Pat Carey (born 9 November 1947) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-West constituency from 1997 to 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Pat-Carey.D.1997-06-26/|title=Pat Carey|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=3 September 2009|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107185621/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Pat-Carey.D.1997-06-26|url-status=live}} He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010 to 2011, and also as Government Chief Whip from 2008 to 2010.

Early and private life

Carey was born in Castlemaine, County Kerry in 1947. He was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Milltown, County Kerry and went to St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra, Dublin to complete his teacher training. He subsequently studied at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a H.Dip. in Education respectively. Before entering politics Carey was a national school teacher and a deputy principal.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Since leaving office, Carey came out as gay, and voiced support for the 2015 marriage equality referendum, saying "My only regret is that I didn't have the courage or confidence to [come out while in politics]. When I look back it's an awful pity I didn't feel able to do that. Nobody stopped me, but I wasn't sure how it would be received."{{cite news|title=Pat Carey criticises FF over same-sex marriage campaign|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/pat-carey-criticises-ff-over-same-sex-marriage-campaign-1.2101934|access-date=13 February 2015|publisher=Irish Times|date=13 February 2015|archive-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412183114/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/pat-carey-criticises-ff-over-same-sex-marriage-campaign-1.2101934|url-status=live}}

Political career

Carey entered local politics in 1985 when he was elected to Dublin City Council for the Finglas area. He remained on the council until the abolition of the dual mandate in 2003. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the constituency of Dublin North-West at the 1997 general election, defeating the sitting Fine Gael TD Mary Flaherty to win a second seat for the Fianna Fáil in the 4-seater constituency. He was re-elected at the 2002 general election.{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3972|title=Pat Carey|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=3 September 2009|archive-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925215934/https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3972|url-status=live}}

Re-elected at the 2007 general election, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2007-06-26/16/|title=Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)|date=26 June 2007|access-date=21 March 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=18 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218114717/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2007-06-26/16/|url-status=live}} When Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in May 2008, Carey was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Active Citizenship and as Minister of State at the Department of Defence.{{cite journal|title=Appointment of Ministers of State|url=https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2008/may/IR1605081.pdf|volume=2008|issue=40|page=527|date=16 May 2008|journal=Iris Oifigiúil|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831003223/https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2008/may/IR1605081.pdf|url-status=live}}

On 23 March 2010, he was appointed as Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2010-03-24/3/|title=Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)|date=23 March 2010|access-date=16 July 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=18 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218114732/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2010-03-24/3/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0323/breaking1.html|title=Cowen moves Coughlan to Education in reshuffle|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=23 March 2010|access-date=23 March 2010|archive-date=11 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811044238/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0323/breaking1.html|url-status=live}} On 20 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Transport, following the resignation of Noel Dempsey.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0120/politics.html |title=Election date set for 11 March |work=RTÉ News |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121024030/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0120/politics.html |archivedate=21 January 2011 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2011-01-20/4/|title=Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)|date=20 January 2011|access-date=12 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=14 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814130002/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2011-01-20/4/|url-status=live}} On 23 January 2011, Carey was also appointed as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, following the resignation of Eamon Ryan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2011-01-25/2/|title=Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)|date=25 January 2011|access-date=12 August 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=14 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814130005/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2011-01-25/2/|url-status=live}}

He lost his seat at the 2011 general election. On 28 March 2011, the Sunday Independent reported that Carey had "appointed another party crony to a key State board on his final day in office".{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/carey-gave-plum-quango-board-job-to-supermarket-pal-2596295.html|title=Carey gave plum quango board job to supermarket pal|work=Sunday Independent|access-date=28 March 2011|first=Nick|last=Webb|date=27 March 2011|archive-date=2 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102042426/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/carey-gave-plum-quango-board-job-to-supermarket-pal-2596295.html|url-status=live}}

In November 2015, Carey stepped down as Fianna Fáil's director of elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/pat-carey-steps-down-as-fianna-fils-director-of-elections-34196345.html|title=Pat Carey steps down as Fianna Fáil's director of elections|date=13 November 2015|work=Irish Independent|access-date=13 November 2015|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117043229/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/pat-carey-steps-down-as-fianna-fils-director-of-elections-34196345.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1113/741572-pat-carey/|title=Fianna Fáil confirms Pat Carey leaving role|date=13 November 2015|work=RTÉ News|access-date=13 November 2015|archive-date=14 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114061522/http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1113/741572-pat-carey/|url-status=live}}