Joe McHugh | |
|---|---|
 McHugh in 2017 | |
| Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs | |
| In office 15 September 2020 – 8 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Healy-Rae |
| Minister for Education and Skills | |
| In office 16 October 2018 – 27 June 2020 | |
| Taoiseach | Leo Varadkar |
| Preceded by | Richard Bruton |
| Succeeded by | Norma Foley |
| Minister of State | |
| 2017–2018 | Government Chief Whip |
| 2017–2018 | Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
| 2016–2018 | Taoiseach |
| 2016–2017 | Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| 2014–2016 | Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
| 2014–2016 | Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2016 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Donegal |
| In office May 2007 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Donegal North-East |
| Senator | |
| In office 12 September 2002 – 24 May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Administrative Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 July 1971 Carrigart, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Fine Gael (until 2022) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Tom Enright (father-in-law) |
| Alma mater | NUI, Maynooth |
Joe McHugh (born 16 July 1971) is an Irish former politician from Carrigart, County Donegal. A Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal North-East constituency from 2007 to 2016 and the Donegal constituency from 2016 to 2024, he served as Minister of State from 2014 to 2018, including as Government Chief Whip from 2017 to 2018. He served as Minister for Education and Skills from October 2018 until June 2020. He chaired the Committee on European Union Affairs from 2020 to 2024.
Before entering politics, McHugh was a secondary school teacher and youth worker. He began his political career on Donegal County Council, where he served from 1999 to 2002. Elected to Seanad Éireann in 2002 as a senator for the Administrative Panel, he first won election to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. In 2014, his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources attracted criticism due to his basic knowledge of the Irish language. Subsequently, RTÉ Radio 1 produced a radio documentary, Fine Gaeilgeoir, following McHugh's efforts to improve his language skills.
A member of Fine Gael until July 2022, McHugh resigned the party whip to vote for an opposition bill on the defective block crisis, after which he continued in the Dáil as an independent TD. He did not contest the 2024 general election, stating he was leaving politics to spend more time with his family.[1][2]
- ^ "Donegal TD Joe McHugh won't contest next general election". RTÉ News. 4 May 2022. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ Hosford, Paul (4 May 2022). "Fine Gael TD and former education minister Joe McHugh won't stand for re-election". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.