Deirdre Clune MEP

Deirdre Clune was elected to the European Parliament on May 27th, 2014. Deirdre is a full member of the Transport & Tourism/TRAN, substitute on Employment & Social Affairs/EMPL.

Deirdre is a former Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation.

Former Lord Mayor of Cork, 2005-06, Deirdre Clune was previously elected to the 30th Dail on May 24, 2007. She was appointed Spokeserson for Innovation and Research, July, 2010.

She was also previously Deputy Spokesperson on Enterprise with Special Responsibility for Innovation.

Deirdre Clune was first elected to the Dáil in 1997 at her first attempt. She was the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Environmental Information and Protection, and Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

As an Alderman for the South East Ward, Fine Gael Deirdre topped the poll in the 2004 local elections with 2,307 votes. She served as TD for Cork South Central between 1997 and 2002

Deirdre’s father, Peter Barry, was a Dáil Deputy for Cork constituencies between 1969 and 1997 and served as Tánaiste in 1987, Deputy Leader of Fine Gael between 1979 and 1987 and from 1989 to 1993. He was also a Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Transport & Power and Education.

Her Grandfather, Anthony Barry was a Dáil Deputy in the 1950’s and early 1960s.

Deirdre became the third generation of her family to hold the mayoralty in Cork, following in the footsteps of her father, Peter who was Lord Mayor of Cork in 1970/71 and her late grandfather, Anthony who was Lord Mayor in 1960/61.