Barry Cowen

Barry Cowen (born 28 August 1967)[1] is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency since the 2020 general election, and previously from 2011 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2020 for the Offaly constituency. He previously served as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from June 2020 to July 2020.[2][3]

This article is about the Irish politician Barry Cowen. For other uses, see Barry Cowan (disambiguation).

Barry Cowen

TD
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
In office
27 June 2020 – 14 July 2020
TaoiseachMicheál Martin
Preceded byMichael Creed
Succeeded byMicheál Martin (acting)
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
In office
February 2011 – February 2016
ConstituencyLaois–Offaly
In office
February 2016 – February 2020
ConstituencyOffaly
Personal details
Born (1967-08-28) 28 August 1967
Clara, County Offaly, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse(s)Mary Cowen (m. 1995)
Relations
Children4
Alma materNUI Galway

He is married with four children and is a full-time politician.[4] His father Bernard Cowen was also a TD, Senator and Minister of State. His grandfather Christy Cowen was an Offaly County Councillor and a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive. Another relation, Ernest Cowan, was also a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive having been elected to its Committee of 15.

Before his election to Dáil Éireann, he was a member of Offaly County Council for the Tullamore local electoral area since 1991.[2]

He has served in various Fianna Fáil Front Bench roles such as Social Protection from 2011 to 2012, Spokesperson for Housing, Planning and Local Government from 2012 to 2018 and Spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2018 to 2020.

He represented Fianna Fáil in talks on government formation in 2016 and 2020.[5]

In July 2020, it emerged that Cowen had a conviction for drink driving. Cowen was fined €200 and was disqualified from driving for three months. The incident occurred in September 2016, after an All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Mayo. Cowen apologized for his "serious lapse of judgement".[6][7]

On 14 July 2020, Cowen was sacked as Minister for Agriculture, by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, due to the controversy surrounding his conviction for drink driving.[8]

See also

References
  1. Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 135. ISBN 9780717150595.
  2. "Barry Cowen". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  3. "Barry Cowen". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  4. "Barry Cowen". Fianna Fáil website. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  5. McGee, Harry (12 March 2016). "Fianna Fáil's negotiating team for government talks revealed". The Irish Times.
  6. Sheahan, Fionnán (3 July 2020). "Revealed: Cabinet minister's drink-driving ban". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  7. "Barry Cowen to give statement in the Dáil tomorrow about drink-driving ban". The Journal. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. "Barry Cowen sacked as Minister for Agriculture". RTE.ie. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

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Oireachtas
Preceded by
Brian Cowen
(Fianna Fáil)		 Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Laois–Offaly
2011–2016		 Succeeded by
Constituency abolished
New constituency Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Offaly
2016–2020		 Succeeded by
Constituency abolished
New constituency Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Laois–Offaly
2020–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael Creed		 Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
2020		 Succeeded by
Micheál Martin (acting)
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