A former national school teacher, he was a member of Clare County Council from 1985 to 1997, during which time he served both as Vice-Chair and Chair, before being first elected to Dáil Eireann in 1992.

Prior to his appointment as Minister of Defence on 23^rd March 2010, Minister Killeen was Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry) since May 2008.

His political career since 2004 has also included Junior Ministerial portfolios at the Department of Communications, Energy, & Natural Resources, the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Labour Affairs).

Between 2002 and 2004, Minister Killeen was also Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science. A former Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Members' Interests in Dáil Éireann, he was also a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body.

A founder member and Chair of The Shannon Status Committee for a number of years, he served as Chair of Co.Clare VEC from 1991 to 1994 and was also a former National Chairman of the Fianna Fail Councillors’ Association.

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