Dominic Hannigan

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Dominic Hannigan.jpg

| office = Teachta Dála

| term_start = February 2011

| term_end = February 2016

| constituency = Meath East

| office2 = Senator

| term_start2 = 13 September 2007

| term_end2 = 25 February 2011

| constituency2 = Industrial and Commercial Panel

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|7|01|df=y}}

| birth_place = Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Irish

| party = Labour Party

| spouse =

| children =

| alma_mater = {{Ubl|University College Dublin|City, University of London|University of London}}

|}}

Dominic Hannigan (born 1 July 1965) is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath East constituency from 2011 to 2016. He was a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2007 to 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/special-reports/2011/0309/298500-newtds1/|title=Meet your 76 new TDs|work=RTÉ News|date=9 March 2011|access-date=30 March 2014|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223171005/http://www.rte.ie/news/special-reports/2011/0309/298500-newtds1/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Dominic-Hannigan.S.2007-07-23/|title=Dominic Hannigan|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=18 February 2010|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107185648/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Dominic-Hannigan.S.2007-07-23|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Lynch|first=Suzanne|title=Labour's Hannigan tops Meath East poll|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=26 February 2011|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0226/breaking54.html|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=13 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813030622/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0226/breaking54.html|url-status=live}}

Early life

Hannigan was born in Drogheda, County Louth. He was educated at University College Dublin with a degree in Civil Engineering, at City, University of London with a Masters in Transport and at the University of London with a Masters in Finance.{{cite web|url=http://www.dominichannigan.com/about/|title=About Dominic|work=DominicHannigan.com|access-date=16 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131181930/http://www.dominichannigan.com/about/|archive-date=31 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}

He moved from Ireland to London in 1987.{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/election/articles/2011/02/23/4003363-dominic-hannigan-labour-party/|title=Dominic Hannigan|date=23 February 2011|work=Meath Chronicle|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125437/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/election/articles/2011/02/23/4003363-dominic-hannigan-labour-party/|url-status=live}} Hannigan returned to Ireland in 2004 and worked as a Civil engineer.

Political career

=Early years: 2004–2007=

Hannigan entered electoral politics when he was elected as an Independent councillor to Meath County Council for the Slane electoral area at the 2004 local elections, serving as chairperson of the council's Planning and Economic Development Committee.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/leinsterbyelection/|title=Meath by-election|work=RTÉ News|access-date=16 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050314003451/http://www.rte.ie/news/leinsterbyelection/|archive-date=14 March 2005|df=dmy-all}} Hannigan subsequently joined the Labour Party in October 2004,{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6369|title=Dominic Hannigan|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=18 February 2010|archive-date=20 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520010139/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=6369|url-status=live}} and first stood for Dáil Éireann at the 2005 Meath by-election, which saw the Labour vote increase by over 3,000 first preference votes since the 2002 general election. His next election was the 2007 general election, again missing out on the third seat, this time to Thomas Byrne.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/constituency-profile/meath-east-hannigan-pins-his-hopes-on-breakfast-roll-mans-support-2535811.html|title=Meath East: Hannigan pins his hopes on Breakfast Roll Man's support|work=Irish Independent|date=11 February 2011|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=10 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110083646/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/constituency-profile/meath-east-hannigan-pins-his-hopes-on-breakfast-roll-mans-support-2535811.html|url-status=live}}

=Seanad Éireann: 2007–2011=

As part of an election pact between Labour and Sinn Féin for the 2007 elections to Seanad Éireann, Hannigan was elected on the first count to the Industrial and Commercial Panel of the Seanad.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0725/seanad.html|title=No NUI candidate elected to Seanad yet|work=RTÉ News|date=25 July 2007|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=1 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001053904/http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0725/seanad.html|url-status=live}} In Seanad Éireann he was the Labour Party Whip and spokesperson on Commuter Issues, Environment and Local Government, Foreign Affairs and Defence.

He was one of the first members of the Oireachtas to support the candidacy of Eamon Gilmore, following the resignation of Pat Rabbitte as leader of the Labour Party on 23 August 2007. He subsequently became the chairman of Eamon Gilmore's leadership campaign to become leader.

In September 2007 he submitted proposals to the Department of Environment and Local Government for town councils for Ashbourne and the Meath coastal area, and called for the abolition of county managers.{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2007/09/22/675-senator-proposes-town-councils-for-ashbourne-and-the-coast/|title=Senator proposes town councils for Ashbourne and the coast|work=Meath Chronicle|date=29 September 2007|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125458/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2007/09/22/675-senator-proposes-town-councils-for-ashbourne-and-the-coast/|url-status=live}}

Hannigan said in 2011 that population growth during the Celtic Tiger years was more dramatic in Meath than elsewhere in Ireland and that this was having a profound effect on the county's education system.{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2011/02/03/4002967-population-boom-having-hugh-effect-on-schools/|title=Population boom having hugh effect on schools: Meath's education needs have changed dramatically, says Hannigan|work=Meath Chronicle|date=3 February 2011|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125447/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2011/02/03/4002967-population-boom-having-hugh-effect-on-schools/|url-status=live}} He spoke in favour of a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed Slane bypass in February 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0219/1224290285580.html|title=Labour Senator tells Slane bypass hearing of value for money|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=19 February 2011|first=Elaine|last=Keogh|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=10 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110084419/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0219/1224290285580.html|url-status=live}}

=Dáil Éireann: 2011–2016=

At the 2011 general election Hannigan topped the poll in Meath East.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0226/breaking54.html|title=Labour's Hannigan tops Meath East poll|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=26 February 2011|first=Suzanne|last=Lynch|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=13 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813030622/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0226/breaking54.html|url-status=live}} In doing so Hannigan became one of the first two openly gay people to be elected to Dáil Éireann, a distinction he shares with Dublin North-West's John Lyons.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/first-openly-gay-tds-are-proud-to-blaze-a-trail-2560433.html|title=First openly gay TDs are proud to blaze a trail|work=Evening Herald|date=1 March 2011|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304160927/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/first-openly-gay-tds-are-proud-to-blaze-a-trail-2560433.html|url-status=live}}

The Meath Chronicle compared Hannigan to Speedy Gonzales as he "flitted at high speed from one spot to the next" on the campaign trail.{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/election/articles/2011/02/23/4003305-no-stopping-labour-senator-on-flight-from-door-to-door/|title=No stopping Labour senator on flight from door to door|work=Meath Chronicle|date=23 February 2011|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125407/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/election/articles/2011/02/23/4003305-no-stopping-labour-senator-on-flight-from-door-to-door/|url-status=live}} He was "followed by a large posse of journalists and camera crews" when party leader Eamon Gilmore joined him during the campaign.{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/meathsouth/articles/2011/02/16/4003207-gilmore-gets-a-grilling-from-dunboyne-students/|title=Gilmore gets a grilling from Dunboyne students|work=Meath Chronicle|date=16 February 2011|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125430/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/meathsouth/articles/2011/02/16/4003207-gilmore-gets-a-grilling-from-dunboyne-students/|url-status=live}}

Hannigan was elected Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in June 2011.

He was elected Chairman of the Joint Committee on EU Affairs in January 2012, following which he stepped down as Chairman of the Good Friday Agreement Committee.{{cite news |date=30 January 2012|url-status=dead |url=http://www.labour.ie/dominichannigan/news/1328810192522676.html|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223083603/http://www.labour.ie/dominichannigan/news/1328810192522676.html|df=dmy-all|title=TheLabour Party – Hannigan Elected Chair of European Affairs Committee}} In a television interview broadcast in April 2012,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70pFmnILJn8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626035653/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70pFmnILJn8 |title=Tonight with Vincent Browne|publisher=TV3|date=26 April 2012|via=YouTube|access-date=25 November 2016|archive-date=26 June 2017|url-status=live}} he confirmed that the 99.8% state-owned bank Allied Irish Banks had paid one-and-a-half billion Euro to unsecured bank bondholders{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/financial-services/aib-repays-1-5bn-to-unsecured-bondholders-1.499670|title=AIBrepays €1.5bn to unsecured bondholders|newspaper=The Irish Times |date=12 April 2012}} for which neither the bank nor the Irish state had no legal liability.{{cite web |url=http://www.ntma.ie/business-areas/funding-and-debt-management/eligible-liabilities-guarantee-scheme |title=Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme|year=2009|access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216070514/http://www.ntma.ie/business-areas/funding-and-debt-management/eligible-liabilities-guarantee-scheme/|archive-date=16 February 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=7049|title=Extension of the Eligible Liabilities Guarantee(ELG) Scheme and introduction of the option to make unguaranteed deposits|date=16 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618204754/http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=7049|archive-date=18 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}

He lost his seat at the 2016 general election. He unsuccessfully contested the 2020 Seanad election.

Post politics

Hannigan is a director of the Lough Mask Distillery.{{Cite web|title=Sláinte: remote Gaeltacht micro-distillery can sell whiskey galore|url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/slainte-remote-gaeltacht-micro-distillery-can-sell-whiskey-galore/|access-date=25 October 2020|website=www.lawsociety.ie|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027030642/https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/slainte-remote-gaeltacht-micro-distillery-can-sell-whiskey-galore/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Tourmakeady's premium craft vodka is just the spirit|website=Connaught Telegraph|date=13 February 2019 |language=en-US |url=https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2019/02/13/tourmakeadys-premium-craft-vodka-is-just-the-spirit/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027193626/https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2019/02/13/tourmakeadys-premium-craft-vodka-is-just-the-spirit/|url-status=live|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020}}

Personal life

Hannigan is openly gay.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/where-are-all-the-gay-politicians-87994.html|title=Where are all the gay politicians?|work=Irish Independent|date=15 July 2006|access-date=21 August 2008|archive-date=30 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230225944/http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/where-are-all-the-gay-politicians-87994.html|url-status=live}}