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 Dunboyne, County Meath. He was educated at Belvedere College, Clongowes Wood College, University College Dublin and Nuffield College, Oxford. Bruton was first elected to Seanad Éireann in 1981 as a Senator. At the February 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, the Labour Party 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] References

Oireachtas
Preceded by Noel Browne (Socialist Labour Party)	Fine Gael Teachta Dála 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	Opposition Spokesperson on Finance 2002 – present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Jim Mitchell	Deputy-Leader of Fine Gael 2002 – present	Incumbent

v • d • e « 14th Seanad « Members of the 15th Seanad Éireann (1981–1982) » 16th Seanad »

Cathaoirleach Charles McDonald (FG) • Leader of the Seanad Gemma Hussey (FG)

Administrative Panel	Katharine Bulbulia (FG) • Micheál Cranitch (FF) • Tras Honan (FF) • Patrick Kennedy (FG) • Jimmy Leonard (FF) • Flor O'Mahony (Lab) • Myles Staunton (FG)

Agricultural Panel	Richard Bruton (FG) • Pierce Butler (FG) • Michael Ferris (Lab) • Tom Fitzgerald (FF) • Thomas Hussey (FF) • Rory Kiely (FF) • John Mannion, Jnr (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Liam Naughten (FG) • Martin O'Toole (FF) • William Ryan (FF)

Cultural & Educational Panel	Patsy Lawlor (FG) • Maurice Manning (FG) • Timothy McAuliffe (Lab) • Mary O'Rourke (FF) • Joe Walsh (FF)

Industrial & Commercial Panel	Deirdre Bolger (FG) • Barry Cogan (FF) • Sean Fallon (FF) • Alexis FitzGerald, Jnr (FG) • Michael Howard (FG) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Ruairi Quinn (Lab) • Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) • Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF)

Labour Panel	John Blennerhassett (FG) • Toddie Byrne (FG) • Donal Carey (FG) • Séamus Dolan (FF) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Brian Hillery (FF) • Dan Kiely (FF) • Brian Mullooly (FF) • Andy O'Brien (FG) • Maurice O'Connell (FG)

National University of Ireland	Gemma Hussey (FG) • John A. Murphy (Ind) • Brendan Ryan (Ind)

University of Dublin	Catherine McGuinness (Ind) • Mary Robinson (Ind) • Shane Ross (Ind)

Nominated by the Taoiseach	Ulick Burke (FG) • John F. Carroll (Lab) • Timmy Conway (Lab) • James Dooge (FG) • Paddy Dunne (Lab) • Robert Fausset (FG) • Jim Higgins (FG) • Miriam Kearney (FG) • Patrick Magner (Lab) • Seán A. O'Leary (FG) • T. K. Whitaker (Ind)

FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour • Ind: Independent