Ray Butler (politician)

Ray Butler
Senator
In office
8 June 2016 – 29 June 2020
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2011 – February 2016
ConstituencyMeath West
Personal details
Born
Raymond Butler

(1965-12-30) 30 December 1965 (age 58)
Kells, County Meath, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Marie Butler
​
(m. 1995)​
Children4
Alma materNUI Galway

Raymond Butler (born 30 December 1965) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Senator from 2016 to 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. He previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency from 2011 to 2016.[1][2]

Living in Trim, Butler's family is originally from Kells. He served on Trim Town Council from 2004 to 2011, including a year as mayor of that council, and was elected to Meath County Council in May 2009.[2]

He lost his seat at the 2016 general election.[2] Butler was nominated to the 25th Seanad in May 2016.[3]

In 2019, it was reported that Butler had taken three years to repay the €30,000 severance allowance he received after losing his Dáil seat, which became forfeit and repayable once he accepted a nomination to the Seanad.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Ray Butler". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Ray Butler". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  3. ^ Sarah Bardon (27 May 2016). "FF leader selects three of Taoiseach's 11 Seanad appointees". Irish Times.
  4. ^ McDonagh, Darragh (1 July 2019). "Senator finally repays €30,000 golden handshake, three years on". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 July 2019.