Cormac Devlin

Cllr
Cormac Devlin
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Councillor
Assumed office
June 2004
Constituency Dún Laoghaire
Personal details
Born (1980-08-30) 30 August 1980
Dublin, Ireland
Political party Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s) Jennifer Allen-Devlin
Children 3
Alma mater Institute of Public Administration
Occupation Public Representative
Website cormacdevlin.ie

Cormac Devlin (born 30 August 1980) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, he served as Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council from 2016 to 2017.[1]

Early and personal life

Devlin was educated at Harold Boys National School, Dalkey, Presentation Brothers College, Glasthule, and the Institute of Public Administration (Ireland). Devlin is a career politician and has not held any job outside of his role as a county Councillor. Coucillor Devlin is known to be a pro life advocate and to hold anti abortion views. During the run up to the 2018 referendum he failed to campaign for either side, or declare his views on the matter. This was suspected by many as a means to appeal to both side of the campaign, as to give the best chance of winning a seat in the upcoming general election. [2]

Early political activity & public service

Devlin became active in politics aged 16. He campaigned for Mary McAleese during her 1997 Presidential campaign, before joining Ógra Fianna Fáil in 1998. In 1999, he was elected to the Board of Dún Laoghaire VEC, he remained a member of the board until 2014.[3][4]

County Councillor

2004 local elections

Devlin, aged 23, was elected to Dún Rathdown Rathdown County Council in 2004, taking the second seat in the Dún Laoghaire local electoral area with 1,776 first preference votes and becoming the youngest ever councillor on the council.[5]

2009 local elections

Devlin was re-elected to a second term on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County County, taking the fifth seat in the Dún Laoghaire local electoral area with 1,331 first preference votes.[6] He was the only Fianna Fáil candidate to be elected in the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. The election was marked by some controversy. Throughout the campaign it was reported that then Minister Mary Hanafin was attempting to "shaft" Devlin.[7] Her support for his Fianna Fáil rival, Peter O'Brien, was reported to include the improper used Oireachtas facilities in breach of Public Office Act 2001's Code of Conduct for Office Holders.[8]

2014 local elections

Devlin was re-elected to a third term on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County County, coming second out of twenty one candidates.[9]

Devlin during a public meeting in Glenageary in 2014.

College expenses scandal

Devlin was involved in an expenses scandal when he and Councillor Barry Ward were accused of breaching Section 168 of the Local Government Act, 2001. The sum of €9,200 was paid by the council for a BA in public administration that Councillor Devlin undertook, the six payments of €9,200 did not go through proper procedure. Councillor Devlin then failed two exams and used €910 of council money to pay for his two repeat exams, this was later found "unreasonable" for the council to pay for Mr Devlin's repeats. He was then ordered to repay the council the €910 of taxpayers money for his repeats. [10]

2016 general election campaign

In March 2015, at an event attended by over 100 supporters, Devlin announced that he would be seeing a Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the next general election in Dún Laoghaire. He was endorsed by former Minister Mary O'Rourke.[11]

Former Minister Mary Hanafin and Kate Feeney also indicated their intention to seek the nomination. The contest attracted widespread media attention being dubbed the "Battle of Blackrock II".[12][13]

In early September 2015, there was intense speculation the Fianna Fáil National Constituencies Committee would attempt to exclude Devlin from the Dún Laoghaire candidate selection convention on the basis of his gender.[14][15][16] Following the threat of legal action from Devlin, the committee backed down.[17][18]

Devlin was selected as a general election candidate on 28 September 2015, beating Mary Hanafin and Kate Feeney. Prior to the election, Hanafin was added to the general election ticket. The two candidates split the Fianna Fáil vote and the party failed to win a seat in the election.[19][20][21]

Devlin finished in sixth place with 4,665 first preference votes, behind Labour's Carrie Smyth, and Fianna Fail's Mary Hanafin.

Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

Devlin was elected as Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on 13 June 2016, he listed housing, promoting civic engagement and supporting local enterprise as his key priorities during his term of office.[22] In November 2016, Devlin took to a wheelchair for a day as part of a challenge to raise awareness of the issues facing people with a mobility impairment. He called on other public representatives to consider taking the challenge.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councillors". Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
  2. ↑ https://prolifecampaign.ie/main/dun-laoghaire-use-your-vote-to-protect-human-life/
  3. ↑ "Councillor Cormac". Fianna Fáil. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Fianna Fail candidate Cormac Devlin: 'It's about persuading people to vote for someone new, someone young'". The Herald. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "2004 Local Elections Results: Dún Laoghaire". ElectionsIreland.Org. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "2009 Local Elections Results: Dún Laoghaire". ElectionsIreland.Org. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hanafin backs her man -- but ditches Devlin on party ticket". Evening Herald.
  8. ↑ "Hanafin letter breaches code of conduct". Mail on Sunday, Saturday, April 05 2009; Page: 4.
  9. ↑ "2014 Local Elections Results: Dún Laoghaire". ElectionsIreland.Org. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  10. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/no-ethics-breach-found-over-payment-of-councillors-college-fees-1.529078
  11. ↑ "Former minister Mary Hanafin intends to run in 2016 General Election". The Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Battle of Blackrock II". The Irish Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "'I lost four stone to run in general election race'". The Irish Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Fianna Fáil opts to stick with party gender directive". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "'We have a sound legal basis for what we have to do' - Fianna Fail on 'gendermandering' at selection conventions". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "'Our gender diktat is legally sound', claims Fianna Fail". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Legal threat by FF councillor over female candidate directive". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Cormac fights for his slice of the Dún Laoghaire pie". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Devlin beats Hanafin by four votes at FF convention". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Cormac Devlin gets Fianna Fail nod over Mary Hanafin". The Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Hanafin loses out in Dún Laoghaire selection to Devlin". RTÉ News. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Council welcomes new cathaoirleach". South Dublin People. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  23. ↑ "Seán O'Kelly fights for wheelchair users as Cormac Devlin is 'blanked' during 'Day in my Wheels' challenge". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 December 2016.

Civic offices
Preceded by
Barry Saul		 Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Tom Murphy
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