Joseph Brennan (Irish politician)

Joseph Brennan (14 February 1912 – 13 July 1980) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.

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