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 | |
| Deputy | Seán Browne |
| Preceded by | Seán Treacy |
| Succeeded by | Pádraig Faulkner |
| Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil | |
| In office 1 May 1973 – 5 July 1977 | |
| Deputy | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | George Colley |
| Minister for Social Welfare | |
| In office 6 May 1970 – 14 March 1973 | |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | Kevin Boland |
| Succeeded by | Brendan Corish |
| In office 16 November 1966 – 2 July 1969 | |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | Kevin Boland |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Boland |
| Minister for Labour | |
| In office 2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973 | |
| Taoiseach | Jack Lynch |
| Preceded by | Patrick Hillery |
| Succeeded by | Michael O'Leary |
| Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | |
| In office 21 April 1965 – 10 November 1966 | |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Michael Hilliard |
| Succeeded by | Erskine H. Childers |
| Government Chief Whip | |
| In office 11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965 | |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Donnchadh Ó Briain |
| Succeeded by | Michael Carty |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence | |
| In office 11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965 | |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Donnchadh Ó Briain |
| Succeeded by | Michael Carty |
| Minister of State at the Department of Finance | |
| In office 27 July 1959 – 15 September 1961 | |
| Taoiseach | Seán Lemass |
| Preceded by | Gerald Bartley |
| Succeeded by | Donogh O'Malley |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1977 – 13 July 1980 | |
| Constituency | Donegal |
| In office June 1969 – June 1977 | |
| Constituency | Donegal–Leitrim |
| In office October 1961 – June 1969 | |
| Constituency | Donegal South-West |
| In office May 1951 – October 1961 | |
| Constituency | Donegal West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Peter Brennan 14 February 1912 Dunkineely, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | 13 July 1980 (aged 68) Bruckless, Donegal, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon O'Cuiv (m. 1938; d. 1980) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | NUI 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 Gael–Labour 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
- "Joseph Brennan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- "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 |