John Cummins (born 29 June 1988) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as a Senator for the Labour Panel since April 2020.[2]
Personal life and career
John Cummins holds a degree in Physical Education and Geography Teaching from the University of Limerick. He has taught in a number of schools, most recently St. Paul's Community College in Waterford City.[3]
Political career
Cummins was elected to Waterford City Council in 2009.[4] In 2010, he was elected as Chairman of the South East Regional Authority.[5] He served his first term as Mayor of Waterford in 2013; at the age of 25, he was the youngest person ever to hold that office.[6] He was subsequently re-elected to the amalgamated Waterford City and County Council in 2014,[7] and served his second term as Mayor in 2015/16.[8] He was re-elected in 2019. [9]
Cummins unsuccessfully contested the 2020 general election in the Waterford constituency.[10] He was subsequently elected in the 2020 Seanad election as a Senator for the Labour Panel.[11]
He was appointed as the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Housing, Local Government and Heritage by Leo Varadkar.
He lost the party whip in August 2020 following his involvement in the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal,[12][13] which saw him allegedly breach public health guidelines with regard to COVID-19..[14] The party whip was restored on 12 January 2021.[15] All charges related to the event were later dismissed on 3 February 2022. [16]
References
- ^ "Cummins becomes Mayor on Birthday". Munster Express Online. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "John Cummins". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ "ABOUT JOHN". John Cummins. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "Waterford City Council: (Waterford City South) 2009 Local Election Results, Counts, Stats and Analysis". irelandelection.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Cllr John Cummins elected Chairman Regional Authority". Munster Express Online. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "John Cummins becomes the city's youngest Mayor". Munster Express Online. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Quinn, Claire. "Total of 32 elected to newly amalgamated Waterford councils". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Cummins becomes Mayor on Birthday". Munster Express Online. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Waterford City & County Council". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Waterford Fine Gael Fails to Win General Election Seat in Constituency for First Time". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Aherne, Sinead. "Waterford Councillor secures Seanad Seat". WLR. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Westmeath senators lose Fianna Fáil party whip". Westmeath Independent. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ Daly, Adam. "Irish Hotels Federation says it sought Department advice on indoor gatherings prior to golf event". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ Gallagher, Conor. "Former TD attended controversial golf dinner days after trip to Spain". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ Hosford, Paul (12 January 2021). "Golfgate: Fine Gael restores party whip to senators who attended". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Golfgate trial: All Golfgate charges are dismissed as judge says 'very good people lost very good jobs' over Clifden hotel event". independent. Retrieved 13 February 2022.