Enda Kenny was re-elected to the Dáil in May 2007.
He was elected as Leader of Fine Gael, June 2002. He is also spokesperson on Northern Ireland.
Enda led the Party to triumph in the Local and European Elections of 2004 and 2009, the Meath By-Election of 2005 and the 2007 General Election, in which Fine Gael gained 20 seats
Following the Local Elections of 09, Fine Gael became the largest political party in Ireland and the driving force in local democracy, with over 500 councillors serving their communities throughout the country.
The European Elections of 04 saw Fine Gael defeat Fianna Fáil in a national poll for the first time since 1927 when the Party won five seats in the European Parliament.
In the Meath By-Election of 05, our candidate Shane McEntee scored a spectacular victory in a constituency where Fianna Fáil captured 46 per-cent of the vote in the 2002 General Election.
Fine Gael is also the largest Irish Party in Europe. The European Elections of 09 saw the Party increase its vote share by two points to 29 per-cent, a full five points ahead of our nearest rivals, Fianna Fáil.
The 2009 Local Elections were triumph for Fine Gael which became the largest party in the State, due to its vote management strategy. We claimed a 32 per-cent vote share and won 38 per-cent of the available seats. In the previous Local Elections, in 2004, Fine Gael won 32 per-cent of the available seats with 27 per-cent of the vote.
Enda has represented the people of Mayo in Dáil Eireann since 1975, when he was first elected in a by-election following the death of his late father Henry Kenny. He has been returned at nine consecutive General Elections and has served in a wide variety of positions during that time.
He has spelled out his vision of Fine Gael as a party of the progressive centre, focussing on the rights and responsibilities of all citizens.
Enda has also vigorously attacked the Government for its irresponsibility with the public purse, which has seen millions of Euro squandered though mismanagement, damaging the country’s economic and social fabric.
On his first day in the Dáil, the age of just 24, he was welcomed at the gates of Leinster House by then Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and a huge crowd of supporters where he spelled out his political priority: "The greatest good for the greatest number."
He became a young Minister of State under Garret FitzGerald when he was appointed Junior Minister at the Department of Education and Labour. In opposition, he has held a number of Front Bench portfolios including Education, Western Development, Youth Affairs and Sport.
With th his colleague Richard Bruton TD, Enda negotiated, on behalf of Fine Gael, the Programme for Government with the Labour and Democratic Left parties prior to the formation of the Government in 1994.
From 1994 to 1997 Enda represented Ireland on the World Stage as Minister for Tourism and Trade. He presided over a revolution in Irish tourism as the numbers visiting this country soared thanks to initiatives spearheaded by his Department. One example of Enda's hard work can be seen on the streets (and in the skies) of Dublin every March - a vastly improved St Patrick's festival and parade.
He oversaw an unprecedented growth in tourism business, and Ireland's trade position internationally. As Minister he also chaired the European Union Council of Trade Ministers during Ireland's Presidency, and he co-chaired the successful Singapore round of the World Trade Organisation talks in 1996.
He also headed the EU Council of Trade Ministers during Ireland's Presidency of the Union. Through the fostering of international trade, so crucial to the birth of the Celtic Tiger, Enda played a significant role in creating the economic boom that began under the last Fine Gael-led Government.
He has also served on many Oireachtas committees including Education and Science, Health and Children and, as a fluent Irish speaker, the Committee on the Irish Language.
Married to Fionnuala O'Kelly, Enda has three children - Naoise, Ferdia and Aoibhinn. Born and brought up in Castlebar, Enda still lives in the town and divides his time between Mayo and Dublin - as well as constantly touring the country (he visits every constituency in the country on a regular basis). A fan of Bruce Springsteen, Enda likes to hillwalk, play golf and cycle. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of three Mayo charities in 2003, and cycled from Kerry to Donegal for charity in 2005.
In 2006, Enda was elected Vice-President of our European affiliate, the European People's Party.
In the mid-1980's, he was a member of the Fine Gael delegation on the New Ireland Forum and later served on the British Irish Parliamentary Association.
He chaired the Fine Gael Election Strategy Committee prior to the 1997 General Election which saw Fine Gael win nine extra seats. He was also secretary to the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party for many years. He was a member of Mayo County Council from 1975-1995 until his appointment to the Cabinet.
