Paul Kehoe

Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Ireland

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Paul Kehoe is a native of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. He was re-elected to Dáil Eireann in 2016 having represented the Wexford constituency since 2002. He was appointed Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility for Defence on 06 May 2016. He was previously Government Chief Whip from March 2011 to May 2016.

He was first elected to the Dáil in May 2002 and appointed Fine Gael Chief Whip in October 2004.

He was previously deputy spokesperson on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources from June 2002 to October 2004. He has also served as Fine Gael Assistant Chief Whip.

A former Youth Officer with Wexford GAA he is also a former chairman of Macra Na Feirme (holder of Macra’s National Leadership Award) and Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Inish Corthaidh.

He is a member of Wexford GAA supporter’s club and the Irish handicapped children’s pilgrimage trust.

He has been a member of Fine Gael since his youth and has held several branch officerships, including District Chairman and County Youth Officer.

Shane Stephens

Consul General of Ireland

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Consul General Stephens assumed his post in Atlanta in July 2015 as the second Irish Consul General for the US Southeastern region, responsible for Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

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Since joining Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2001, Mr. Stephens has served at Ireland’s Embassies to Tanzania, the Holy See, the European Union, Nigeria and Malaysia.  Immediately prior to his current post, while working as Assistant Chief of Protocol for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, he was responsible for arranging many of President Michael D. Higgins’ visits abroad and incoming Presidential visits to Ireland.

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Consul General Stephens received his BA in History from Trinity College Dublin, and holds an MSc in Political Economy of Transition in Europe from the London School of Economics.  He hails from Dublin and is married with four children.