David Stanton (politician)

David Stanton (born 15 February 1957) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency since 1997. He served as a Minister of State from 2016 to 2020.

Stanton was born in County Cork. He was educated at St. Colman's Vocational School, Midleton; Sharman Crawford Technical Institute, Cork and University College Cork where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Mathematics. Before entering politics, he was a woodwork and technical drawing teacher and a career guidance counsellor in St Colman's Community College in Midleton. Stanton served in the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) as an officer in the Army Reserve. He is married to Mary Lehane and they have four sons.

Stanton was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election and has been re-elected at every general election since. He was party Spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs, and Equality from 2004 to 2007. Prior to this he acted as deputy Spokesperson on Education and Science, and Spokesperson on Labour Affairs, Consumer Rights and Trade from 1997 to 2002. From 2007 to 2010, he was party Assistant Chief Whip (Dáil Reform) with special responsibility for Disability Issues. In July 2010, he was appointed Spokesperson on Defence.

On 19 May 2016, Stanton was appointed by the Fine Gael–Independent government on the nomination of Taoiseach Enda Kenny as Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration, and Integration. On 20 June 2017, he was appointed by the government formed by Leo Varadkar to the same position.

In this role, Stanton formally announced the State's intention, following Government approval, to establish an Irish gambling regulatory under the auspices of the Department of Justice. Speaking as then Minister of State with special responsibility for gambling regulation, Stanton said, "A modern and effectively regulated gambling environment will ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that gambling will be a safe, fair and entertaining activity for the majority of those who choose to take part in it. We must ensure that it will provide enhanced consumer protection for players while limiting to the greatest extent possible the harmful effects on young people and those who may be susceptible to addiction."

During his time in the Department of Justice, Stanton played a key role in the creation of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The Act provided many law changes including for new criminal offences in relation to coercive control and forced marriage. Former Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan thanked Stanton for his work on this matter stating, "Minister Stanton successfully brought the Bill through Committee and Report Stages in the Upper House, during which many important amendments were made."

At the general election in February 2020, Stanton was re-elected in the Cork East constituency.

On 23 May 2023, he announced that he would not be contesting the next general election.