Joe O'Brien (politician)

Joe O'Brien is an Irish Green Party politician who has served as Minister of State for Community Development and Charities since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Fingal constituency since the 2019 Dublin Fingal by-election.[2][3]

Joe O'Brien

TD
O'Brien in 2020
Minister of State for Community Development and Charities
Assumed office
1 July 2020
TaoiseachMicheál Martin
Preceded byNew office
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
November 2019
ConstituencyDublin Fingal
Personal details
BornGrenagh, County Cork, Ireland[1]
NationalityIrish
Political partyGreen Party
Websitejoefingalgreen.com

Background

O'Brien was born in Grenagh, County Cork. Previous to being elected as a TD, O'Brien graduated from University College Cork with a degree in French and Economics. After his studies, he moved to Dublin, where he became an advocate for inclusion and migrant rights. He has worked for the Immigrant Council of Ireland as well as Crosscare, a social care agency created by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, which is one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in Dublin city.[1]

Politics

O'Brien was a member of Fingal County Council from May 2014 to November 2019, representing the Balbriggan local electoral area.

He was elected to the Dáil in a by-election in November 2019,[3] and retained his seat in the 2020 Irish general election.[4] Karen Power was co-opted to O'Brien's seat on Fingal County Council following his election to the Dáil. Following the formation of a coalition government in late June 2020, O'Brien was appointed as Minister of State for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Social Protection.[4][5]

In July 2020, O'Brien abstained from voting for the Government's Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill, and was sanctioned by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan by having his speaking rights withdrawn for two months.[6][7]

References
  1. "Who is new Green Party TD Joe O'Brien". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. "Joe O'Brien". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. "SF, FF and Greens clinch Dáil seats with count complete". RTÉ News. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. "Explainer: Who are the new junior ministers and what jobs did they get?". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. "These are the 17 new junior ministers completing the government". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  6. Bray, Jennifer; McGee, Harry (30 July 2020). "Greens shaken as Joe O'Brien abstains and Hourigan votes against Government". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. "Green Party sanctions O'Brien, Hourigan over Dáil vote". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
Political offices
New office Minister of State for Community Development and Charities
2020–present		 Incumbent
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