Born in 1951 Dublin. Chartered Company Secretary (FCIS)M.Soc.Sc (Politics),M.Sc (Accounti. Member of Dublin City Council 1979-1995 and 1999-2003. Member of Dáil Eireann (Irish Parliament) since 1981. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs 1994-1997 (preparation of the IGC in 1996, during Ireland’s EU Presidency). Lord Mayor of Dublin 1992-1993. Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs July, 2002 – October, 2004. Chairman in office, COSAC January – July, 2004.ChairmanPublic Accounts Committee of Dáíl Eireann 1987-1993. Fine Gael Foreign Affairs spokesperson on two occasions. Member Reflection Group on Amsterdam Treaty.Fine Gael national director of elections for SEA, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon Referenda. Leader of Fine Gael delegation in Parliament 2009-. FG director of elections SEA, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon I Referenda. MEP since 2004.