Martin Cullen
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Martin Cullen (born November 1954) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Waterford since 1987 and has been Minister for Transport since 2004. Cullen was previously a member of Seanad Éireann (1989-1992) and has also served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government (2002-2004).
Martin Cullen was born in Waterford and was educated locally at Waterpark College and at Regional Technical College, Waterford. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Progressive Democrats TD in 1987. During his first period as a TD he served as Progressive Democrats spokesperson on Tourism, Transport & Communications (1987-1988) and Industry & Commerce (1988-1989). Cullen lost his seat following the General Election in 1989 but was elected to Seanad Éireann instead serving there until his re-election to the Dáil in 1992. The following year he became Party spokesperson on Enterprise & Employment. During the 27th Dáil he left the Progressive Democrats and joined Fianna Fáil.
In 1997 a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition came to power and Cullen became Minister of State at the Department of Finance. In 2002 he was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. As minister responsible for elections, his department was responsible for the voting system used. When electronic voting was proposed for the 2004 local and european elections, he stood by the proposed system despite opposition from within the Dáil and from some members of the public. After the system was scrapped his reputation was damaged. In 2004 he was appointed Minister for Transport. Since that appointment he has become embroiled in even more controversy. Two independent reports have cleared him of any wrong-doing in the awarding of lucrative Public Relations contracts to Monica Leech, who it was also hinted at that he had been romantically involved with.
Cabinet Career
| Preceded by: Noel Dempsey | Minister for the Environment, Heritage & local Government 2002–2004 | Succeeded by: Dick Roche |
| Preceded by: Séamus Brennan | Minister for Transport 2004– | Succeeded by: Current Incumbent |