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 1989 – 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 Salthill, Galway, Ireland
Died	9 July 2008(2008-07-09) (aged 60) Churchtown, 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 Fáil–Labour 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