie Wilkinson
(Fianna Fáil)		 Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Waterford
2007–2011		 Succeeded by
John Halligan
(Independent)
Political offices
Preceded by
Denis Lyons		 Minister for State at the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications
1992–1993		 Succeeded by
Noel Treacy


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