Brian O'Shea (politician)

Brian O'Shea
Teachta Dála
In office June 1989 – February 2011
Constituency	Waterford
Senator
In office April 1987 – June 1989
Constituency	Industrial and Commercial Panel
Personal details
Born	(1944-12-09) 9 December 1944 Waterford, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Labour Party
Spouse(s)	Eileen Walsh
Children	6
Alma mater	St Patrick's College, Dublin
Occupation	Former Teacher

Brian O'Shea (born 9 December 1944) is a former Irish Labour Party politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Waterford constituency from 1989 to 2011.

O'Shea was born in Waterford and educated at Mount Sion CBS, Waterford and St Patrick's College, Dublin. He worked as a teacher before entering politics. He was elected to Tramore Town Council in 1979, and in 1985 was elected to Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council. He served on these local authorities until 1993.

He first stood for election to Dáil Éireann at the February 1982 general election but was unsuccessful. He stood again at the November 1982 and 1987 general elections but was not elected on either occasion. O'Shea was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1987 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. Two years later, at the 1989 general election he was first elected to Dáil Éireann for the Waterford constituency.

In 1993 O'Shea became Minister of State for Food and Horticulture. In 1994 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health (with special responsibility for Mental Handicap, Public Health and Food Safety). He was party spokesperson for Defence (1997–98); Education; Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Communications and Sport (1998–2002); Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (2002–07); and Defence and the Irish language (2007–11).

He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.

References

Oireachtas
Preceded by Martin Cullen (Progressive Democrats)	Labour Party Teachta Dála for Waterford 1989–2011	Succeeded by Ciara Conway (Labour Party)
Political offices
Preceded by New office	Minister of State for Food and Horticulture 1993–1994	Succeeded by Jimmy Deenihan
Preceded by Willie O'Dea	Minister of State for Mental Handicap, Public Health and Food Safety 1994–1997	Succeeded by Tom Moffatt