paul mcgrath born 1 february 1948 is a former irish fine gael politician he was a teachta dla td for longfordwestmeath and westmeath constituencies from 1989 to 2007mcgrath a native of ballymore county westmeath was educated at st finians college mullingar and at leeds trinity and all saints college prior to entering national politics he worked as a primary schoolteacher in county westmeathpaul mcgrath was first elected to dil ireann at the 1989 general election as a fine gael candidate in the longfordwestmeath constituency replacing the retiring fine gael td patrick cooney he retained his seat in all subsequent elections which since the 1992 general election has been part of the westmeath constituency in 1991 he was elected as a member of westmeath county council and mullingar town council and was a member of both bodies until his retirement from local politics in 2002in dil ireann he served as fine gael spokesperson on public works from 1993 to 1994 and as front bench spokesperson on education in 1994 while fine gael were in opposition during fine gaels period in government between 1995 and 1997 he was not appointed as a senior or junior minister but was chairperson of the joint oireachtas committee on the family between 1995 and 1997in 1993 mcgrath spoke against the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the debate he remarked that if this bill is passed i am concerned about the possible effect on irish society will we now see exhibitions in public by homosexuals holding hands kissing cuddling etc is homosexual behaviour to be put on a par with heterosexual behaviourin the 29th dil elected in 2002 he was a member of the joint oireachtas committee on finance and the committee on the houses of the oireachtas as well as being fine gaels deputy spokesperson on financein 2005 his westmeath constituency was reconstituted into the new longfordwestmeath constituency in an unexpected move mcgrath retired at the 2007 general election among the reasons cited were his age his dissatisfaction with fine gaels proposed candidate selection strategy in the new constituency and that he felt it unlikely that he would be chosen as a minister if fine gael were returned to government