Darragh O'Brien

Darragh O'Brien (born 8 July 1974) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage since June 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Fingal constituency since the 2016 general election, and previously from 2007 to 2011 for the Dublin North constituency. He previously served as a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2011 to 2016.[1]

Darragh O'Brien

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Assumed office
27 June 2020
TaoiseachMicheál Martin
Preceded byEoghan Murphy
Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad
In office
30 April 2011  26 February 2016
LeaderMicheál Martin
Preceded byDonie Cassidy
Succeeded byCatherine Ardagh
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2016
ConstituencyDublin Fingal
In office
May 2007  February 2011
ConstituencyDublin North
Senator
In office
24 April 2011  26 February 2016
ConstituencyLabour Panel
In office
1 March 2011  24 April 2011
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born (1974-07-08) 8 July 1974
Malahide, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse(s)Susan Maxwell (m. 2007)
Children1
EducationMalahide Community School
Alma materInstitute of Technology, Carlow
Websitedarraghobrien.ie

His brother Eoghan O'Brien is a Fingal County Councillor, representing the Howth-Malahide local electoral area.

Personal life

He was born and raised in Malahide, County Dublin, where he is an active member of St. Sylvesters GAA club, Malahide United F.C. and Malahide Rugby Club. As a child, O'Brien attended Pope John Paul II National Catholic School and then Malahide Community School (Pobalscoil Íosa). He is one of six children.

Before entering politics, he worked in the Pensions sector with Friends First Assurance Company. He lives in Malahide with his wife and daughter.[2]

Political career

He was co-opted to a seat on Fingal County Council in March 2004. He was then elected to Fingal County Council on his own right following the 2004 local elections.

O'Brien was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election.[3] He was Vice-Chair of Public Accounts committee, Convenor on Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs during the 30th Dáil. He was also a member of Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.

O'Brien was appointed to the Fianna Fáil frontbench as Spokesperson for Sport in January 2011.

He lost his seat in the 2011 general election, being deemed not elected on the 7th and final count.[4]

He was nominated by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen to the 23rd Seanad on 3 March 2011.[5] He was elected to the 25th Seanad as a Senator for the Labour Panel in April 2011.

He was the Fianna Fáil Seanad leader and Spokesperson on Finance from 2011 to 2016.

He was the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government until his appointment as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in June 2020.

As part of the coalition government of the 33rd Dáil, O'Brien was appointed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on 27 June 2020.

References

  1. "Darragh O'Brien". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  2. "About Darragh". darraghobrien.ie. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. "Darragh O'Brien". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  4. "Dublin North Results". RTÉ News. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  5. "47 candidates for University Seanad seats". RTÉ News. 3 March 2011.
Political offices
Preceded by
Eoghan Murphy
as Housing, Planning and Local Government
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
2020–present
Incumbent
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