Mark Daly (politician)

Senator Mark Daly
Daly in 2022
Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 December 2022
Cathaoirleach	Jerry Buttimer
Preceded by	Joe O'Reilly
Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
In office 29 June 2020 – 16 December 2022
Deputy	Jerry Buttimer Joe O'Reilly
Preceded by	Denis O'Donovan
Succeeded by	Jerry Buttimer
Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 September 2007
Constituency	Administrative Panel
Personal details
Born	(1973-03-12) 12 March 1973 (age 51) Cork, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Alma mater	Dublin Institute of Technology University of Greenwich Harvard Kennedy School
Website	senatormarkdaly.org

Mark Daly (born 12 March 1973) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann since December 2022. He previously served as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann from June 2020 to December 2022. He has served as a Senator for the Administrative Panel since July 2007.^[1][2]

Early and personal life

Daly was born in Cork in 1973, but is a native of Kenmare, County Kerry. He is a qualified estate agent. He finished third on the RTÉ reality television show Treasure Island in 2002.^[3]

Political career

He previously worked as an assistant to MEP Brian Crowley.^[4] Daly was previously Seanad spokesperson for Fianna Fáil on Overseas Development and deputy spokesperson on Innovation, Office of Public Works and Youth Affairs. He is also a member of the Joint Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Foreign affairs Committee on human rights. He was the spokesperson for Irish Overseas and Diaspora. He is a member of the All-Party Decade of Commemorations working group.

On 30 May 2010, he was one of three Irish politicians who were prevented by authorities from leaving Cyprus to join an international flotilla carrying aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.^[5]

In 2011, he was appointed Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Daly succeeded in having the Seanad recalled from its 2013 summer recess in an unprecedented debate to discuss an EU directive transposed into Irish law by Minister for Health James Reilly without debate in the Dáil or Seanad.^[6][7] The vote was tied and won by the Government through the casting vote of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.^[8] Alex White, Minister of State at the Department of Health, told the chamber that no case had been made of any strength why the legislation should be annulled. The government dismissed the recall as a "stunt".^[8]

References

1. "Mark Daly". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
2. "Mark Daly". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
3. "About the show". RTÉ Television. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
4. Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 196. ISBN 9780717150595.
5. "Delegation blocked from joining Gaza flotilla". RTÉ News. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
6. "Organ donation legislation will not increase transplantations". The Irish Times. 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
7. "European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs Intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012: Motion". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
8. "Government narrowly wins organ donation vote". The Irish Times. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

External links

• Official website
• Mark Daly's page on the Fianna Fáil website

Oireachtas
Preceded by Denis O'Donovan	Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann 2020–2022	Succeeded by Jerry Buttimer