Joseph Brennan (Irish politician)
Joseph Brennan ( * February 14, 1912, † 13 July 1980) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and chairman ( Ceann Comhairle ) of the lower house ( Dáil Éireann ).
Biography
Brennan, who was originally a merchant and auctioneer, began his political career when he was elected as the candidate of Fianna Fáil for the first time for the Members of the lower house ( Dáil Éireann ) 1951. There he represented the interests of constituencies in County Donegal; first of Donegal West, 1961-1969 Donegal South - West, and finally from 1969 to 1977 of Donegal Leitrim. From 1977 until his death he represented Donegal. Until 1977 and the subsequent lower house speaker Cormac Breslin was representative of these constituencies.
From July 1959 to October 1961, he was first Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Minister James Ryan. Then he was up to April 1965 not only Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister ( Taoiseach ) Seán Lemass, but also Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Minister Gerald Bartley and chief executive of the government faction in the House (Government Chief Whip ). Prime Minister Lemass then appointed him after the general election on 21 April 1965 Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
After the inauguration of Lemass 's successor as Prime Minister, Jack Lynch, he was then on November 10, 1966 Minister of Social Welfare and held that office until July 2, 1969. During a cabinet reshuffle, he took over first the Office of the Secretary of Labor before he on May 9, 1970 Minister of Social Welfare was again. He then held until the end of Lynch's term of office on March 14, 1973, this office.
July 5, 1977 Brennan was then as successor by Seán Treacy Chairman ( Ceann Comhairle ) of the lower house ( Dáil Éireann ) and exercised the office of President of Parliament until his death. Brennan was the first and only Speaker of the Parliament of Ireland, who died in office. The by his death made necessary by-election for the renewal of the vacant seat in Dáil Éireann won his party colleague Clement Coughlan.