Tom Parlon

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Tom Parlon

Minister of State at the Department of Finance
In office 2002 – 2007
Teachta Dála for Laois-Offaly
In office 6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007
Preceded by	Charles Flanagan
Succeeded by	Charles Flanagan

Political party	Progressive Democrats

Tom Parlon (Irish: Tomás Mac Phartaláin ^[1]; born 19 August 1953) is an Irish Progressive Democrats politician and president of the party. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for Laois-Offaly from 2002 to 2007 and was also the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works during the same time.

Tom Parlon was educated at Coolderry National School, Roscrea CBS, and Gurteen Agricultural College. He was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time in the 2002 general election as a Progressive Democrats candidate. He was appointed Minister of State on one of his first days in the Dáil. Previous to being a politician Parlon held a number of senior positions in the Irish Farmers' Association, including Deputy-President (1991–1993) and President (1997–2001). In the period before the 2002 general election, it was some time before he could make up his mind whether to stand for Fine Gael or the Progressive Democrats. He became President of the Progressive Democrats party in September 2006 after Michael McDowell took over as party leader. He lost his seat in the 2007 general election.

He announced on 10 July 2007, that he was quitting politics and would not seek a nomination to Seanad Éireann, or to contest the leadership of the Progressive Democrats. Instead he took up the position of Director General of the Irish Construction Industry Federation.^[2]

1 Complaint to Standards Commission
2 Controversy
3 Political career
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Complaint to Standards Commission

A complaint about Parlon appearing in an advertisement for animal feed was made to the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Commission advised that it is not appropriate for a serving office holder to be associated with the commercial promotion of particular products unconnected with the official duties of that person.^[3]

[edit] Controversy

In December 2003 Parlon was attacked by fellow ministers for claiming the decentralisation plan being implemented in Laois was all down to him, when in fact he had no input into the plan at all.^{[citation needed]} Also in taking up his position as Director General of the construction federation in 2007, after having a prominent position in the Office of Public Works have led to accusations of a conflict of interest.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael)	Progressive Democrats Teachta Dála for Laois-Offaly 2002–2007	Succeeded by Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael)
Political offices
Preceded by Martin Cullen	Minister of State at the Department of Finance 2002–2007	Succeeded by Noel Ahern