David Byrne (barrister)

David Byrne SC (born 6 April 1947) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and barrister who served as Chancellor of Dublin City University from 2006 to 2011, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection from 1999 to 2004 and the Attorney General of Ireland from 1997 to 1999.[1]

David Byrne SC
Chancellor of Dublin City University
In office 4 June 2006 – 21 August 2011
President	Brian MacCraith
Preceded by	Brian Hillery
Succeeded by	Martin McAleese
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
In office 16 September 1999 – 30 October 2004
President	Romano Prodi
Preceded by	Emma Bonino
Succeeded by	Pavel Telička
26th Attorney General of Ireland
In office 26 June 1997 – 17 July 1999
Taoiseach	Bertie Ahern
Preceded by	Dermot Gleeson
Succeeded by	Michael McDowell
Personal details
Born	David Byrne (1947-04-06) 6 April 1947 Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Residence	The Hague, Netherlands
Education	Newbridge College
Alma mater	University College Dublin King's Inns

Early life and career

Byrne was born in Monasterevin, County Kildare, in 1947. He was educated at Newbridge College, County Kildare, University College Dublin, and King's Inns, Dublin. He was called to the Bar in 1970, and practiced law in the Irish and European Courts. During his student days in Dublin, he founded the Free Legal Advice Centre, a student-run organisation providing legal aid to citizens in association with the legal profession. He campaigned in favour of Irish entry into the European Community in the 1970s, and has been a keen supporter of European integration ever since.[2]

Byrne became a Senior Counsel in 1985. He practised in both the Irish courts and the European Court of Justice, and also served as a member of the International Court of Commercial Arbitration from 1990–1997.

In 1997, Byrne became Attorney General of Ireland in the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition government. As one of the negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998, he drafted and oversaw the major constitutional amendments required by that agreement, which were approved by Referendum in May 1998. Byrne also advised on the constitutional amendments necessary for Ireland's ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty. During his tenure, he established the first independent Food Safety Agency in Europe responsible to the Minister of Health.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection

Byrne was nominated to the European Commission by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in September 1999, serving as Ireland's EU Commissioner, and had responsibility for Health and Consumer Protection in the Prodi Commission. He continued in that role until replaced as Ireland's Commissioner by Charlie McCreevy in 2004.

During his time in office, Byrne was a major driving force behind European tobacco control legislation, such as directives banning tobacco advertising and regulating tobacco products, in keeping with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.[3] Under his leadership, the European Union also created the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in 2004.[4]

World Health Organization

When he concluded his Brussels assignment,[5] Byrne acted as WHO Special Envoy on the revision of the International Health Regulations for a six-month period[6] following a series of outbreaks of SARS and avian influenza.[7]

Byrne was mooted as a potential candidate for the position of Director General of the World Health Organization following the death of the incumbent, Dr Lee Jong-wook in 2006. However, he was eventually not included in the list of 13 candidates to head the agency.[8]

Life after politics

After leaving the European Commission, Byrne has held a variety of paid and unpaid positions, including the following:

• European Alliance for Personalised Medicine, Co-Chair[9]
• FleishmanHillard, Member of the International Advisory Board[10]
• Health First Europe (HFE), Patron
• International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI), Chairman of the Ethics Committee
• National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), Chairman of the Advisory Committee
• Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, Of counsel
• World Justice Project, Honorary Co-Chair[11]
• World Prevention Alliance, Member

References

1. Dublin City University, 4 December 2006, EU Commissioner David Byrne appointed Chancellor of DCU
2. Voice of calm European Voice, 3 November 1999.
3. European Health Commissioner Byrne honoured for outstanding tobacco control work World Health Organization, press release of 16 June 2003.
4. Martin Banks (11 February 2004), Byrne denies slow reaction to avian flu European Voice.
5. The Irish Times, 11 August 2006, AG Byrne linked to world health job.
6. Byrne not on list of candidates for WHO job Irish Times, 6 September 2006.
7. Commissioner David Byrne to be special envoy for World Health Organization World Health Organization, press release of 22 October 2004.
8. Byrne not on list of candidates for WHO job Irish Times, 6 September 2006.
9. Board and staff European Alliance for Personalised Medicine.
10. EU Policymaker Guenter Verheugen Joins Fleishman-Hillard’s International Advisory Board FleishmanHillard, press release of 12 July 2010.
11. Honorary Chairs World Justice Project.

Political offices
Preceded by Pádraig Flynn	Irish European Commissioner 1999–2004	Succeeded by Charlie McCreevy
Legal offices
Preceded by Dermot Gleeson	Attorney General of Ireland 1997–1999	Succeeded by Michael McDowell