Joseph Brennan (Irish politician)

See also: Joseph Brennan (Clann na Poblachta)

Joseph Brennan
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office 5 July 1977 – 13 July 1980
Preceded by	Seán Treacy
Succeeded by	Pádraig Faulkner
Minister for Social Welfare
In office 6 May 1970 – 14 March 1973
Preceded by	Kevin Boland
Succeeded by	Brendan Corish
Minister for Labour
In office 2 July 1969 – 14 March 1973
Preceded by	Patrick Hillery
Succeeded by	Michael O'Leary
Minister for Social Welfare
In office 16 November 1966 – 2 July 1969
Preceded by	Kevin Boland
Succeeded by	Kevin Boland
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
In office 21 April 1965 – 10 November 1966
Preceded by	Michael Hilliard
Succeeded by	Erskine H. Childers
Government Chief Whip
In office 11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965
Preceded by	Donnchadh Ó Briain
Succeeded by	Michael Carty
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence
In office 11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965
Preceded by	Donnchadh Ó Briain
Succeeded by	Michael Carty
Personal details
Born	(1912-02-14)14 February 1912 Dunkineely, County Donegal, Ireland
Died	Bruckless, County 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. 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. 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

Political offices
Preceded by Gerald Bartley	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance 1959–1961	Succeeded by Donogh O'Malley
Preceded by Donnchadh Ó Briain	Government Chief Whip 1957–1961	Succeeded by Michael Carty
	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence 1957–1961	Succeeded by Michael Carty
Preceded by Michael Hilliard	Minister for Posts and Telegraphs 1965–1966	Succeeded by Erskine H. Childers
Preceded by Kevin Boland	Minister for Social Welfare 1966–1969	Succeeded by Kevin Boland
Preceded by Patrick Hillery	Minister for Labour 1969–1973	Succeeded by Michael O'Leary
Preceded by Kevin Boland	Minister for Social Welfare 1970–1973	Succeeded by Brendan Corish
Preceded by Seán Treacy	Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann 1977–1980	Succeeded by Pádraig Faulkner
Party political offices
Preceded by New position	Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil 1973–1977	Succeeded by George Colley