Seán Canney
Seán Canney is an Irish Independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway East constituency since 2016. He served as Minister of State for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development from 2018 to 2020, and as Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief from 2016 to 2017.
A native of Belclare, Tuam, County Galway. Canney was campaign manager for his brother-in-law, Paddy McHugh, in the 2002 general election, in which McHugh gained a seat in the Galway East constituency.
As an Independent candidate, Canney was elected to Galway County Council in 2004, on his first attempt. He was re-elected in each of the subsequent local elections in 2009 and 2014. In both the 2009 and 2014 elections, he topped the poll in the Tuam local electoral area.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2011 general election in the Galway East constituency, receiving 5,567 first preference votes.
He served as Mayor of County Galway for the term 2007 to 2008, and served on a number of boards and committees. He joined the Independent Alliance in advance of the 2016 general election. At the 2016 general election, he topped the poll in Galway East, securing 8,447 first preference votes.
Following his election he was appointed a member of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness, he served on that committee until his appointment as Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, he served in the position from 2016 to 2017. He voted for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 6 May 2016.
He advocates reopening the Western Rail Corridor to trains from Galway to Claremorris.
He left the Independent Alliance in May 2018, but pledged his continued support for the government.
He was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 13 October 2018.
