Richard Bruton

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Richard Bruton (Irish: Risteárd De Briotún; born 15 March 1953) is a Fine Gael politician in Ireland, and has been a TD for Dublin North Central since 1982. He is currently the Opposition Spokesperson on Finance and Deputy-Leader of Fine Gael.

Richard Bruton was born in Dublin and was educated at Clongowes Wood College, University College Dublin and Oxford. Bruton was first elected to Seanad Éireann in 1982 as a Senator. At the 1982 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD. From 1986 to 1987 he served as Minister for State at the Department of Industry and Commerce. He was then appointed Opposition Spokesperson for Enterprise & Employment.

After the 1992 general election, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party formed a coalition government, which collapsed in 1994. Bruton then helped to negotiate the Rainbow Coalition between Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left. In that government his brother, John Bruton, became Taoiseach. Richard Bruton took the highest ranking Fine Gael ministerial position, serving as Minister for Enterprise and Employment.

Among Fine Gael's disastrous results in the 2002 general election Bruton was one of the few front bench Fine Gael TDs to retain his seat. In all, the party lost 23 of its 54 seats, and leader Michael Noonan resigned. Bruton stood as a candidate in the subsequent leadership election. He was defeated by Enda Kenny but instead was appointed deputy-leader of Fine Gael. He is currently the party spokesperson for Finance.

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by: Dr. Noel Browne (Independent)	Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Central 1982 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by: Charlie McCreevy	Minister for Enterprise & Employment 1994–1997	Succeeded by: Mary Harney
Preceded by: Jim Mitchell	Deputy-Leader of Fine Gael 2002–	Succeeded by: Current Incumbent
	Opposition Spokesperson on Finance 2002–