Ray Butler (politician)

Ray Butler
Senator
In office 8 June 2016 – 29 June 2020
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
Teachta Dála
In office February 2011 – February 2016
Constituency	Meath West
Personal details
Born	Raymond Butler (1965-12-30) 30 December 1965 (age 59) Kells, County Meath, Ireland
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse	Marie Butler ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	4
Alma mater	NUI Galway

Raymond Butler (born 30 December 1965) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Senator from 2016 to 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. He previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency from 2011 to 2016.^[1][2]

Living in Trim, Butler's family is originally from Kells. He served on Trim Town Council from 2004 to 2011, including a year as mayor of that council, and was elected to Meath County Council in May 2009.^[2]

He lost his seat at the 2016 general election.^[2] Butler was nominated to the 25th Seanad in May 2016.^[3]

In 2019, it was reported that Butler had taken three years to repay the €30,000 severance allowance he received after losing his Dáil seat, which became forfeit and repayable once he accepted a nomination to the Seanad.^[4]

References

1. "Ray Butler". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
2. "Ray Butler". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
3. Sarah Bardon (27 May 2016). "FF leader selects three of Taoiseach's 11 Seanad appointees". Irish Times.
4. McDonagh, Darragh (1 July 2019). "Senator finally repays €30,000 golden handshake, three years on". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 July 2019.