Alan Farrell
{{Short description|Irish politician (born 1977)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Alan Farrell February 2024 (cropped).jpeg
| caption = Farrell in 2024
| office = Senator
| term_start = 10 December 2024
| term_end = 30 January 2025
| constituency = Nominated by the Taoiseach
| office5 = Chair of the Committee on Communications and Transport
| term_start5 = 24 September 2024
| term_end5 = 8 November 2024
| predecessor5 = Joe Carey
| successor5 = Michael Murphy
| office1 = Teachta Dála
| term_start1 = February 2016
| term_end1 = November 2024
| constituency1 = Dublin Fingal
| term_start2 = February 2011
| term_end2 = February 2016
| constituency2 = Dublin North
| office4 = Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party
| leader4 = Simon Harris
| term_start4 = 17 April 2024
| term_end4 = 30 January 2025
| predecessor4 = Alan Dillon
| successor4 = Micheál Carrigy
| office3 = Chair of the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs
| term_start3 = 8 July 2017
| term_end3 = 15 September 2020
| predecessor3 = Jim Daly
| successor3 = Kathleen Funchion
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|12|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = Malahide, Dublin, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Fine Gael
| spouse = {{marriage|Emma Doyle|2010}}
| children = 2
| alma_mater = Dublin City University
| website = {{URL|alanfarrell.ie}}
|}}
Alan Farrell (born 29 December 1977) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a member of Seanad Éireann from December 2024 to January 2025. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North constituency from 2011 to 2016 and for the Dublin Fingal constituency from 2016 until 2024. He was chair of the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs from 2016 to 2020 and chair of the Committee on Communications and Transport from September to November 2024. He served as chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from April 2024 to January 2025. {{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Alan-Farrell.D.2011-03-09/ |title=Alan Farrell |work=Oireachtas Members Database |access-date=8 March 2011 |archive-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414163338/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Alan-Farrell.D.2011-03-09/ |url-status=live }}
In May 2025, Alan was appointed Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy at Liquid Gas Ireland.https://www.lgi.ie/news/liquid-gas-ireland-appoints-alan-farrell-as-senior-director-of-government-affairs-and-policy/
Political career
Farrell served as a Fingal County Councillor from 2004 to 2011 and as Mayor of Fingal from 2007 to 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=6179|title=Alan Farrell|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=6 March 2011|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203104059/https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=6179|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/seat-for-fgs-alan-after-4-week-canvass-27772609.html |title=Seat for FGs Alan- after 4 week canvass! |date=18 June 2004 |website=Fingal Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606035217/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/seat-for-fgs-alan-after-4-week-canvass-27772609.html |archive-date=6 June 2021 |access-date=16 September 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://alanfarrell.ie/about/ |title=Alan Farrell TD |work=Alanfarrell.ie |access-date=30 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331102049/http://alanfarrell.ie/about/ |archive-date=31 March 2014 }}
=31st Dáil=
In the 31st Dáil, Farrell was a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform. He was also the chair of the Fine Gael Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform from 2011 to 2013 and the Fine Gael Committee on Justice, Defense and Equality from 2013 to 2016.
Farrell was the subject of controversy after he hired his wife, Emma Doyle, as his temporary parliamentary assistant for four months in the Dáil. This was just two weeks after she was rejected by Farrell's Malahide Fine Gael Party branch as his replacement on Fingal County Council in 2011. Parliamentary assistants salaries range between €41,092 and €52,200 per year, which is paid for by the State.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fg-td-hires-wife-as-aide-after-council-bid-fails-2595413.html|title=FG TD hires wife as aide after council bid fails|work=Irish Independent|access-date=31 March 2011|first=Fiach|last=Kelly|date=26 March 2011|archive-date=31 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831074829/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fg-td-hires-wife-as-aide-after-council-bid-fails-2595413.html|url-status=live}}
In 2013, Farrell was appointed Head of the Irish Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscepa.org/members/member-directory/406-ireland/file |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918153231/https://www.oscepa.org/members/member-directory/406-ireland/file |archive-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}
In October 2013, he referred to singer Sinéad O'Connor as being "mad as a brush", in a tweet. He later issued a brief apology via his website and later deleted the apology.{{cite news|title=TD says sorry to O'Connor|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/td-to-sinead-oconnor-i-hope-you-accept-my-apology-609391.html|access-date=9 October 2013|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=8 October 2013|archive-date=7 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007153933/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/td-to-sinead-oconnor-i-hope-you-accept-my-apology-609391.html|url-status=live}}
=32nd Dáil=
Farrell was re-elected at the 2016 general election.{{cite news|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2016&cons=280|title=Elections Ireland - Dublin Fingal|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920153806/http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2016&cons=280|url-status=live}} In the 32nd Dáil, Farrell was a member of the Public Account Committee{{cite web |title=Public Accounts Committee - Membership |url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/public-accounts/members |website=Oireachtas |access-date=6 June 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421175111/http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/public-accounts/members |archive-date=21 April 2017 }} and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} Farrell was reappointed as Head of Delegation to the OSCE PA following the formation of Government.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} He was appointed chair of the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in July 2017.{{cite web |title=Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs - Membership |url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/cya/members/ |website=Oireachtas |access-date=6 June 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025045217/http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/cya/members/ |archive-date=25 October 2017}}
=33rd Dáil=
Farrell was re-elected at the 2020 general election.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/farrell-delighted-to-secure-seat-despite-fall-in-partys-vote-38943021.html |title=Farrell delighted to secure seat despite fall in party's vote |date=15 February 2020 |newspaper=Fingal Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027154527/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/farrell-delighted-to-secure-seat-despite-fall-in-partys-vote-38943021.html |archive-date=27 October 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-fingal-results-sf-wave-results-in-high-profile-fine-gael-casualty-1.4165193 |title=Dublin Fingal results: SF wave results in high-profile Fine Gael casualty |date=10 February 2020 |orig-date=9 February 2020 |first=Martin |last=Wall |newspaper=Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=5 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606005303/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-fingal-results-sf-wave-results-in-high-profile-fine-gael-casualty-1.4165193 |archive-date=6 June 2021 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dublin-fingal |title=Election 2020: Dublin Fingal |date=10 February 2020 |newspaper=Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=5 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606005330/https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dublin-fingal |archive-date=6 June 2021 }} On 30 September 2020, he was appointed Fine Gael's spokesperson on Climate Action by party leader Leo Varadkar.{{cite news|url= https://www.finegael.ie/farrell-appointed-as-fine-gael-spokesperson-on-climate-action/|title= Farrell appointed as Fine Gael spokesperson on CLimate Action|access-date= 24 October 2020|archive-date= 5 October 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201005184215/https://www.finegael.ie/farrell-appointed-as-fine-gael-spokesperson-on-climate-action/|url-status= live}}
In April 2024, Farrell succeeded Alan Dillon as the chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party. Farrell retained this position until 30 January 2025, on the election of the new Seanad. {{cite news|last=Sherlock|first=Cillian|date=17 April 2024|title=Alan Farrell named Fine Gael chairman|url=https://www.businesspost.ie/politics/alan-farrell-named-fine-gael-chairman/|work=Sunday Business Post|access-date=17 April 2024}}
In September 2024, Farrell succeeded Joe Carey as the chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications & Transport, a role held until the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil. https://www.finegael.ie/taoiseach-appoints-alan-farrell-td-as-chairperson-of-transport-and-communications-committee/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/33/transport-and-communications/membership/
Farrell lost his seat at the 2024 general election. On 10 December 2024, he was nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/1210/1485738-seanad/ |title=Three former TDs appointed to Seanad after losing seats |work=RTÉ News |date=10 December 2024|access-date=10 December 2024}}
He contested the 2025 Seanad election on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, but was not elected.
Controversy
Farrell took Hertz Rent A Car to court after one of its vehicles knocked against his Audi A6 while its driver was engaged in an encounter with a spider which crawled along her arm at a traffic stop. Farrell claimed to have experienced neck and shoulder injuries as a result of the collision, which occurred in Drumcondra on 9 April 2015. In 2018, a photograph - showing Farrell at the time he was supposed to have been injured holding a poster of himself on an electricity pole while standing on a ladder in Skerries - was shown in Dublin District Court. Judge Michael Coghlan looked unfavourably on the personal injuries claim, ruling that Farrell had not sustained a "significant injury" and awarding him a total of €2,500. Judge Coghlan also noted in court that a separate claim by Farrell for material damage to his car had been relinquished since the accident. Photographs taken by the driver at the scene (none were produced by Farrell) were shown to the court and some difficulty was had in locating the precise damage to Farrell's motor car.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-independent/20190528/281638191682157 |title=PressReader - Irish Independent: 2019-05-28 - Case could help give our claims culture the push |access-date=14 December 2019 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214133613/https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-independent/20190528/281638191682157 |url-status=dead }} The Sunday Independent suggested the case "raises serious questions about Mr Farrell's judgment", contrasting it with insurance problems for motorists and referring to past remarks made by Farrell on Ireland's supposed "compo culture".{{cite news|title=Backbench TD does himself no favours taking compensation claim for a 'very minor' injury|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/backbench-td-does-himself-no-favours-taking-compensation-claim-for-a-very-minor-injury-37119122.html|newspaper=Sunday Independent|date=15 July 2018|first=Charlie|last=Weston|access-date=2 December 2018|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055958/https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/backbench-td-does-himself-no-favours-taking-compensation-claim-for-a-very-minor-injury-37119122.html|url-status=live}}
Personal life
In November 2018, Farrell spoke publicly about his lifelong battle against insomnia, which often keeps him awake until 4 am. Farrell's insomnia first occurred, he has said, when he was "five or six".{{cite news|title='Insomniac since I was a boy of five': Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell opens up about an affliction a growing number struggle with|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/insomniac-since-i-was-a-boy-of-five-37562788.html|newspaper=Sunday Independent|date=26 November 2018|first=Niamh|last=Horan|access-date=2 December 2018|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055936/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/insomniac-since-i-was-a-boy-of-five-37562788.html|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|alanfarrell.ie}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before = Alan Dillon}}
{{s-ttl|title = Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party
|years = 2024–2025}}
{{s-aft|after = Micheál Carrigy}}
{{s-end}}
{{Members of the 26th Seanad}}
{{Dublin North (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Dublin Fingal (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrell, Alan}}
Category:Fine Gael local councillors
Category:Members of Fingal County Council
Category:Mayors of places in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Members of the 31st Dáil
Category:Members of the 32nd Dáil
Category:Members of the 33rd Dáil