Ken O'Flynn
Ken O'Flynn | |
|---|---|
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Cork North-Central |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Independent Ireland |
| Other political affiliations | Fianna Fáil (until 2020) |
| Spouse |
Francisco Cuevas (m. 2022) |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Gary O'Flynn (brother) |
Kenneth Noel O'Flynn is an Irish Independent Ireland politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency since the 2024 general election.[1] O'Flynn was previously a member of Cork City Council between 2008 and 2024.[2]
Career
[edit]Local politics
[edit]Fianna Fáil (2008–2020)
[edit]O'Flynn became a Fianna Fáil councillor in 2008 after being co-opted by his brother Gary O'Flynn.[3]
In June 2017, O'Flynn revealed that he owned 42 flats in London’s Docklands as part of his annual declaration of interests. O'Flynn's assets also included properties in Ireland and Spain, such as six business units in Marbella, an apartment in Limerick, a house in Dublin, and various business premises in Cork, including locations on the Mallow Road, Mahon, and Kilnap. O'Flynn declined to comment further on the details. A report from RTÉ's investigations unit from the previous year noted that O'Flynn, along with other councillors, had omitted properties from his ethics declaration, including some of the same ones listed in his 2017 declaration.[4]
Independent (2020–2024)
[edit]Ken O'Flynn remained with Fianna Fáil for 16 years until his resignation in January 2020.[5] O'Flynn quit Fianna Fail after the party did not select him to run in the Cork North-Central constituency at the 2020 Irish general election.[6] O'Flynn instead ran as an independent candidate and narrowly missed out on a seat, losing in the last count to Mick Barry.
In August 2021, O'Flynn faced criticism for a misleading Facebook post in which he called for "checks and balances" on refugees fleeing Afghanistan amidst the Taliban's resurgence. The post included a photograph of a plane crowded with Afghan men, which O'Flynn claimed depicted a "flight coming in from Afghanistan." However, the image was later revealed to have been taken in 2018 and was related to Afghan deportees from Turkey, not recent refugee arrivals. While admitting the error was "an honest mistake", O'Flynn defended his stance on asylum security, and dismissed critics as "snowflakes." The image had also been shared with similar commentary by former Breitbart contributor Dave Atherton, suggesting it influenced O'Flynn's post.[7]
Independent Ireland Party
[edit]Following a period as an independent, O'Flynn joined Independent Ireland in March 2024.[8]
In May 2024 O'Flynn was one of three city councillors to vote against a €18m Traveller housing scheme for the Spring Lane halting site in Ballyvolane.[9] In September 2024, O'Flynn faced a Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) hearing over comments about the Spring Lane halting site made during a 2021 interview on RedFM's Neil Prendeville Show. The complaint alleged breaches of the Local Government Act and the Councillors' Code of Conduct. O'Flynn pledged to participate, asserting he would "not be silenced". A prior complaint by the Traveller Equality and Justice Project about his remarks was dismissed by the council's ethics registrar. Separately, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) partially upheld a complaint against the RedFM segment in 2022, criticising its failure to challenge O’Flynn’s views or provide diverse perspectives, deeming it stigmatising toward Spring Lane residents and Travellers.[10]
In May 2024 an investigation by the the Echo found that O'Flynn had the lowest attendance of any Cork County Councillor between 2019 to 2023 and that O'Flynn's attendance was so low he was not eligible to make full expenses claims. O'Flynn defended his record by noting he ran a business and was also busy "listening to constituents".[11]
Following his re-election to Cork City Council in June 2024, O'Flynn expressed his concerns about immigration, advocating for stricter controls on people coming into Ireland. He described immigration as a "serious problem" for the country. O'Flynn stated that while he did not oppose foreign people coming to Ireland, he was critical of individuals entering the country without proper documentation, such as those who "tear up their passports." O'Flynn suggest that a government that was not able to fix the homeless crisis would not be able to take in large numbers of immigrants. O'Flynn distanced himself from far-right views on the issue, stating his approach was just "common sense".[9]
Personal life
[edit]O'Flynn is the son of Noel O'Flynn, a TD for the same constituency from 1997 to 2011.[12] O'Flynn is a gay man and is married to a Spanish immigrant.[9][13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Cork North Central General Election 2024 updates: Recount for final seat as Ken O'Flynn and Colm Burke join Padraig O'Sullivan and Thomas Gould in Dáil". Irish Independent. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Kenneth Noel O'Flynn". Cork City Council. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Ken O'Flynn election results". Elections Ireland. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ McGinn, Brein (4 June 2017). "O'Flynn declares assets". The Times. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "'A very strong alignment in our ideas': Cork councillor to join Independent Ireland party". echo live. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Ken O'Flynn leaves Fianna Fáil after 25 years to run as an Independent in Cork North Central". The Echo. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ English, Eoin (17 August 2021). "Cork politician criticised over refugee post". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Ireland, TheCork ie (News)-Your Online News from Cork (21 March 2024). "Cork Independent Councillor joins Ireland First party". TheCork.ie (News & Entertainment). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ a b c English, Eoin (9 June 2024). "Cork City poll-topper Ken O'Flynn backs immigration stance". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Hosford, Paul (10 September 2024). "Cork councillor Ken O'Flynn to face ethics hearing over 2021 radio interview". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "New figures shed light on politicians' attendance at Cork City Council meetings". the Echo. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Cork North Central: Ken O'Flynn (II)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Martin, Megan (14 September 2022). "See inside Cork councillor Ken O'Flynn's stunning Spanish wedding to Francisco Cuevas". Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ O'Keeffe, Donal (24 September 2022). ""We met in the wine section": Cork councillor on finding love and canvassing plans for the honeymoon". The Echo. Retrieved 2 December 2024.