Barry Cowen
Barry Cowen (born 28 August 1967)[1] is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Government of Ireland from June to July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Laois–Offaly since 2020,[2][3] and previously from 2011 to 2016. He was previously a TD for Offaly from 2016 to 2020. He is the brother of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Barry Cowen | |
|---|---|
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| Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | |
| In office 27 June 2020 – 14 July 2020 | |
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Michael Creed |
| Succeeded by | Micheál Martin (acting) |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2020 | |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Laois–Offaly |
| In office February 2016 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Offaly |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 August 1967 Clara, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Cowen (m. 1995) |
| Relations |
|
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | NUI Galway |
He is married with four children and is a full-time politician.[4] His father Bernard Cowen was also a TD, Senator and Minister of State. His grandfather Christy Cowen was an Offaly County Councillor and a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive. Another relation, Ernest Cowan, was also a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive having been elected to its Committee of 15.
Before his election to Dáil Éireann, he was a member of Offaly County Council for the Tullamore local electoral area since 1991.[2]
He has served in various Fianna Fáil Front Bench roles, Spokesperson for Social Protection from 2011 to 2012, Spokesperson for Housing, Planning and Local Government from 2012 to 2018 and Spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform after March 2018.
He represented Fianna Fáil in talks on government formation in 2016.[5]
In July 2020, it emerged that Cowen had a conviction for drink driving. Cowen was fined €200 and was disqualified from driving for three months. The incident occurred in September 2016, after an All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Mayo. Cowen apologized for his "serious lapse of judgement".[6][7]
On 14 July 2020, Cowen was sacked as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine due to controversy surrounding his conviction for drink driving.[8]
See also
References
- Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 135. ISBN 9780717150595.
- "Barry Cowen". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- "Barry Cowen". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- "Barry Cowen". Fianna Fáil website. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- McGee, Harry (12 March 2016). "Fianna Fáil's negotiating team for government talks revealed". The Irish Times.
- Sheahan, Fionnán (3 July 2020). "Revealed: Cabinet minister's drink-driving ban". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Barry Cowen to give statement in the Dáil tomorrow about drink-driving ban". The Journal. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- "Barry Cowen sacked as Minister for Agriculture". RTE.ie. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
External links
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| Oireachtas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Cowen (Fianna Fáil) |
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Laois–Offaly 2011–2016 |
Succeeded by Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Offaly 2016–2020 |
Succeeded by Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Laois–Offaly 2020–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael Creed |
Minister for Agriculture and the Marine 2020 |
Succeeded by Micheál Martin (acting) |