Joseph Brennan (Irish politician)

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Joseph Brennan (14 February 1912 – 13 July 1980), was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician. 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 TD for the Donegal West constituency at the 1951 general election and was re-elected at each election until his death. As constituency boundaries were changed, he represented Donegal South West from 1961–1969, Donegal-Leitrim from 1969–1977, and Donegal from 1977–1981.

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 & 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, but Fianna Fáil was 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.

[edit] Political career

Political offices
Preceded by Gerald Bartley	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance 1959–1961	Succeeded by Donagh O'Malley
Preceded by Donnchadh Ó Briain	Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach (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 & 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

Speakers of Dáil Éireann Cinn Comhairlí Dáil Éireann
Cathal Brugha • Count Plunkett • Seán T. O'Kelly • Eoin MacNeill • Michael Hayes • Frank Fahy • Patrick Hogan • Cormac Breslin • Seán Treacy • Joseph Brennan • Pádraig Faulkner • John O'Connell • Thomas Fitzpatrick • Séamus Pattison • Rory O'Hanlon

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database