Martin Heydon Explained

Honorific-Suffix:TD
Office:Minister of State
Suboffice:Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Subterm:2020–
Office1:Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party
Term Start1:1 March 2016
Term End1:1 July 2020
Predecessor1:Dan Neville
Successor1:Richard Bruton
Office2:Teachta Dála
Term Start2:February 2011
Constituency2:Kildare South
Birth Date:9 August 1978
Birth Place:Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fine Gael
Children:4
Alma Mater:Kildalton Agricultural College

Martin Heydon (born 9 August 1978) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency since 2011. He previously served as the Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party from 2016 to 2020.[1] [2]

Early life

Heydon is a native of South County Kildare and lives outside of Kilcullen town, owning a family farm.[3] He was educated in Crookstown National School, Cross and Passion College Kilcullen and Teagasc Kildalton Agricultural College in County Kilkenny.[4]

Political career

Heydon joined Fine Gael in 2008. He was elected at the 2009 Kildare County Council election on his first attempt. In February 2011, following his election to the Dáil, he was replaced on Kildare County Council by Ivan Keatley.[4]

At the 2011 general election, Heydon contested Kildare South and polled over 12,000 votes, being elected on the first count, more than 3,000 votes over the quota.[5] Fine Gael had been unrepresented in the constituency since Alan Dukes had lost his seat in 2002.

He served as Chair of Fine Gael's Internal Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs between 2011 and 2016.[6]

Newbridge Fine Gael Councillor Fiona McLoughlin Healy was added to the ticket for the 2016 general election as his running mate.[7] Heydon won re-election, topping the poll in Kildare South.[8]

On 8 June 2016, Heydon was elected Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, succeeding retired Limerick TD Dan Neville. Heydon's responsibilities in this role included chairing the weekly meeting of the party's TDs, Senators and MEPs.[9] [10]

In July 2020, following the formation of the government of the 33rd Dáil, Heydon was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development.

Personal life

Heydon is married to pharmacist and former ladies' GAA All-Star Brianne Leahy.[11] The couple have three sons and a daughter.[12]

He is an officer of his local Gaelic football club, St Laurence's GAA.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Martin Heydon. Oireachtas Members Database. 8 October 2011. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184848/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09/. live.
  2. Web site: Martin Heydon. ElectionsIreland.org. 8 October 2011. 16 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111016143812/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=9768. live.
  3. News: Hunk Heydon is top of the sex-appeal poll. 27 February 2016. Irish Independent. 30 May 2009. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306061751/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hunk-heydon-is-top-of-the-sexappeal-poll-26539858.html. live.
  4. Web site: Martin Heydon TD. Fine Gael. 20 February 2016. 22 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160222114459/http://www.finegael.ie/our-people/tds/martin-heydon/. live.
  5. Web site: Martin Heydon. TheJournal.ie. 8 October 2011. 16 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110816215631/http://www.thejournal.ie/election-candidates-2011/kildare-south/martin-heydon/. live.
  6. Web site: New Fund for Agri-Business Start Ups recognises Importance of this sector for Rural Ireland – Heydon. 23 September 2014 . Martin Heydon TD. 20 February 2016. 2 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302043539/http://www.martinheydon.com/2014/09/new-fund-for-agri-business-start-ups-recognises-importance-of-this-sector-for-rural-ireland-heydon/. live.
  7. Web site: Davin-Power. David. Kildare South constituency. RTÉ News. 20 February 2016. 21 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160221140431/http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/constituencies/kildare-south/. live.
  8. News: Gartland. Fiona. Kildare South results: Mark Heydon (FG) tops poll as Fianna Fáil takes 2 remaining seats. 28 February 2016. The Irish Times. 27 February 2016. 28 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160228121524/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/kildare-south-results-mark-heydon-fg-tops-poll-as-fianna-f%C3%A1il-takes-2-remaining-seats-1.2549704. live.
  9. Web site: Heydon honoured to be elected Chair of Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. 16 June 2016. 23 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160623222949/http://www.finegael.ie/latest-news/heydon-honoured-to-be-ele/. live.
  10. News: Fellow politicians congratulate Kildare TD on appointment to major new role. 16 June 2016. Kildare Now. 9 June 2016. 11 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611002309/http://www.kildarenow.com/news/fellow-politicians-congratulate-kildare-td-on-appointment-to-major-new-role/97029. live.
  11. News: TD Martin Heydon marries his All-Star Brianne Leahy. 20 February 2016. Leinster Leader. 28 May 2013. 8 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160208082242/http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/local-news/72140/TD-Martin-Heydon-marries-his-All.html. live.
  12. Web site: Kildare Now. 23 November 2020 . Kildare Now. 4 January 2021. 11 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111063424/https://www.kildarenow.com/news/home/590898/minister-of-state-martin-heydon-and-wife-welcome-new-baby.html. live.
  13. News: Gartland. Fiona. Profile: Martin Heydon (FG). 28 February 2016. The Irish Times. 27 February 2016. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083725/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/profile-martin-heydon-fg-1.2551928. live.

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