James Reilly

James Reilly is an Irish former Fine Gael politician, businessman and medical doctor. Between the February 2016 general election and the 6 May 2016 formation of a new government, he was the Acting Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, having held that ministry since July 2014 in the previous government, and was also deputy leader of Fine Gael from 2010 to 2017. He was the Minister for Health from March 2011 to July 2014. Reilly was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North constituency since the 2007 general election until he lost his seat in the 2016 general election. Reilly was a member of Seanad Éireann from May 2016 to March 2020, after being nominated by then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. Reilly subsequently announced his retirement from politics after he lost his bid for election for his old seat at the 2020 general election.