Joseph Brennan (Fianna Fáil politician)

Joseph Peter Brennan (14 February 1912 – 13 July 1980) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1977 to 1980, Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1973 to 1977, Minister for Social Welfare from 1970 to 1973 and 1966 to 1969, Minister for Labour from 1969 to 1973, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from 1965 to 1966, Government Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence from 1961 to 1965 and Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 1959 to 1961. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1951 to 1980.[1]

Joseph Brennan
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office
5 July 1977  13 July 1980
DeputySeán Browne
Preceded bySeán Treacy
Succeeded byPádraig Faulkner
Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil
In office
1 May 1973  5 July 1977
DeputyJack Lynch
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byGeorge Colley
Minister for Social Welfare
In office
6 May 1970  14 March 1973
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byKevin Boland
Succeeded byBrendan Corish
In office
16 November 1966  2 July 1969
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byKevin Boland
Succeeded byKevin Boland
Minister for Labour
In office
2 July 1969  14 March 1973
TaoiseachJack Lynch
Preceded byPatrick Hillery
Succeeded byMichael O'Leary
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
In office
21 April 1965  10 November 1966
TaoiseachSeán Lemass
Preceded byMichael Hilliard
Succeeded byErskine H. Childers
Government Chief Whip
In office
11 October 1961  21 April 1965
TaoiseachSeán Lemass
Preceded byDonnchadh Ó Briain
Succeeded byMichael Carty
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence
In office
11 October 1961  21 April 1965
TaoiseachSeán Lemass
Preceded byDonnchadh Ó Briain
Succeeded byMichael Carty
Minister of State at the Department of Finance
In office
27 July 1959  15 September 1961
TaoiseachSeán Lemass
Preceded byGerald Bartley
Succeeded byDonogh O'Malley
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1977  13 July 1980
ConstituencyDonegal
In office
June 1969  June 1977
ConstituencyDonegal–Leitrim
In office
October 1961  June 1969
ConstituencyDonegal South-West
In office
May 1951  October 1961
ConstituencyDonegal West
Personal details
Born
Joseph Peter Brennan

(1912-02-14)14 February 1912
Dunkineely, County Donegal, Ireland
Died13 July 1980(1980-07-13) (aged 68)
Bruckless, Donegal, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse(s)Sharon O'Cuiv
(m. 1938; d. 1980)
Children5
Alma materNUI Galway

He was born in Dunkineely in County Donegal. He was educated locally and developed great skill at Gaelic football, playing for his county team.

Brennan was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal West constituency at the 1951 general election and was re-elected at each election until his death.[2] As constituency boundaries were changed, he represented Donegal South-West from 1961–1969, Donegal–Leitrim from 1969–1977, and Donegal from 1977–1980.

In 1959 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, becoming Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach after the 1961 general election. Brennan joined the cabinet of Seán Lemass in 1965 when he became Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

The following year he became Minister for Social Welfare. Following the 1969 general election he became Minister for Labour. In the wake of the Arms Crisis in 1970 he also took on the Social Welfare portfolio. The 1973 general election returned a Fine GaelLabour Party "National Coalition" government, Fianna Fáil were returned to power at the 1977 general election. Brennan became Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, a position he held until his death in 1980, aged 68.

The by-election for his seat in the Donegal constituency was held on 6 November 1980, and won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Clement Coughlan.

He was president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland between 1934 and 1938.

References

  1. "Joseph Brennan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  2. "Joseph Brennan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
Political offices
Preceded by
Gerald Bartley
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
1959–1961
Succeeded by
Donogh O'Malley
Preceded by
Donnchadh Ó Briain
Government Chief Whip
1957–1961
Succeeded by
Michael Carty
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
1957–1961
Succeeded by
Michael Carty
Preceded by
Michael Hilliard
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
1965–1966
Succeeded by
Erskine H. Childers
Preceded by
Kevin Boland
Minister for Social Welfare
1966–1969
Succeeded by
Kevin Boland
Preceded by
Patrick Hillery
Minister for Labour
1969–1973
Succeeded by
Michael O'Leary
Preceded by
Kevin Boland
Minister for Social Welfare
1970–1973
Succeeded by
Brendan Corish
Preceded by
Seán Treacy
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
1977–1980
Succeeded by
Pádraig Faulkner
Party political offices
Preceded by
New position
Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil
1973–1977
Succeeded by
George Colley
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.