Brendan Howlin

Brendan Howlin (born 9 May 1956) is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency since 1987.

In 1979, Howlin was asked to run for Wexford Corporation and was selected in his absence, but declined to run in order to continue as chair of NOW.

Howlin contested his first general election at the November 1982 election.

He ran as a Labour candidate in the Wexford constituency, but despite the existence of a large left-wing vote in the area, Howlin was not elected.

In spite of this setback, a Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition government came to power and he was nominated by the Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald to serve in Seanad Éireann as a Senator.

He was a Senator from 1983 to 1987, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

Born into a political family in Wexford, Howlin is the son of John and Molly Howlin (née Dunbar), and named after Brendan Corish, the local Labour TD and later leader of the Labour Party.

Howlin's father was a trade union official who served as secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, in Wexford, for 40 years.

He also secured election as a Labour member of Wexford Corporation, where he served for eighteen years, and was also election agent to Brendan Corish.

Howlin's mother was also strongly involved in local Labour politics.

Howlin's brother Ted is a former member of Wexford County Council and Lord Mayor of Wexford.

Howlin was raised on William Street in Wexford town with his three siblings.

Howlin grew up in Wexford town and was educated locally in the Faythe and at Wexford CBS.

He later attended St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin, and qualified as a primary school teacher.

During his career as a teacher he was active in the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, before embarking on a career in full-time politics.

Howlin credits his introduction to politics to his involvement in the Irish anti-nuclear movement.

The chair of Nuclear Opposition Wexford, Howlin was involved in the organisation of a protest against the building of a nuclear power plant in Carnsore Point, which drew 40,000 protestors.

Howlin secured election to Wexford County Council in 1985 and served as Mayor of Wexford in 1986.

In 1987, the Labour Party withdrew from the coalition government and a general election was called.

Howlin once again contested a seat in Wexford and was elected to Dáil Éireann.

Labour were out of office as a Fianna Fáil government took office.

The 1992 general election resulted in a hung Dáil once again; however, the Labour Party enjoyed their best result to date at the time.

After negotiations, a Fianna Fáil-Labour Party coalition government came to office.

Howlin joined the cabinet of Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, as Minister for Health.

During his tenure the development of a four-year health strategy, the identifying of HIV/AIDS prevention as a priority and the securing of a £35 million investment in childcare were advanced.

Howlin, however, was also targeted by anti-abortion groups after introducing an act which would allow information regarding abortion.

In spite of his recent entry to the Dáil, Howlin was subsequently named Chief Whip of the Labour Party, a position he held until 1993.

In 1994, the Labour Party withdrew from government after a disagreement over the appointment of Attorney General Harry Whelehan as a Judge of the High Court and President of the High Court.

However, no general election was called and, while it was hoped that the coalition could be revived under the new Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, the arithmetic of the Dáil now allowed the Labour Party to open discussions with other opposition parties.

After negotiations a Rainbow Coalition came to power involving Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left.

In John Bruton's cabinet, he became Minister for the Environment.

Following the 1997 general election, a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition government came to power and the Labour Party returned to the opposition benches.

In the announcement of the party's new front bench, Howlin retained responsibility for the Environment.

In late 1997, Dick Spring resigned as leader of the Labour Party and Howlin immediately threw his hat into the ring in the subsequent leadership election.

In a choice between Howlin and Ruairi Quinn, the former gained some early support; however, the leadership eventually went to Quinn by a significant majority.

As a show of unity Howlin was later named deputy leader of the party and retained his brief as Spokesperson for the Environment and Local Government.

In 2002, following Quinn's resignation as party leader after Labour's relatively unsuccessful 2002 general election campaign, Howlin again stood for the party leadership.

For the second time in five years Howlin was defeated for the leadership of the party, this time by Pat Rabbitte, who was formerly a leading figure in Democratic Left.

Howlin was succeeded as deputy leader by Liz McManus.

He previously served as Leader of the Labour Party from 2016 to 2020, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2011 to 2016, Leas-Cheann Comhairle from 2007 to 2011, Deputy leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002, Minister for the Environment from 1994 to 1997 and Minister for Health from 1993 to 1994.