Séamus Brennan

Séamus Brennan

Brennan in 2008
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
In office
14 June 2007  6 May 2008
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by John O'Donoghue
Succeeded by Martin Cullen
Minister for Social and Family Affairs
In office
29 September 2004  14 June 2007
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Mary Coughlan
Succeeded by Martin Cullen
Minister for Transport
In office
6 June 2002  29 September 2004
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Mary O'Rourke
Succeeded by Martin Cullen
In office
12 July 19891989  11 February 1992
Taoiseach Charles Haughey
Albert Reynolds
Preceded by John Wilson
Minister for Tourism and Transport
Succeeded by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications
Government Chief Whip
In office
26 June 1997  6 June 2002
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Jim Higgins
Succeeded by Mary Hanafin
Minister of State for Commerce and Technology
In office
14 January 1993  15 December 1994
Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Preceded by Michael Ahern
Succeeded by Pat Rabbitte
Minister for Education
In office
11 February 1992  12 January 1993
Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Preceded by Noel Davern
Succeeded by Niamh Bhreathnach
Minister of State for Trade and Marketing
In office
12 March 1987  12 July 1989
Taoiseach Charles Haughey
Preceded by New Office
Succeeded by Terry Leyden
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1981  July 2008
Constituency Dublin South
Personal details
Born (1948-02-16)16 February 1948
Galway, Ireland
Died 9 July 2008(2008-07-09) (aged 60)
Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s) Ann Brennan
Children 6
Alma mater University College Galway,
University College Dublin

Séamus Brennan (16 February 1948 – 9 July 2008) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South. He served as a Minister of State, Minister for Tourism and Transport (1989–91), Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (1991–92), Minister for Education (1992–93), Minister for Transport (2002–04), Minister for Social and Family Affairs (2004–07) and Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (2007–08).

Early life

Séamus Brennan was born in Galway. He was educated at St. Joseph's Patrician College in Galway, University College Galway and University College Dublin where he studied Economics and Commerce and qualified as an accountant. Brennan found an interest in politics during his teens when he canvassed for Fianna Fáil during elections. In 1973 he succeeded Tommy Mullins as General Secretary of Fianna Fáil.[1] He began to revamp the party structure; this included setting up a youth section and a national executive. He studied and was impressed by the Presidential Election in the United States in 1976. He applied new techniques such as marketing strategies and opinion polls to the 1977 general election. This resulted in the biggest-ever parliamentary majority for any party; Fianna Fáil and Jack Lynch were back in power with a 20-seat majority. Brennan was appointed to Seanad Éireann.[2]

Political career

In 1979 Brennan supported George Colley in the Fianna Fáil leadership contest caused by the retirement of Jack Lynch. However Charles Haughey was narrowly successful and a new Secretary General of the party was appointed. At the 1981 general election Brennan was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Dublin South constituency and was returned at every subsequent election until his death in 2008.[3] In the early 1980s he was a prominent member of the Gang of 22 who tried unsuccessfully to wrest control of the Fianna Fáil party from Haughey. He supported Colley and later Desmond O'Malley in various leadership heaves during those years. It was widely expected that Brennan would join the Progressive Democrats when they were founded by O'Malley in 1985, but instead he remained within Fianna Fáil.

In 1987 Haughey's Fianna Fáil party were returned to office and Brennan was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Marketing. In 1989 he became a full Cabinet Minister when he was appointed Minister for Tourism and Transport. In 1991 his brief was widened when the Communications portfolio came under his control. In 1992 Albert Reynolds succeeded Haughey as Taoiseach. Brennan was one of the few ministers in Haughey's Cabinet who remained in Reynolds' new government. He was appointed Minister for Education. In 1993 a Fianna FáilLabour Party coalition came to power and Brennan was demoted to Minister of State for Commerce and Technology. He remained in this position until 1994.

In 1995 Fianna Fáil were again in opposition, and the new party leader Bertie Ahern designated Brennan as Opposition spokesperson for Transport, Energy and Communications. In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Brennan became Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Defence. He became the Minister for Transport in 2002.

In the cabinet reshuffle of September 2004, Brennan was moved to the post of Minister for Social and Family Affairs. He was bitterly disappointed but he refused to describe it as a demotion.[1] After the 2007 general election, he played a key role in the negotiations with the Green Party which led to the formation of the new Government.[1] He did not seek ministerial office in Brian Cowen's cabinet and tendered his resignation on 6 May 2008, for medical reasons.[4]

Death

Séamus Brennan died in the early hours of 9 July 2008 at his home in Churchtown in Dublin. He had been unwell for some time.[5] He is survived by his wife Ann, their two sons and four daughters. Brian Cowen said Brennan would be remembered as "a brilliant political strategist, a dedicated constituency TD, a reforming minister and a very popular colleague".[6]

By-election

His death brought about a by-election at which his son Shay Brennan was the unsuccessful Fianna Fáil candidate.[7] It was won by George Lee of Fine Gael.

References

Oireachtas
New constituency Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Dublin South
1981–2008
Succeeded by
George Lee
(Fine Gael)
Political offices
New office Minister of State for Trade and Marketing
1987–1989
Succeeded by
Terry Leyden
Preceded by
John Wilson
Minister for Tourism and Transport
1989–1991
Succeeded by
Himself
as Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications
Preceded by
Himself
as Minister for Tourism and Transport
Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications
1991–1992
Succeeded by
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Preceded by
Noel Davern
Minister for Education
1992–1993
Succeeded by
Niamh Bhreathnach
Preceded by
Michael Ahern
Minister of State for Commerce and Technology
1993–1994
Succeeded by
Pat Rabbitte
Preceded by
Jim Higgins
Government Chief Whip
1997–2002
Succeeded by
Mary Hanafin
Preceded by
Mary O'Rourke
as Minister for Public Enterprise
Minister for Transport
2002–2004
Succeeded by
Martin Cullen
Preceded by
Mary Coughlan
Minister for Social and Family Affairs
2004–2007
Preceded by
John O'Donoghue
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
2007–2008
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