Dara Calleary appointed Minister of State to replace Robert Troy

Mayo TD Dara Calleary is to be appointed as a junior minister to replace Robert Troy, who resigned last week.

The Cabinet has approved the Taoiseach’s nomination of Mr Calleary to the role at the Department of Enterprise. He will take up his new role immediately.

The Fianna Fáil TD had been the favourite for a return to Government after controversy over his failure to fully declare his property businesses in the Dáil register of interests led to Mr Troy’s resignation last week.

[ Una Mullally: If Dara Calleary gets Robert Troy’s gig, the public will roll their eyes in rage again ]

[ Jennifer O'Connell: Robert Troy’s biggest mistake was failing to see that owning one property is a privilege — never mind 11 ]

Appointed as chief whip when the Government was formed in July 2020, Mr Calleary became Minister for Agriculture shortly afterwards when Barry Cowen was sacked by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

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However, within a few weeks Mr Calleary had resigned in the midst of a furore over his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society Dinner in Clifden during Covid restrictions. He has remained on the backbenches since.

[ Robert Troy profile: Hard-working politician and unapologetic landlord downed by property interests ]

Mr Calleary returns to the Department of Enterprise, where he was a junior minister during the later stages of the Fianna Fáil-Green government led by Brian Cowen during the financial crisis more than a decade ago.

First elected in Mayo in 2007 — his father was also a TD for the constituency — Mr Calleary has held his seat at each subsequent election.

In a statement, the Taoiseach said: “Dara brings considerable experience to this role, having already served in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

“A professional and diligent worker, I have no doubt Dara will hit the ground running, in helping indigenous Irish companies face the significant challenges and opportunities ahead, as well as overseeing important legislative reforms of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.”