Joseph Brennan (Irish politician)

Joseph Brennan
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office 5 July 1977 – 13 July 1980
President	Patrick Hillery
Deputy	Seán Browne
Preceded by	Seán Treacy
Succeeded by	Pádraig Faulkner
Minister for Social Welfare
In office 6 May 1970 – 14 March 1973
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Kevin Boland
Succeeded by	Brendan Corish
Minister for Labour
In office 2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Patrick Hillery
Succeeded by	Michael O'Leary
Minister for Social Welfare
In office 16 November 1966 – 2 July 1969
Taoiseach	Jack Lynch
Preceded by	Kevin Boland
Succeeded by	Kevin Boland
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
In office 21 April 1965 – 10 November 1966
Taoiseach	Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Michael Hilliard
Succeeded by	Erskine H. Childers
Government Chief Whip
In office 11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965
Taoiseach	Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Donnchadh Ó Briain
Succeeded by	Michael Carty
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence
In office 11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965
Taoiseach	Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Donnchadh Ó Briain
Succeeded by	Michael Carty
Teachta Dála
In office June 1977 – July 1980
Constituency	Donegal
Teachta Dála
In office June 1969 – June 1977
Constituency	Donegal-Leitrim
Teachta Dála
In office October 1961 – June 1969
Constituency	Donegal South-West
Personal details
Born	14 February 1912 Dunkineely, Donegal, Ireland
Died	13 July 1980 (aged 68) Bruckless, Donegal, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Children	5
Occupation	Auctioneer

Joseph Brennan (14 February 1912 – 13 July 1980) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.^[1] 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 Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal West constituency at the 1951 general election and was re-elected at each election until his death.^[2] As constituency boundaries were changed, he represented Donegal South-West from 1961–1969, Donegal–Leitrim from 1969–1977, and Donegal from 1977–1980.

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 and 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, Fianna Fáil were 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.

He was president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland between 1934 and 1938.

References

1. "Mr. Joseph Brennan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
2. "Joseph Brennan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 20 November 2011.