James Bannon
Encyclopedia
James Bannon is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency.
A native of Legan, County Longford
, he worked as a farmer
and auctioneer before entering politics.
He was first elected to Longford County Council
at the 1985 local elections for the Ballymahon
electoral area, and was successively re-elected to the County Council at the 1991 and 1999 local elections, receiving the largest number of first-preference votes
in the electoral area on each occasion. He has served as Chairperson of Longford County Council, becoming the youngest person ever to do so.
In 2002, he was elected to Seanad Éireann
as a Fine Gael candidate by the Industrial and Commercial Panel. He stood down as a member of Longford County Council when legislation was introduced prohibiting serving members of the Oireachtas
from being members of local authorities, and was succeeded by his brother, Larry. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2007 general election for Longford–Westmeath.
He served as the party Deputy spokesperson on Environment with special responsibility for Heritage from 2007–10. In October 2010, he was appointed as Deputy spokesperson on Environment with special responsibility for Local and Community Development.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency.
A native of Legan, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, he worked as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and auctioneer before entering politics.
He was first elected to Longford County Council
Longford County Council
Longford County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Longford in Ireland. The Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
at the 1985 local elections for the Ballymahon
Ballymahon
Ballymahon on the River Inny is a town in the southern part of County Longford, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N55 National secondary road and the R392 regional road. Ballymahon derives its name from Gaelic Baile Mathuna Town of Mahon...
electoral area, and was successively re-elected to the County Council at the 1991 and 1999 local elections, receiving the largest number of first-preference votes
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
in the electoral area on each occasion. He has served as Chairperson of Longford County Council, becoming the youngest person ever to do so.
In 2002, he was elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
as a Fine Gael candidate by the Industrial and Commercial Panel. He stood down as a member of Longford County Council when legislation was introduced prohibiting serving members of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
from being members of local authorities, and was succeeded by his brother, Larry. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 2007 general election for Longford–Westmeath.
He served as the party Deputy spokesperson on Environment with special responsibility for Heritage from 2007–10. In October 2010, he was appointed as Deputy spokesperson on Environment with special responsibility for Local and Community Development.