Mick Barry (born 17 September 1964) is an Irish People Before Profit–Solidarity politician who was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency from 2016 to 2024.[1]
Mick Barry | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Barry in 2022 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2016 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Cork North-Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 September 1964 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality |
|
| Political party | Socialist Party |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology |
According to the Irish Examiner, Barry was "a leading figure in the Cork and national campaigns" against household and water charges in the 2010s.[2]
Personal life
editBarry was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1964.[3] His family returned to Ireland in 1971 when he was 8 years old, and moved to Rathfarnham in Dublin. Barry moved to Cork city in 1991[4] and has remained a resident ever since, living in the suburb of Blackpool.[3]
Political career
edit1989 to 2016
editDick Spring expelled Barry, alongside Joe Higgins, Clare Daly, Ruth Coppinger and 10 others, from the Labour Party in 1989 for their membership of the Militant tendency.[3][4]
Barry was first elected as a member of Cork City Council in June 2004 and re-elected in June 2009 and May 2014 (both times on the first count).[5] He also stood as a candidate in the Cork North-Central constituency at the 2002, 2007 and 2011 general elections.[4]
On 1 May 2013, gardaí arrested five members of the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes, including Barry and fellow Cork City Councillor Ted Tynan of the Workers' Party, during a midday protest inside the St Patrick's Street branch of the Bank of Ireland in the city. People gathered on the street. Cllr Tynan said he felt a need to stand up against austerity.[6]
In the 2010s Barry campaigned on a number of issues locally and nationally, notably the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign with the Householders Against Service Charges (HASC) in Cork, In support of local services in the Cork area such as the cutbacks in bus services, and against the building of a private hospital on the public grounds of Cork University Hospital,[7] and social housing.[8] He called for a ban on home repossessions and considered a controversial Gateway employment scheme to be "slave labour".[9][10] He called for standing orders to be suspended[11] and proposed a motion condemning the jailing of five activists opposing a proposed tax on water.[12][13][14]
2016 to present: Dáil Éireann
editA founding member of the Anti-Austerity Alliance (AAA), Barry was elected for the AAA–PBP group, at the 2016 general election, on his fourth attempt.[15] At the 2020 general election, he was re-elected as a Solidarity–People Before Profit TD.[16]
He lost his seat very narrowly at the 2024 Irish general election.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Mick Barry". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ English, Eoin (14 June 2012). "Free legal aid for those not paying €100 levy". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ a b c Loughlin, Elaine (8 March 2016). "Mick Barry: I hope to provide a voice for real change". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Roche, Barry. "Socialist Party candidate raises red flag in the heart of Cork's north side" Archived 23 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. 19 February 2011. The Irish Times. (archive link)
- ^ "Mick Barry". ElectionsIreland.org. 28 December 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
- ^ "Councillors arrested at protest outside branch of Bank of Ireland in Cork". RTÉ News. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Green light to hospital is green light to greed" Archived 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, corkpolitics.ie, 3 June 2009.
- ^ "Housing protestors occupy Cork City Hall". BreakingNews.ie. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ^ O'Sullivan, David (9 March 2015). "Cork Cllr wants to ban home repossessions". thecork.ie. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ English, Eoin (24 June 2014). "Authority accused of using 'slave labour'". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ Riegel, Ralph (23 February 2015). "Council meeting abandoned as chamber occupied by anti-water charge protesters". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Finn, Christina (23 February 2015). "Gardaí called to Cork City Council after water protesters storm meeting". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Roche, Barry (23 February 2015). "Water charges campaigners stop Cork City Council meeting: Group occupy main council chamber to condemn jailing of five Dublin protesters". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ English, Eoin (24 February 2015). "Council cancels meeting as water charge protesters storm chamber". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ "Election 2016: Mick Barry". RTÉ News. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ^ Roche, Barry (10 February 2020). "Cork North-Central results: Fine Gael's Colm Burke elected on 14th count". Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "General Election 2024 Live Results - Cork North-Central". RTÉ News. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.