Patricia Ryan (politician)

Patricia Ryan (born 3 March 1969)[1] is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency since the 2020 general election.[2]

Patricia Ryan
TD
Ryan in 2022
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyKildare South
Personal details
Born (1969-03-03) 3 March 1969
Ballybrittas, County Laois, Ireland
Political partySinn Féin

Previous to entering politics, Ryan was a trade union shop steward.[3] Between 2019 and 2020 Ryan was a member of Kildare County Council; Noel Connolly was co-opted to Ryan's seat on Kildare County Council following her election to the Dáil.[4]

At the 2020 General Election, Ryan topped the poll in Kildare South,[5][6] despite taking a holiday during the campaign instead of canvassing.[7]

In December 2020, Ryan was criticised for having promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories on her Facebook page back in 2015, including a post encouraging people to read a website that stated the US government detonated the Twin Towers in a false flag operation. Ryan later stated "I apologise for this Facebook post. It is not reflective of my views"[8]

In August 2022 Ryan contacted her constituents by post to warn them of potential “significant conflict” between themselves and Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russo-Ukrainian War if modular homes were allowed to be built in Newbridge.[9] Ryan's letter stated "There is a concern that growing levels of homelessness and pending evictions in the areas where the modular units are being proposed could generate conflict...If this process is not managed right and the views of locally based representatives are not listened to, the potential for significant conflict with host communities is significant, which in turn could be exploited by small far-right elements". Senator Vincent Martin, also based in Kildare, expressed concerned that parts of the letter left "itself open to mixed messaging which has the potential to whip up a cold atmosphere of fear in the local community"[9] The Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman stated the modular homes were only a temporary measure being created to meet demand and that his department would engage with communities about any issues concerning refugees.[9]

References
  1. Ryan, Tim (2020). Nealon's Guide to the 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad and the 2019 local and European elections. The Irish Times. p. 104.
  2. "Patricia Ryan". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  3. McQuinn, Cormac (3 February 2020). "Sinn Féin election candidate missing on campaign trail due to holiday". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. "Kildare County Council co-opts new Sinn Fein councillor". KildareNow. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. Forrest, Conor (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Kildare South results: Fianna Fáil's Fiona O'Loughlin loses seat; Sinn Féin's Patricia Ryan tops poll with Martin Heydon (FG) and Cathal Berry (Ind) taking remaining seats". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. "Election 2020: Kildare South". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. Simpson, Claire (11 February 2020). "Sinn Féin candidate who took holiday during campaign tops poll in Kildare South". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. Mahon, Brian. "Second Sinn Féin TD Patricia Ryan shared 9/11 conspiracy theories". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  9. Tighe, Mark (28 August 2022). "Sinn Féin TD warned of 'significant conflict' between locals and Ukrainian refugees". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
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