Tom Parlon

Infobox Minister
name = Tom Parlon
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width = 150px
office = Minister of State at the Department of Finance
term_start = 2002
term_end = 2007
predecessor =
successor =
office2 = Teachta Dála for Laois-Offaly
predecessor2 = Charles Flanagan
successor2 = Charles Flanagan
term_start2 = 6 June 2002
term_end2 = 14 June 2007
birth_date = birth date and age|1953|8|19|df=y
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
party = Progressive Democrats
residence =
salary =
spouse =
religion =
children =
website =
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Tom Parlon ( _ga. Tomás Mac Phartaláin [ [http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/a-misc/GovMembers29.htm Members of the Government (Ministers) 29th Dáil] – Official Oireachtas website; accessed 20 December 2006.] ; 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, receiving an annual salary of €250,000. [ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0710/pds.html Parlon quits PDs for construction industry job] – "RTÉ News", 10 July 2007.]

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. [http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/AnnualReports/AnnualReport2005/Name,5300,en.htm Annual Report 2005, Standards in Public Office Commission] ]

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.Fact|date=January 2008 Also in taking up his position as Director General of the Construction Industry Federation in 2007, after having a prominent position in the Office of Public Works have led to accusations of a conflict of interest.Fact|date=January 2008. In 2008, Parlon publically took credit for effecting a policy reversal by the Department of Finance on the procurement procedure for State building projects. It was subsequently revealed that the decision had come from Local Authorities and not from Parlon.

CIF Career

Parlon's tenure as Director General of the Construction Industry Federation has been stormy as he has presided over the collapse of the Irish construction sector. His slavish love of the media, the poor pay deal he negotiated at the 2008 Social Partnership talks and his inability to halt the meltdown in the Irish construction sector have lead many in the construction sector to question his motivation for taking up the €250,000 post, and ability to do his job.

References

*Laois Nationalist - 2003/12/11: Parlon attacked over ‘opportunist’ tactics
*Oireachtas-database

External links

* [http://www.tomparlon.ie/ Tom Parlon] – Official website
* [http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/our_people/member/7/ Tom Parlon's profile on the Progressive Democrat party website]
* [http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4821 Elections Ireland: Tom Parlon] – electoral history from the electionsireland.org website.

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