Cormac Devlin
{{Short description|Irish politician (born 1980)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix = TD
| image = Cormac Devlin, Dec 2024 - 54193691266 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Devlin in 2024
| office = Teachta Dála
| term_start = February 2020
| term_end =
| constituency = Dún Laoghaire
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Fianna Fáil
| spouse = {{marriage|Jennifer Devlin|2014}}
| children = 3
| alma_mater = Institute of Public Administration
| website = {{URL|cormacdevlin.ie}}
|}}
Cormac Devlin (born 30 August 1980) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since the 2020 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08/|title=Cormac Devlin|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=15 February 2020|archive-date=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215194654/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08/|url-status=live}}
Early and personal life
Devlin was educated at Harold Boys National School, Dalkey, Presentation Brothers College, Glasthule, and the Institute of Public Administration, Dublin. Devlin has been a full time public representative since the 2004 local elections, prior to that he was a manager with a local publishing company. 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/cormac-devlin/|title=Councillor Cormac|work=Fianna Fáil|access-date=10 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518090053/http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/cormac-devlin/|archive-date=18 May 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/news/fianna-fail-candidate-cormac-devlin-its-about-persuading-people-to-vote-for-someone-new-someone-young-31581280.html|title=Fianna Fail candidate Cormac Devlin: 'It's about persuading people to vote for someone new, someone young'|work=The Herald|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-date=8 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008073442/http://www.herald.ie/news/fianna-fail-candidate-cormac-devlin-its-about-persuading-people-to-vote-for-someone-new-someone-young-31581280.html|url-status=live}}
Political career
=Local politics=
==2004 local elections==
Devlin, aged 23, was elected to Dún Laoghaire–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{{cite web|url=https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=286|title=Cormac Devlin|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=13 January 2025}}
==2009 local elections==
Devlin was re-elected to a second term on Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County County following the 2009 local elections, taking the fifth seat in the Dún Laoghaire local electoral area with 1,331 first preference votes.{{cite news|url=https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2009L&cons=461|title=2009 Local Elections Results: Dún Laoghaire|work=ElectionsIreland.Org|access-date=30 September 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100542/http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2009L&cons=461|url-status=live}} He was the only Fianna Fáil candidate to be elected in the Dún Laoghaire local electoral area. The election was marked by some controversy. Throughout the campaign it was reported that then Minister Mary Hanafin was attempting to "shaft" Devlin.{{cite web |url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/hanafin-backs-her-man--but-ditches-devlin-on-party-ticket-1751038.html |title=Hanafin backs her man -- but ditches Devlin on party ticket |work=Evening Herald }}
File:Cllr_Cormac_Devlin_Hi_Res.jpg
In 2012, Councillors Cormac Devlin and Barry Ward's use of a Local Government Education and Training Fund was reviewed on foot of a complaint from Shane Hogan, a public servant and Labour Party member. Hogan claimed their use of the fund was a breach of Section 168 of the Local Government Act, 2001. The report found neither councillor had breached legislation, noting it was the responsibility of council administrators to ensure payments for training and education went through proper procedure.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/no-ethics-breach-found-over-payment-of-councillors-college-fees-1.529078|title=No ethics breach found over payment of councillors' college fees|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=14 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214064411/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/no-ethics-breach-found-over-payment-of-councillors-college-fees-1.529078|url-status=live}} The report recommended Devlin repay €910 of the fees, which was since repaid. Mr. Hogan branded the report a "whitewash" and subsequently appealed the decision to SIPO. SIPO accepted the recommendations of the report.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ethics-watchdog-ends-councillors-college-course-perk-28814543.html|title=Ethics watchdog ends councillors' college course perk|work=Irish Independent|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203358/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ethics-watchdog-ends-councillors-college-course-perk-28814543.html|url-status=live}}
==2014 local elections==
Devlin was re-elected to a third term on Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council following the 2014 local elections, coming second out of twenty one candidates.{{cite news|url=https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2014L&cons=461|title=2014 Local Elections Results: Dún Laoghaire|work=ElectionsIreland.Org|access-date=30 September 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924094755/http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2014L&cons=461|url-status=live}}
==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 the Dún Laoghaire constituency. He was endorsed by former Minister Mary O'Rourke.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/news/former-minister-mary-hanafin-intends-to-run-in-2016-general-election-31080773.html|title=Former minister Mary Hanafin intends to run in 2016 General Election|work=The Herald|access-date=11 October 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924053137/http://www.herald.ie/news/former-minister-mary-hanafin-intends-to-run-in-2016-general-election-31080773.html|url-status=live}} 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".{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/battle-of-blackrock-ii-mary-hanafin-and-kate-feeney-to-battle-for-fianna-fail-general-election-nomination-31130502.html|title=Battle of Blackrock II|work=The Irish Irish Independent|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925043452/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/battle-of-blackrock-ii-mary-hanafin-and-kate-feeney-to-battle-for-fianna-fail-general-election-nomination-31130502.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/i-lost-four-stone-to-run-in-general-election-race-31171679.html|title=I lost four stone to run in general election race|work=The Irish Irish Independent|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925045051/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/i-lost-four-stone-to-run-in-general-election-race-31171679.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fianna-f%C3%A1il-opts-to-stick-with-party-gender-directive-1.2362215|title=Fianna Fáil opts to stick with party gender directive|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-date=11 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011200419/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fianna-f%C3%A1il-opts-to-stick-with-party-gender-directive-1.2362215|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/we-have-a-sound-legal-basis-for-what-we-have-to-do-fianna-fail-on-gendermandering-at-selection-conventions-31550720.html|title='We have a sound legal basis for what we have to do' - Fianna Fail on 'gendermandering' at selection conventions|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926021355/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/we-have-a-sound-legal-basis-for-what-we-have-to-do-fianna-fail-on-gendermandering-at-selection-conventions-31550720.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/news/our-gender-diktat-is-legally-sound-claims-fianna-fail-31550688.html|title='Our gender diktat is legally sound', claims Fianna Fail|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075107/http://www.herald.ie/news/our-gender-diktat-is-legally-sound-claims-fianna-fail-31550688.html|url-status=live}} Following the threat of legal action from Devlin, the committee backed down.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/legal-threat-by-ff-councillor-over-female-candidate-directive-1.2357401|title=Legal threat by FF councillor over female candidate directive|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=11 October 2015|archive-date=11 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011071209/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/legal-threat-by-ff-councillor-over-female-candidate-directive-1.2357401|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/cormac-fights-for-his-slice-of-the-dn-laoghaire-pie-31559611.html|title=Cormac fights for his slice of the Dún Laoghaire pie|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-date=1 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001035840/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/cormac-fights-for-his-slice-of-the-dn-laoghaire-pie-31559611.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/legal-threat-by-ff-councillor-over-female-candidate-directive-1.2357401|title=Devlin beats Hanafin by four votes at FF convention|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=11 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011071209/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/legal-threat-by-ff-councillor-over-female-candidate-directive-1.2357401|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/news/cormac-devlin-gets-fianna-fail-nod-over-mary-hanafin-31566170.html|title=Cormac Devlin gets Fianna Fail nod over Mary Hanafin|work=The Herald|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930164333/http://www.herald.ie/news/cormac-devlin-gets-fianna-fail-nod-over-mary-hanafin-31566170.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0928/730964-dun-laoghaire-convention/|title=Hanafin loses out in Dún Laoghaire selection to Devlin|work=RTÉ News|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002204540/http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0928/730964-dun-laoghaire-convention/|url-status=live}}
During the 2016 general election, Devlin told a Vincent Browne People's Debate that he held anti-abortion views. In that election, Devlin finished in sixth place with 4,665 first preference votes, behind Labour's Carrie Smyth and his party colleague 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.dublinpeople.com/news/southside/articles/2016/06/16/4121712-council-welcomes-new-cathaoirleach---/|title=Council welcomes new cathaoirleach|work=South Dublin People|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220221714/http://www.dublinpeople.com/news/southside/articles/2016/06/16/4121712-council-welcomes-new-cathaoirleach---/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/sean-okelly-fights-for-wheelchair-users-as-cormac-devlin-is-blanked-during-day-in-my-wheels-challenge-432611.html|title=Seán O'Kelly fights for wheelchair users as Cormac Devlin is 'blanked' during 'Day in my Wheels' challenge|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220151000/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/sean-okelly-fights-for-wheelchair-users-as-cormac-devlin-is-blanked-during-day-in-my-wheels-challenge-432611.html|url-status=live}}
He was re-elected to the council at the 2019 election.{{cite web |url=https://www.dlrcoco.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/dun_laoghaire_lea_1.pdf |title=Local election – 24 May 2019 – Dún Laoghaire LEA |publisher=Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |date=24 May 2019 |access-date=5 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603105638/https://www.dlrcoco.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/dun_laoghaire_lea_1.pdf |archive-date=3 June 2019}}
=As a TD=
At the 2020 general election, Devlin was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-results-green-s-smyth-overwhelmed-at-securing-seat-1.4165221 |title=Dún Laoghaire results: Green's Smyth 'overwhelmed' at securing seat |date=9 February 2020 |first=Olivia |last=Kelly |newspaper=The Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=5 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605182500/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-results-green-s-smyth-overwhelmed-at-securing-seat-1.4165221 |archive-date=5 June 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dun-laoghaire |title=Election 2020: Dún Laoghaire |date=9 February 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=5 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605183059/https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dun-laoghaire |archive-date=5 June 2021}}
2024 general election
At the 2024 general election, Devlin was re-elected to the Dáil.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|cormacdevlin.ie}}
- [https://www.fiannafail.ie/tds/cormac-devlin/ Cormac Devlin's page on the Fianna Fáil website]
{{Commons category|Cormac Devlin}}
{{Current TDs}}
{{Dún Laoghaire (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Fianna Fáil}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devlin, Cormac}}
Category:Members of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Council
Category:Politicians from Dún Laoghaire
Category:Members of the 33rd Dáil