Seán Sherlock (born 6 December 1972) is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 2007 to 2024. He served as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2016.[1]
Sherlock first became directly involved in politics when he served a six-month internship with MEPProinsias De Rossa, in his office at the European Parliament. Following the completion of his internship he was offered a full-time job working as an assistant to de Rossa.[citation needed]
In 2002, Sherlock served as election manager for his father in his attempt to win back a seat in the Cork East constituency at the general election as a Labour Party candidate. The campaign was successful; Joe Sherlock returned to Dáil Éireann after a ten-year absence.[citation needed]
The abolition of the dual mandate in 2003 meant that Joe Sherlock had to vacate his seats on Mallow Town Council and Cork County Council. Seán was co-opted onto both councils that year. The following year he won both seats in his own right when he was successful at the local elections. He was then elected Mayor of Mallow.[citation needed]
When Joe Sherlock announced that he would not be contesting the 2007 general election, Seán was selected to succeed him. He contested Cork East for the Labour Party and was elected.[3] A Fianna Fáil-led government returned to office for the third successive election. Seán Sherlock was appointed Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food.[citation needed]
In January 2012, Sherlock proposed legislation to give copyright holders the right to seek an injunction against copyright violators. A group called "Stop SOPA Ireland" petitioned against the legislation, comparisons being made between these reforms and the Stop Online Piracy Act in the United States. Sherlock said such comparisons were "not based on fact".[7] According to the Irish government the legislation was intended to close a loophole after a High Court case in 2010, in which EMI sued UPC, an internet service provider, over illegal downloads. A denial-of-service attack was performed against government websites in protest over the changes.[8] On 29 February 2012, Sherlock signed the legislation, citing Ireland's "obligations under EU law".[9][10] The legislation subsequently resulted in the blocking of The Pirate Bay in Ireland.[11]
Following the 2016 general election, Sherlock was one of seven remaining Labour TDs.[14][15] He opposed returning to coalition with Fine Gael during the government formation talks that year.[16] He continued to serve as a junior minister until the new government was formed on 6 May 2016. He was party spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs and the Environment in the 32nd Dáil.
^Carbery, Genevieve (29 February 2012). "Internet copyright law signed". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
.jpg)
