Niamh Bhreathnach

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Niamh Bhreathnach
Niamh Bhreathnach.jpg
Minister for Education
In office
15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997
TaoiseachJohn Bruton
Preceded byMichael Smith
Succeeded byMicheál Martin
In office
12 January 1993 – 17 November 1994
TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds
Preceded bySéamus Brennan
Succeeded byMichael Smith
Teachta Dála
In office
November 1992 – June 1997
ConstituencyDún Laoghaire
Senator
In office
20 June 1997 – 3 July 1997
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born
Niamh Síle Bhreathnach

(1945-06-01) 1 June 1945 (age 76)
Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyLabour Party
Spouse(s)
Tom Ferris
​
(m. 1981)​
RelationsBreandán Breathnach (Father)
Children2
EducationDominican College Sion Hill
Alma materFroebel College of Education

Niamh Síle Bhreathnach (/ˈniːv ˈʃiːlə ˈvrænɒk/ NEEV SHEE-lə VRAN-ok,[1] Irish: [n̠ʲiəw ˈʃiːlʲə ˈwɾˠahnˠəx]; born 1 June 1945) is a former Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Education from 1993 to 1994 and 1994 to 1997. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency from 1992 to 1997. She was a Senator from June 1997 to July 1997, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[2]

She is one of a few TDs to be appointed a Minister on their first day in the Dáil as a TD.

Bhreathnach was born in Loughlinstown, Dublin in 1945. She is the daughter of Breandán Breathnach, a civil servant and collector of traditional music. She was educated at Dominican College Sion Hill and Froebel College of Education, Dublin, later qualifying as a remedial teacher.

Bhreathnach was chairperson of the Labour Party from 1990 until 1993. She was elected as a TD for Dún Laoghaire at the 1992 general election, serving until her defeat at the 1997 general election. In 1993, she became Minister for Education in the Fianna Fáil-Labour Party coalition government. She remained in that post during the "Rainbow Coalition" until 1997. During her time as Minister, the first White paper on Education was published, tuition fees for third-level institutions were abolished, and the Regional Technical Colleges were upgraded to Institutes of Technology. She also brought in the legacy posts, extra teaching positions for disadvantaged schools.[3] She introduced the University Act,1997, which makes universities accountable for the public money they receive.[4]

After losing her Dáil seat in 1997, Bhreathnach was nominated by the outgoing Taoiseach, John Bruton, to the last days of the 20th Seanad.[5] She sought a nomination from the Labour Party for the elections to the 21st Seanad, and there was some surprise when she was not one of the five candidates nominated by the party. She did not seek a nomination from the nominating bodies.[6]

She stood again for the Dáil at the 2002 general election, but did not regain her seat, and did not contest the 2007 general election. She was a member of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council for the Blackrock local electoral area from 2004 to 2014.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  2. ^ "Niamh Bhreathnach". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
  3. ^ "Ó Ríordáin to meet Quinn over cuts". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  4. ^ McNamara,Maedhbh. A womans's place is in the Cabinet:women ministers in Irish governments 1919-2019.Drogheda, Sea Dog Books,2020.ISBN 978-1-913275-06-8
  5. ^ "Five chosen for vacancies in Seanad". The Irish Times. 14 June 1997. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
  6. ^ Michael O'Regan (19 June 1997). "Breathnach drops Seanad ambition". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  7. ^ "Niamh Bhreathnach". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2008.

External links[]

Oireachtas
Preceded by Labour Party Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire
1992–1997 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Education
1993–1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Education
1994–1997 		Succeeded by
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