David Stanton
David Stanton is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency since 1997. He served as Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration from 2016 to 2020.
Stanton was born in County Cork. He was educated at St. Colman's Vocational School, Midleton; Sharman Crawford Technical Institute, Cork and University College Cork where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Mathematics. Before entering politics, he was a woodwork and technical drawing teacher and a career guidance counsellor in St. Colman's Community College in Midleton. Stanton served in the Reserve Defence Forces as an officer in the Army Reserve. He is married to Mary Lehane and they have four sons.
Stanton was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election and has been re-elected at every general election since. He was party Spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs, and Equality from 2004 to 2007. Prior to this he acted as Deputy Spokesperson on Education and Science, and Spokesperson on Labour Affairs, Consumer Rights and Trade from 1997 to 2002. From 2007 to 2010, he was party Assistant Chief Whip with special responsibility for Disability Issues. In July 2010, he was appointed Spokesperson on Defence.
On 19 May 2016, Stanton was appointed Minister of State for Justice with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration, and Integration.
