Joseph Brennan (Fianna Fáil politician)

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Joseph Peter Brennan (14 February 1912 – 13 July 1980) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1977 to 1980, Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1973 to 1977, Minister for Social Welfare from 1970 to 1973 and 1966 to 1969, Minister for Labour from 1969 to 1973, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from 1965 to 1966, Government Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence from 1961 to 1965 and Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 1959 to 1961. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1951 to 1980.^[1]

He was born in Dunkineely in County Donegal, the son of farmer Francis Brennan and Hannah Carr. 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 to 1969, Donegal–Leitrim from 1969 to 1977, and Donegal from 1977 to 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.

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