Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Ireland

Biography

Dara Calleary TD is the current Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation. As a Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Minister Calleary is responsible for promoting responsible and sustainable trade, ensuring fair and better regulation for all businesses, and that markets work effectively for consumers and for the economy as a whole. He also has a specific focus in the continued digital transformation of enterprise and ensuring Ireland maintains or improves its position of 5th in the DESI, and remains a digital frontrunner at the heart of Europe. He represents the Irish Government at the EU Competitiveness Council which works to enhance competitiveness and increase growth in the EU, as well as the D9+ forum and OECD Digital for SMEs Global Initiative. A native of Ballina, Dara Calleary has been a TD for Mayo since first being elected at the 2007 General Election. He was previously Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Labour Affairs from 2009-2011 and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance with responsibility for Public Service Transformation from 2009-2011. He served as Minister for Agriculture and as Government Chief Whip in 2020. Dara served as Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2018-2020 and has also served as Spokesperson on Justice, Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Public Expenditure and Reform and Social Protection portfolio. Prior to entering politics Dara was involved in the banking and business sectors. Dara studied Business and Politics at Trinity College Dublin and attended St Muredach’s College Ballina and St Oliver Plunkett National School.