John Paul Phelan TD

Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan entered local politics in 1999 and served two terms in the Seanad before topping the poll in the last general election in Carlow/Kilkenny.

The 35 year-old was Director of Elections for Ireland South for Fine Gael in the recent European Elections where the party won two seats. The business graduate recently qualified as a barrister and is honoured to be selected as a member of the imminent banking inquiry.

Deputy Phelan lives in Ferrybank in South Kilkenny and has worked tirelessly in Dáil Eireann and in the community to support rural enterprise, to fight for jobs for Kilkenny and the wider South East region.

Deputy Phelan comes from a farming background and is therefore acutely aware of the key role the industry plays in the local and national economy.

The outspoken TD has lost many close friends to emigration, and continues to work towards providing jobs and a future for returning emigrants who long to come home and raise a family in Ireland.