Based in Dunmanway, I am married to Nollagh (nee Patterson) and we have two sons, Odhran and Fionnan. I have been in politics for 12 years and have always been motivated by a strong sense of public service.
Educated at Colaiste Chairbre, Dunmanway, I first entered public life in 1999, when I was elected to Cork County Council for the Skibbereen Electoral Area, making me the youngest councillor that term. I was elected to Seanad Eireann in 2002 and was appointed Labour Party spokesperson on marine issues five years later.
I was elected to Dáil Eireann on my third attempt in February 2011. Shortly afterwards, I was elected Vice-Chair of the Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions, and I was also appointed to the Public Accounts Committee. My other parliamentary duties include sitting on the House of the Oireachtas Audit Committee and on the panel of temporary chairmen for Dáil Eireann.
My election to Dáil Eireann was the culmination of years of hard work by the Labour Party in Cork South-West, and it is now my intention to strengthen the organisation in the area while also tackling tangible issues facing people such as unemployment, access to healthcare, and education services.