Séamus Brennan
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| Séamus Brennan TD |
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| In office 14 June 2007 – 6 May 2008 |
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| Preceded by | John O'Donoghue |
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| Succeeded by | Martin Cullen |
| Constituency | Dublin South |
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| Born | 16 February 1948 Galway |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
Séamus Brennan (Irish: Séamus Ó Braonáin; born 16 February 1948) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South. He has previously served as a Minister of State, Minister for Tourism & Transport (1989–91), Minister for Tourism, Transport & Communications (1991–92), Minister for Education (1992–93), Minister for Transport (2002–04), Minister for Social & Family Affairs (2004–07) and Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism (2007–08). He tendered his resignation from the cabinet on 6 May 2008, for medical reasons.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Séamus Brennan was born in Galway. He was educated at St. Joseph's Secondary School, Galway, University College Galway and University College Dublin where he studied Economics and Commerce and qualified as an accountant. Brennan found an interest in politics during his teens when he canvassed for Fianna Fáil during elections. In the early 1970s he succeeded Tommy Mullins as Secretary General of Fianna Fáil. He began to revamp the party structure with the setting up of a national executive. Brennan studied and was impressed by the Presidential Election in the United States in 1976. He applied new techniques such as marketing strategies and opinion polls to the 1977 general election. This resulted in the biggest ever parliamentary majority for any party. Fianna Fáil and Jack Lynch were back in power with a 20-seat majority. Brennan was rewarded by being appointed to Seanad Éireann.
[edit] Entry into politics
In 1979 Brennan supported George Colley in the Fianna Fáil leadership contest, caused by the retirement of Jack Lynch. However, Charles Haughey was narrowly successful and a new Secretary General of the party was appointed. In 1981 Brennan was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Dublin South constituency and has been returned at every election since. In the early 1980s he was a prominent member of the Gang of 22 who tried unsuccessfully to wrestle control of the Fianna Fáil party from Haughey. He supported Colley, and later Desmond O'Malley, in various leadership heaves throughout the whole era. It was widely expected that Brennan would join the Progressive Democrats when they were founded by O'Malley in 1985 but instead he remained within Fianna Fáil.
In 1987 Haughey's Fianna Fáil were back in power and Brennan was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Marketing. In 1989 he became a full Cabinet Minister when he was appointed Minister for Tourism & Transport. In 1991 his brief was widened when the Communications portfolio came under his control. In 1992 Albert Reynolds succeeded Haughey as Taoiseach. Brennan was one of the few ministers in Haughey's Cabinet who remained in Reynolds' new government. He was appointed Minister for Education. In 1993 a Fianna Fáil–Labour Party coalition came to power and Brennan was demoted to Minister of State for Commerce & Technology. He remained in this position until 1994.
[edit] Recent life
In 1995 Fianna Fáil were in opposition and the new party leader, Bertie Ahern designated Brennan as Opposition spokesperson for Transport, Energy & Communications. In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Brennan became Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Defence. He became the Minister for Transport in 2002.
In the cabinet reshuffle of September 2004, Brennan was moved to the post of Minister for Social & Family Affairs. It is an open secret that this move was contrary[citation needed] to Brennan's wishes. It has also been stated that Brennan was originally going to be sacked[citation needed] from the government and would have been if it was not for the intervention[citation needed] of the Tánaiste, Mary Harney. He did not seek ministerial office in Brian Cowen's cabinet due to medical reasons.[1]
[edit] References
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database
| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Newly created constituency |
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Dublin South 1981 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Newly created office |
Minister of State (with special responsibility for Trade and Marketing) 1987–1989 |
Succeeded by Terry Leyden |
| Preceded by John Wilson |
Minister for Tourism & Transport 1989–1991 |
Succeeded by Minister for Tourism, Transport & Communications |
| Preceded by Minister for Tourism & Transport |
Minister for Tourism, Transport & Communications 1991–1992 |
Succeeded by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn |
| Preceded by Noel Davern |
Minister for Education 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Niamh Bhreathnach |
| Preceded by Michael Ahern |
Minister of State (with special responsibilty for Commerce and Technology) 1993–1994 |
Succeeded by Pat Rabbitte |
| Preceded by Jim Higgins |
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Government Chief Whip) 1997–2002 |
Succeeded by Mary Hanafin |
| Minister of State at the Department of Defence 1997–2002 |
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| Preceded by Minister for Public Enterprise Mary O'Rourke |
Minister for Transport 2002–2004 |
Succeeded by Martin Cullen |
| Preceded by Mary Coughlan |
Minister for Social & Family Affairs 2004–2007 |
Succeeded by Martin Cullen |
| Preceded by John O'Donoghue |
Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Martin Cullen |
