Political Career
Cullen was one of 14 Progressive Democrat TDs elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, the first election after the party was founded. During his first period as a TD he served as his party's spokesperson on Tourism, Transport and Communications (1987–1988) and Industry and Commerce (1988–1989). Cullen lost his seat at the 1989 general election but was subsequently nominated by the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann. During the intervening period he was elected to Waterford City Council, before returning to the Dáil at the 1992 general election.
The following year he was appointed party spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment. In 1994 Cullen became disillusioned with the new party leader, Mary Harney, when he was not allowed to stand as a candidate in the European elections. He subsequently resigned from the party, eventually joining Fianna Fáil.
Read more about this topic: Martin Cullen
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“No wonder that, when a political career is so precarious, men of worth and capacity hesitate to embrace it. They cannot afford to be thrown out of their life’s course by a mere accident.”
—James Bryce (1838–1922)