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Lisa Chambers

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Senator
Lisa Chambers
Chambers in 2024
Leader of the Seanad
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 December 2022
Taoiseach
Deputy
Preceded byRegina Doherty
Deputy leader of the Seanad
In office
29 June 2020 – 17 December 2022
TaoiseachMicheál Martin
LeaderRegina Doherty
Preceded byCatherine Noone
Succeeded byRegina Doherty
Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 June 2020
Leader
  • Micheál Martin
Preceded byCatherine Ardagh
Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 June 2020
ConstituencyCultural and Educational Panel
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2016 – February 2020
ConstituencyMayo
Personal details
Born (1986-08-24) 24 August 1986 (age 38)
Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
SpouseJarlath Munnelly
Children1
EducationSt Joseph's Secondary School
Alma mater
Websitelisachambers.ie
Military service
AllegianceIreland
Branch/service Army Reserve
Years of service2003–2016
Rank Second lieutenant
Unit Cavalry Corps
Awards Service Medal
Centenary Medal

Lisa Chambers (born 24 August 1986) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and barrister who has served as a senator in Seanad Éireann since 2020 and as leader of the Seanad since December 2022. She previously served on Mayo County Council from 2014 to 2016 and as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency from 2016 to 2020. She contested the 2024 European Parliament election as one of three Fianna Fáil candidates in the Midlands–North-West constituency, but did not win a seat.

Early life and military service

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Chambers is from Ballyheane, County Mayo, around 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Castlebar.[1][2] The eldest of five children, she has three sisters and a brother.[3] After attending St Joseph's Secondary School, Castlebar,[2] she earned a degree in Commerce and Law from NUI Galway, a Masters in Commercial Law from University College Dublin, and a bar qualification from the King's Inns.[4][5] She has practiced as a barrister, having set up her own legal practice in Castlebar.[6]

Chambers was a member of the Reserve Defence Forces for 13 years, having first joined as a teenager. She was commissioned as an officer in the Army Reserve in November 2012, serving as a second lieutenant with the 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron (Curragh Camp). Shortly afterwards, she transferred to the D Company (Castlebar), 6th Infantry Battalion. She resigned her commission when elected to the Dáil.[7][8][6]

She is unrelated to fellow Fianna Fáil politicians Frank Chambers and Jack Chambers.[9][10]

Political career

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2011 general election

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Chambers ran at the 2011 general election for the Mayo constituency, but was eliminated on the fifth count.[11] At the time, she was the youngest Fianna Fáil candidate in the country, at age 24.[12] She was described as being part of Micheál Martin's effort to recruit young, progressive politicians and change the elderly, male-dominated image of Fianna Fáil.[6]

Councillor (2014–2016)

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Chambers won election to Mayo County Council at the 2014 local elections, recording the second-highest number of votes in the country.[12] She was credited with spearheading the revival of Fianna Fáil in the Castlebar area after the 2012 Mahon Tribunal report had discredited former minister Pádraig Flynn.[6]

TD (2016–2020)

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At the 2016 general election, Chambers was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency. On the tenth count, she won the fourth seat in the constituency, after Fine Gael's Enda Kenny and Michael Ring and Fianna Fáil's Dara Calleary.[13][14] Appointed spokesperson on Defence in the Fianna Fáil Front Bench on 18 May 2016, she succeeded Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who had been elected Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd Dáil.[15] She was later given the Brexit portfolio in a reshuffle.

She failed to win re-election to the Dáil at the 2020 general election, losing a battle for the fourth seat in her constituency to Fine Gael's Alan Dillon.[16][11] Speaking on Sean O'Rourke's Two Tribes podcast, she attributed the outcome to her support for repealing the Eighth Amendment "in what is predominantly a conservative constituency, particularly among Fianna Fail voters".[17] Elsewhere, she stated that some voters had expressed reservations about electing a TD who would be taking maternity leave, as she had been pregnant during the campaign.[18] However, the Business Post newspaper also attributed the loss of Chambers's seat to controversies around voting irregularities and expense claims.[19]

Senator (2020–present)

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At the 2020 Seanad election, Chambers was elected as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel.[20] She is Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on European and Foreign Affairs in the Seanad.[21] She also chairs the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.[22]

European Parliament election campaign (2024)

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In July 2023, Chambers announced her intent to run for the 2024 European Parliament election in the Midlands–North-West constituency.[23] However, at a Fianna Fáil selection convention on 5 February 2024—a three-way contest among Chambers, Laois–Offaly TD Barry Cowen, and senator Niall Blaney from Donegal—she was eliminated on the first count. Cowen won the nomination, narrowly defeating Blaney on the second count.[24] Chambers's team alleged that Cowen's and Blaney’s teams had asked party members not to vote for her, reassuring them that the party would put her on the ticket regardless. Cowen disputed this allegation, claiming that he had simply asked members to choose the best candidate.[19]

On 29 February 2024, Fianna Fáil added both Chambers and Blaney to its Midlands–North-West ticket.[25] Running three candidates in the constituency was described as a "surprise move", given that Fianna Fáil had not had an MEP there since Pat "the Cope" Gallagher lost his seat at the 2014 European Parliament election. Some party members expressed concern that the strategy would split the Fianna Fáil vote.[26] The Journal claimed that the party had always anticipated running Chambers and Cowen but had added Blaney after his strong performance at the selection convention.[26] However, the Business Post called Chambers a "dimming star" within Fianna Fáil, following the loss of her Dáil seat and her poor showing at the selection convention. It quoted a senior Fianna Fáil TD who said the party had added Chambers to the ticket only after Fine Gael incumbent MEP Maria Walsh had called its other candidates "male, pale and stale".[19]

During the campaign, Cowen referred to himself as Fianna Fáil's "lead candidate" in Midlands–North-West. Chambers called this claim "unfounded, dismissive and arrogant", saying: "We have three candidates running in this constituency and no one candidate is being prioritised in any way by the party."[27] She received 44,069 (6.5%) first-preference votes and was eliminated on the 19th count, following the elimination of Blaney. Cowen was the only Fianna Fáil candidate to win a seat in the constituency.[28]

Senator Chambers was one of three senators that sponsored the Hate Crime Bill 2020.[29] Later with Jim O'Callaghan and Senator Eugene Murphy she set out concerns about the bill specifically that as a result of "foolish comments" young men could be stigmatised for life.[30]

Controversies

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Chambers was criticised for claiming, during a 29 November 2018 Dáil debate on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018, that "Abortion regret is made up and it does not exist".[31] Several days later, she apologised for any hurt she had caused, stating that her comments had been taken out of context.[32]

In October 2019, Chambers became embroiled in controversy over voting irregularities. Shown to have voted on behalf of both party colleague Dara Calleary and herself on a forestry motion amendment, Chambers claimed she had pressed Calleary's voting button by accident.[33] The Oireachtas Committee on Members' Interests later determined that Chambers had "acted in good faith" and had voted "inadvertently".[34] In December, the Sunday Independent highlighted Oireachtas video recordings from 17January 2019 that appeared to show Chambers sitting in Timmy Dooley's seat for fifty minutes while seven votes were recorded; although not visible in the footage, votes were also recorded from her own seat.[34][35]

Chambers has also faced allegations of expenses fraud. She was among a number of TDs discovered to be claiming a €25 daily allowance for mobile phone roaming charges while travelling in the EU, two years after roaming charges had been abolished. She was found to have claimed a total of €525.[36] In February 2020, she was found to be driving from her home to the Oireachtas along a route that was 35 kilometres (22 mi) longer than the shortest possible journey, placing her in "band 9" of the travel allowance table and increasing her annual travel allowance by €1,350. Chambers defended her preferred route as faster, since it avoided a number of small towns.[37] Several months later, she was found to have received expenses of €6,626 for April and May 2020, even though the Seanad was closed at that time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[38]

In 2020, the Irish Independent reported that Chambers had hired two of her sisters as secretarial assistants. She was among three senators reported to have hired family members for taxpayer-funded jobs, a practice described as controversial although not specifically proscribed.[39]

Chambers faced criticism following the March 2024 referendums on Family and Care when she admitted to having voted No in both referendums, despite having been photographed and filmed canvassing for Yes votes.[40][41] Then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar rebuked Chambers, stating that "If I ask people to vote yes, then I vote yes. If I ask people to vote no, I vote no."[42]

Personal life

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In April 2023, Chambers married her long-term partner, Fine Gael politician Jarlath Munnelly, a Mayo county councillor who is also a teacher and youth services coordinator.[43][44] The couple have one child, who was born in April 2020.[39] After giving birth during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chambers criticised as "barbaric" the restrictions in maternity hospitals that had prevented women from having their partners present during labour and childbirth.[45][46]

Stalking incident

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In May 2024, while Chambers was visiting a relative's home in a rural area near Castlebar, a man in his early 20s was discovered hiding in the bushes outside with his belt removed and several buttons on his trousers undone. Reported to be a member of a rival party, the man had previously engaged Chambers in conversation after she gave a political speech in another county. Gardaí arrested the man on suspicion of stalking and called the incident "sinister and disturbing". Chambers had previously received a handwritten rape threat at her constituency office but the two incidents were not believed to be connected.[47][48] In a social media post, the National Women's Council of Ireland stated: "The targeting of female politicians is unacceptable. This cannot be tolerated, for either the sake of the women targeted or for the power of democracy. We send support and solidarity to Lisa Chambers.”[49]

References

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  1. ^ "Chambers' new role a key part of Fianna Fáil renewal in Castlebar — Martin". Mayo Advertiser. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Flynn, Anna Marie; McNulty, Anton (8 February 2011). "Chambers 'proud and honoured' to join FF ticket". Mayo News. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ Chambers, Lisa. I ran in my first election in 2011, and it's been an incredible journey since: Lisa Chambers (Video). Retrieved 28 May 2024 – via Facebook.
  4. ^ "About". Lisa Chambers. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. ^ Flynn, Anne Marie; McNulty, Anton (8 February 2011). "Chambers 'proud and honoured' to join FF ticket". The Mayo News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d "Profile: Lisa Chambers TD". Eolas Magazine. 19 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  7. ^ McQuinn, Cormac (10 March 2016). "Meet your 52 new TDs: lawyers, teachers, a techno DJ". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  8. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (16 March 2016). "The Fianna Fáil surge: How this new TD upset the odds in Enda's backyard". The Journal. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Lisa i have not quit fianna fil [sic]". The Connaught Telegraph. 25 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2016. This is a different lady and is not a relation of mine. ... She is the daughter of former Fianna Fáil Senator Frank Chambers
  10. ^ Dillon, Fiona (March 2016). "'I will get my hair cut when I get a chance' – Fianna Fail TD Jack Chambers on social media abuse". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016. One of the other new Fianna Fail TDs to be elected under the age of 30 is Lisa Chambers (29) from Castlebar, but they are not directly related, even though they would both have some family roots in the town of Newport.
  11. ^ a b "Lisa Chambers". Elections Ireland. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  12. ^ a b Murtagh, Peter (28 February 2016). "Profile: Lisa Chambers (FF)". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  13. ^ MacGuill, Dan (4 March 2016). "Fianna Fáil are back, and they're no longer 'male, stale and outside the Pale'". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Election 2016: Chambers". RTÉ. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  15. ^ "New Mayo TD Lisa is in FF's shadow cabinet". The Connaught Telegraph. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  16. ^ Quann, Jack (10 February 2020). "Lisa Chambers loses Fianna Fáil seat in Mayo to former footballer". Newstalk. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Two Tribes podcast extended interview with Lisa Chambers". RTE Podcasts. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  18. ^ O'Halloran, Marie (16 February 2020). "Life as a female TD: 'If I had a euro for every time I've been called the C word'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Thomas, Conal (10 February 2024). "A dimming star? Lisa Chambers' election setback raises questions over senator's appeal". Business Post. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Seanad general election 2020". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Lisa Chambers". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  22. ^ Houses of the Oireachtas (8 July 2021). "Seanad Brexit Committee launches its 'Interim Report on the Impacts of Brexit' – 8 Jul 2021, 11.14 – Houses of the Oireachtas". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Lisa Chambers considers run for European Parliament, with one caveat". Connaught Telegraph. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Barry Cowen narrowly selected as Fianna Fáil European election candidate in keenly contested convention". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  25. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (29 February 2024). "Fianna Fáil to run two senators with Barry Cowen in shock Euro elections move". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  26. ^ a b Finn, Christina (1 March 2024). "'No point whinging': Cowen 'accepts' surprise decision to add two candidates to his election ticket". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  27. ^ Gataveckaite, Gabija (19 May 2024). "Fianna Fáil in-fighting continues as Lisa Chambers criticises 'dismissive and arrogant' Barry Cowen comments". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  28. ^ "European election results: All Irish MEPs elected as final four seats decided in Midlands-North-West". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020 Explanatory Memorandum" (PDF).
  30. ^ "Young who make 'foolish' remarks risk being stigmatised for life under proposed hate crime laws – Fianna Fáil report". Irish Independent. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed)". Oireachtas. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  32. ^ McQuinn, Cormac (2 December 2018). "Chambers apologises for 'hurt' over remark on abortion regret". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  33. ^ Kelly, Fiach (20 October 2019). "Fianna Fáil's Lisa Chambers voted for Dara Calleary after sitting 'in wrong seat'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  34. ^ a b Ryan, Philip; Sheahan, Fionnan (15 December 2019). "New footage shows Lisa Chambers in Timmy Dooley's Dail seat during seven votes". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  35. ^ O'Connell, Hugh; McQuinn, Cormac (24 October 2019). "Lisa Chambers tells 'votegate' inquiry she didn't think double-vote was a massive issue". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  36. ^ Foxe, Ken (12 January 2020). "Politicians still claiming €25-a-day allowance for scrapped phone fees". Extra.ie. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  37. ^ McDonagh, Darragh (8 February 2020). "'This is the quickest route' — FF's Lisa Chambers defends travel expenses claim". Extra.ie. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  38. ^ "Two Mayo Senators receive over €6,000 expenses for April & May - even though Seanad was closed". MidWest Radio. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  39. ^ a b McQuinn, Cormac (24 June 2020). "High-profile ex-TD Lisa Chambers among senators who hired family members for taxpayer-funded jobs". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  40. ^ Lehane, Mícheál (11 March 2024). "Chambers confirms she canvassed for Yes once but voted No". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  41. ^ McGovern, Oisin (12 March 2024). "Mayo Senator canvassed for 'Yes' vote despite voting 'No' in referendums". Mayo News. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  42. ^ Hosford, Paul; Loughlin, Elaine (12 March 2024). "Coalition partners angered by Fianna Fáil distancing from referendum defeats". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Mayo senator shares photographs of her wedding day". Connaught Telegraph. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  44. ^ Lord, Miriam (28 January 2023). "Miriam Lord's Week: Love is in the air in Seanad as politicians tie themselves in knots". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  45. ^ "Maternity hospital restrictions 'barbaric' and traumatic for couples, Fianna Fáil's Lisa Chambers tells Seanad". Irish Independent. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  46. ^ Phelan, Ciara (20 December 2021). "Lisa Chambers opens up on mental health impact of maternity Covid restrictions". Irish Mirror. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  47. ^ Murray, Eavan (10 May 2024). "Man arrested over 'sinister' stalking of Fianna Fáil senator and Euro candidate Lisa Chambers". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Man arrested over alleged stalking of Mayo politician". Connaught Telegraph. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  49. ^ Finn, Christina (10 May 2024). "Man arrested on suspicion of stalking Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
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