Gerard was recently elected in the 27th Seanad, is an Irish independent politician who has served as a senator for the Labour Panel since April 2016. He was previously a senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel from 2014 to 2016.
Born in Galway, he emigrated to the UK at 16, where he joined the Royal Irish Rangers, a regiment of the British Army. After 5 years, he returned to Ireland, joined the Irish Defence Forces, and rose to the rank of sergeant.
He later pursued further and higher education, obtaining a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Computing at the University of Limerick.
Gerard’s political career began with his election to the Seanad in a 2014 by-election. He has been re-elected multiple times and is known for his commitment to independent politics, defence and security, local authority members, trade unions, and Seanad reform.
He is married with two children and has a background in teaching and union leadership.