Regina Doherty

Regina Doherty
TD
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Assumed office
14 June 2017
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Preceded by Leo Varadkar
Government Chief Whip
In office
6 May 2016 – 14 June 2017
Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Preceded by Paul Kehoe
Succeeded by Joe McHugh
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2011
Constituency Meath East
Personal details
Born (1971-01-26) 26 January 1971
Finglas, Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Fine Gael
Spouse(s) Declan Doherty (m. 1999)
Children 4
Alma mater
Website reginadoherty.ie

Regina Doherty (born 26 January 1971) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection since June 2017. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath East constituency since 2011. She previously served as Government Chief Whip from 2016 to 2017.[1]

Career

Business

In January 2013, her IT consultancy company went into liquidation with debts of €280,000, including €60,000 due to the Revenue Commissioners.[2]

Politics

She was a member of Meath County Council for the Dunshaughlin electoral area from 2009 to 2011.[3] She was a member of the Oireachtas committees for Health, Finance and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement during the 31st Dáil. She was also a member of the Constitutional Convention,[4] and was the Chairperson of the Fine Gael committee for health and children.

In May 2015, following the claims of IRA involvement of the cover-up of sexual abuse by Máiría Cahill, she was provided with names of a number of alleged abusers which she passed on to the Gardaí who are investigating the issue.[5]

Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Doherty was appointed to the cabinet as Government Chief Whip.

She was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2016 general election. She was appointed to the new Dáil reform committee on 22 March 2016.[6] She was appointed Government Chief Whip on 6 May 2016, following the government formation.[7]

In July 2017, Doherty confirmed[8] that she had lodged a complaint with gardaí against political blogger and academic Catherine Kelly. Kelly said that she was cautioned by gardaí about her social media posts and online articles,[9] which referenced Regina Doherty.[10] In the Dáil it was stated that a US based academic experienced a "sinister and chilling experience" in an Irish airport.[11]

On 14 June 2017, she was appointed Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

In September 2017, it was revealed that she was going to repay an "unlawful" allowance of €15,800 that she received as Chief Whip in direct contravention of the law which states that “no allowance can be paid to a party whip if the person is a Minister or Minister of State”.[12]

In January 2018, Doherty announced the launch of the consultation process under the review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015, to further expanding the Gender Recognition Act to include those under 18 and non-binary people.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Ms. Regina Doherty". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  2. ↑ O'Donovan, Donal; Kelly, Fiach (23 January 2013). "Fine Gael TD's firm folds with debts of €280,000". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Regina Doherty". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.yourforum.ie/ratoath/roundup/articles/2012/11/27/4013467-doherty-to-take-part-in-constitutional-convention
  5. ↑ http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/gardai-now-probe-leaks-about-ira-sex-abusers-31267047.html
  6. ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/ceann-comhairle-hopeful-on-substantial-reforms-in-next-d%C3%A1il-sitting-1.2583686
  7. ↑ "Regina Doherty of Meath East is the new Chief Whip", independent.ie, 6 May 2016
  8. ↑ "Doherty protests blogger to gardai" journal.ie 3 July 2017
  9. ↑ "Chilling" broadsheet.ie, 3 July 2017
  10. ↑ "Kelly is reported to be considering legal action over Garda caution at airport"
  11. ↑ "The Dáil has heard that a US based academic experienced a "sinister and chilling experience" in an Irish airport last week."
  12. ↑ Regina Doherty to repay €15,800 allowance
  13. ↑ "GCN.IE"
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Thomas Byrne
(Fianna Fáil)		 Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Meath East
2011–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Paul Kehoe		 Government Chief Whip
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Joe McHugh
Preceded by
Leo Varadkar
as Minister for Social Proctection		 Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection
2017–present		 Incumbent
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