Former FF minister Pat Carey joins PR firm

Former Fianna Fáil minister Pat Carey has joined public relations firm DHR Communications on a consultancy basis and will work in consultation management, strategy and public affairs.

Mr Carey was minister for community, equality and Gaeltacht affairs for the last year of the Fianna Fáil/Green coalition.

A former primary school teacher and TD for Dublin North West for almost 14 years, he served as government chief whip from 2008 to 2010 and minister of state for drugs strategy and community affairs from 2007 to 2008.

He joins a growing number of members of the last government back at work in a range of areas.

Former minister for justice, equality and law reform Dermot Ahern is involved in mediation, working with CEDR Ireland, a professional services agency for business problem solving and conflict resolution.

Noel Dempsey, minister for transport in the last government, has set up his own agency, Noel Dempsey Consulting, as a public affairs adviser.

Former ceann comhairle John O’Donoghue has been studying for the bar and is seeking a nomination to run again for Fianna Fáil in Kerry South.

Former Green Party minister for communications, energy and natural resources Eamon Ryan is attempting to rebuild the party and will contest the European parliament elections next year. Former Green Party leader and minister for the environment John Gormley is a contributing editor to Village magazine.

Áine Brady is chief executive of Third Age, a voluntary organisation promoting the contribution of older people in local communities. Peter Power is executive director at Unicef Ireland while Dick Roche is a public policy consultant with the Skill Set, a Dublin consulting collective.