Summary
Michael Ring (born 24 December 1953) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency since 1997, and previously from 1994 to 1997 for the Mayo West constituency. He served as Minister for Rural and Community Development from 2017 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2017.[1][2]
Michael Ring | |
|---|---|
 Ring in 2012 | |
| Minister for Rural and Community Development | |
| In office 14 June 2017 – 27 June 2020 | |
| Taoiseach | Leo Varadkar |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Heather Humphreys |
| Minister of State | |
| 2016–2017 | Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
| 2011–2016 | Transport, Tourism and Sport |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Mayo |
| In office June 1994 – June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Mayo West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1953 Westport, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Anne Fitzgerald (m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College Galway |
Early and personal life edit
Ring was born in Westport, County Mayo, in 1953. He was educated at Westport CBS and the local vocational school. He later worked as an estate agent and auctioneer in Westport.[3]
Political career edit
Ring was unsuccessful as a Fine Gael candidate in the Mayo West constituency in the 1992 general election. However, he was elected at his second attempt in a 1994 by-election.
He was appointed to the Fine Gael Front Bench in 2002, as Spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs. Ring stepped down from the Front Bench in 2004, after an expected demotion, however, he returned in 2007 as Spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with responsibility for Tourism and Sport by the coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party led by Ring's constituency colleague Enda Kenny.[4] This appointment lasted until the formation of a new government on 6 May.
On 19 May 2016, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for Regional Economic Development by the new minority government of Fine Gael and Independents led by Enda Kenny.[5]
He was appointed to cabinet on 14 June 2017 as Minister for Rural and Community Development in the new minority government of Fine Gael and Independents led by Leo Varadkar. His appointment ended on 27 June 2020 on the formation of the new government.
References edit
- ^ "Michael Ring". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
- ^ "Michael Ring". Elections Ireland. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ^ Murtagh, Peter (28 February 2016). "Profile: Michael Ring (FG) - Mayo: Second TD elected of four". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ McNully, Anton (10 March 2011). "Michael Ring appointed Minister of State". Mayo News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 376 of 2016). Signed on 13 July 2016. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 26 March 2021.
External links edit
- Michael Ring's page on the Fine Gael website