John Bruton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bruton in 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10th Taoiseach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Mary Robinson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tánaiste | Dick Spring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Albert Reynolds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Bertie Ahern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Union Ambassador tothe United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 24 November 2004 – 31 October 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | José Manuel Barroso | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Günter Burghardt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Angelos Pangratis (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 June 1997 – 9 February 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Bertie Ahern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Michael Noonan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 20 November 1990 – 15 December 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Alan Dukes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Bertie Ahern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of Fine Gael | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 November 1990 – 9 February 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Alan Dukes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Michael Noonan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy leader of Fine Gael | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 March 1987 – 20 November 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader | Alan Dukes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Peter Barry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Peter Barry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teachta Dála | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office June 1969 – 31 October 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Meath | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1947-05-18)18 May 1947 Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 6 February 2024(2024-02-06) (aged 76) Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Fine Gael | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | European People's Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Richard Bruton (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Clongowes Wood College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Gerard Bruton (18 May 1947 – 6 February 2024) was an IrishFine Gael politician who served asTaoiseach from 1994 to 1997 andLeader of Fine Gael from 1990 to 2001. He heldcabinet positions between 1981 and 1987, including twice asminister for finance. He wasLeader of the Opposition from 1990 to 1994 and 1997 to 2001. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) forMeath from 1969 to 2004.
During his term as Taoiseach, he led a Fine Gael–Labour–Democratic Left coalition, known as theRainbow Coalition. After stepping down as a TD, he accepted an offer to becomeEuropean Union Ambassador to the United States, serving from 2004 to 2009.
John Gerard Bruton was born to a wealthy, Catholic farming family inDunboyne, County Meath, and educated atClongowes Wood College.
Oliver Coogan notes in hisPolitics and War in Meath 1913–23 that Bruton's grand-uncle was one of the farmers in south Meath who prevented the traditionally Anglo-Irish ascendency hunt from proceeding in the area during theIrish War of Independence.
Bruton later went on to study atUniversity College Dublin (UCD), where he received an honours Bachelor of Arts degree and qualified as abarrister fromKing's Inns, but never went on to practice law. Bruton was narrowly elected toDáil Éireann in the1969 general election, as a Fine GaelTD forMeath.[1][2] At the age of 22, he wasone of the youngest ever members of the Dáil at that time. He more than doubled his vote in the1973 general election, which brought Fine Gael to power as part of theNational Coalition with the Labour Party. Bruton was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Minister for Education, in the National Coalition in 1973. He remained in office until 1977.
In 1978, Bruton married Finola Gill; and they had four children.[3][4]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Following Fine Gael's defeat at the1977 general election, the new leader,Garret FitzGerald, appointed Bruton to the front bench as Spokesperson on Agriculture. He was later promoted as Spokesperson for Finance, making a particularly effective speech in the Dáil in response to the budget of 1980. He played a prominent role in Fine Gael's campaign in the1981 general election, which resulted in another coalition with theLabour Party, with FitzGerald asTaoiseach. Bruton received a personal vote in Meath of nearly 23%, and at the age of only 34 was appointedMinister for Finance, the most senior position in the cabinet. In light of overwhelming economic realities, the government abandoned its election promises to cut taxes. The government collapsed unexpectedly on the night of 27 January 1982, when Bruton's budget was defeated in the Dáil. The previously supportive Independent Socialist TDJim Kemmy, voted against the budget, which proposed among other things the introduction ofVAT on children's shoes. FitzGerald sought a dissolution of the Dáil, which was granted by the president.
The minorityFianna Fáil government which followed only lasted until November 1982, when Fine Gael once again returned to power in a coalition government with the Labour Party, but when the new government was formed, Bruton was moved from Finance to becomeMinister for Industry and Energy. After a reconfiguration of government departments in 1983, Bruton becameMinister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism. In a cabinet reshuffle in February 1986, Bruton was appointed again as Minister for Finance. Although he was minister for finance, Bruton never presented his budget. The Labour Party withdrew from the government due to a disagreement over his budget proposals leading to the collapse of the government and another election.
Following the1987 general election Fine Gael suffered a heavy defeat. Garret FitzGerald resigned as leader immediately, and a leadership contest ensued betweenAlan Dukes,Peter Barry and Bruton himself. The exact result of the vote was not published.[a] This was a blow to Bruton as the victor, Dukes, had been a TD for 12 years fewer than him. Bruton was on Fine Gael's right wing, whereas Dukes was in FitzGerald'ssocial democratic and liberal mould. Dukes was perceived to be a lacklustre leader, however, who alienated his party's TDs and Senators and made little progress in recovering the ground lost by Fine Gael in 1987. HisTallaght Strategy where he stated that he would support Fianna Fáil on economic reforms was also unpopular. The disastrous performance in the1990 presidential election, in which the party finished in a humiliating and then unprecedented third in a national election,[b] proved to be the final straw for the party and Dukes was forced to resign as leader shortly after.[5] Bruton, who was the deputy leader of Fine Gael at the time, was unopposed in the ensuing leadership election.
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Whereas Dukes came from the social democratic wing of Fine Gael, Bruton came from the more conservative wing. However to the surprise of critics and of conservatives, in his first policy initiative, he called for a referendum on a Constitutional amendment permitting the enactment of legislation allowing for divorce in Ireland.
Fine Gael had been in decline for nearly a decade; from the high point of theNovember 1982 general election when it achieved 70 seats in Dáil Éireann (only five seats short of Fianna Fáil's total).[c] The party had lost a considerable number of seats over the following ten years. Following the inexperienced Dukes' disastrous period of leadership, Bruton's election was seen as offering Fine Gael a chance to rebuild under a far more politically experienced leader. However, Bruton's perceived right-wing persona and his rural background were used against him by critics and particularly by the media.
By the1992 general election, the anti-Fianna Fáil mood in the country produced a major swing to the opposition, but that support went to the Labour Party, not Bruton's Fine Gael, which lost a further 10 seats. Even then, it initially appeared that Fine Gael was in a position to form a government. However, negotiations stalled in part from Labour's refusal to be part of a coalition which would include the libertarianProgressive Democrats, as well as Bruton's unwillingness to takeDemocratic Left into a prospective coalition. The Labour Party broke off talks with Fine Gael and opted to enter a new coalition with Fianna Fáil. It was a humiliating blow to Bruton, as the Labour Party was always seen as a natural ally of Fine Gael rather than Fianna Fáil. Fine Gael, and Bruton personally, continued to perform poorly in opinion polls throughout 1993 and early 1994, Bruton narrowly survived a challenge to his leadership in early 1994. However, a couple of by-election victories, and a good performance in the1994 European elections, coupled with a disastrous showing by the Labour Party, shored up his position.
In late 1994, the government of Fianna Fáil'sAlbert Reynolds collapsed. Bruton was able to persuade Labour to end its coalition with Fianna Fáil and enter anew coalition government with Fine Gael and Democratic Left. Bruton faced charges of hypocrisy for agreeing to enter government with the Democratic Left, as Fine Gael campaigned in the 1992 general election on a promise not to enter government with the party. Nevertheless, on 15 December, aged 47, Bruton became the thenyoungest ever Taoiseach. This was the first time in the history of the state that a new government was installed without a general election being held.
.jpg)
Continued developments in theNorthern Ireland peace process and his attitude to Anglo-Irish relations came to define Bruton's tenure as Taoiseach. In February 1995, he launched the Anglo-Irish 'Framework Document' with the British prime minister,John Major. This document outlined new proposed relations between Ireland,Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. Many of Bruton's opponents considered him to be too willing to accommodateunionist demands andAlbert Reynolds nicknamed him "John Unionist".[6] However, he took a strongly critical position on theBritish Government's reluctance to engage withSinn Féin during theIRA's 1994–1997 ceasefire. Bruton complained to a local radio reporter in Cork that "I am sick of answering questions about the fucking peace process", for which he later apologised.[7]
Bruton also established a working relationship withGerry Adams ofSinn Féin, however, both were mutually distrustful of each other. The relationship became frayed following the ending of the ceasefire in 1996, resulting in abomb explosion in London. These relations worsened when the IRAkilled Jerry McCabe, a member of theGarda Síochána, in a botched post office robbery inCounty Limerick, and anotherbomb explosion in Manchester. However, Bruton received widespread praise in the Republic for condemning theRoyal Ulster Constabulary for yielding toloyalist threats atDrumcree by allowing members of theOrange Order to parade through anationalist district. He stated that the RUC had been neither impartial nor consistent in applying the law. His outrage and criticism led to a tense atmosphere between London andDublin. By the time of the1997 general election,Sinn Féin stated that they would prefer aFianna Fáil led government and the IRA resumed their ceasefire soon after Fine Gael lost the1997 general election.[citation needed]
He also presided over a successful Irish Presidency of theEuropean Union in 1996 and helped finalise theStability and Growth Pact, which establishes macroeconomic parameters for countries participating in the single European currency, theeuro. Bruton was the fifth Irish leader to address ajoint session of the United States Congress on 11 September 1996,[d] asthe 30th[citation needed] head of state or government of an EU country to do so since 1945.
Bruton's government suffered from some allegations of corruption, and political embarrassment. In 1996, theMinister for Transport, Energy and Communication,Michael Lowry, resigned from the cabinet after allegations that he had not paid income tax on payments from the supermarket tycoon,Ben Dunne, for work he had done for him as a businessman before becoming a Minister.Phil Hogan,Minister of State at the Department of Finance, resigned on 9 February 1995 as a result of leaks of budget information from theDepartment of Finance on the day the budget was delivered in the Dail. Additionally, many years laterFrank Dunlop made allegations before the planning tribunal that he had informed Bruton about demands for a £250,000 bribe made to him by a Fine GaelDublin City Councillor, Tom Hand, to rezone theQuarryvale development. Dunlop testified that when he informed Bruton of the bribery attempts, Bruton replied, "There are no angels in the world or in Fine Gael." Bruton vehemently denied this and Fine Gael counsel told the Planning Tribunal in 2003: "I refute entirely Mr Dunlop's contention that he advised me then of the alleged demand made to him by the late Tom Hand". However, following further evidence at the tribunal, Bruton returned to it in October 2007 and conceded that "it gradually came back to me", and that Dunlop, "did say to me something about a Councillor looking for money".[8] However, in his evidence to the tribunal in 2007, Dunlop himself said that he had not mentioned any figure of 250,000 to Bruton in his 1993 conversation with him.[citation needed]
Bruton presided over the first official visit by a member of theBritish royal family since 1912, byCharles, Prince of Wales. His welcome speech was criticised in some newspapers as being too effusive but his assessment was that the visit was helpful in improving Anglo-Irish relations.[9]
Following the murder of crime journalistVeronica Guerin, his government established theCriminal Assets Bureau.[citation needed]
At the1997 general election, Fine Gael won 54 seats, a gain of 9 seats. However, the Labour Party suffered considerable losses, falling from 32 seats to 17, while the Democratic Left also lost two seats. This left Bruton far short of the parliamentary support he needed to retain office. A Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrat coalition led byBertie Ahern entered office, with Bruton reverting to opposition leadership.[citation needed]
Fine Gael became paralysed in opposition. Bruton was deposed from leadership in 2001, in favour ofMichael Noonan, due in part to fears Fine Gael would suffer severe losses in the2002 election. However, Noonan failed to live up to expectations and the party suffered an even greater collapse than had been expected under Bruton. Having hoped to make gains on its seat count of 54, it only won 31. This not only tied Fine Gael's second-worst performance in an election but was 39 seats fewer than at its high point twenty years earlier in 1982.[citation needed]
Bruton, a passionate supporter ofEuropean integration, was chosen as one of the two Irish Parliament Representatives to theEuropean Convention, which helped draft the proposedEuropean Constitution. He was one of two National Parliament Representatives to sit on the 12-member Praesidium, which helped steer the European Convention. He was a member of the Comité d'Honneur of theInstitute of International and European Affairs, along withPeter Sutherland andBertie Ahern. He served as a vice-president of theEuropean People's Party (EPP).[10] He accepted an offer to becomeEuropean Union Ambassador to the United States, in the summer of 2004, and after resigning from the Dáil on 1 November 2004, he assumed that office.[11]Bruton was praised by Ahern, who said Bruton had played "a pivotal role in developing Ireland's relations with the European Union."[12]
Bruton received an Honorary Doctorate fromMemorial University of Newfoundland in 2003,[citation needed] and from theUniversity of Missouri in 2009.[citation needed]
He regularly lectured at national and international universities. In early 2004, he accepted a position as an Adjunct Faculty Member in the School of Law and Government atDublin City University. In November 2008, he received theOrder of the Polar Star award from theGovernment of Sweden.[13]
His brother,Richard Bruton, is also a Fine Gael politician and has served in several ministerial roles, most recently asMinister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.[14]
On 29 October 2009, it was announced that he had written to the Ambassadors to the United States of the 27 members of the European Union expressing his interest in applying for the position ofPresident of the European Council following the implementation of theLisbon Treaty.[15] Bruton was very much an outside shot for the position as EU leaders firmly indicated they want a chairman-style president rather than a high-profile figurehead to fill the post.[16]Herman Van Rompuy, theBelgian Prime Minister, was appointed President of the European Council on 19 November 2009 and took office on 1 December 2009.[citation needed]
On 21 May 2010, it was announced that he would be the chairman of the newly formed financial services body, IFSC Ireland.[17] His main role was to promote Ireland as a location of choice for international financial services.
Bruton was widely discussed as a candidate for the2011 presidential election and was approached by Fine Gael with the opportunity to become their candidate; on 28 May 2011, however, Bruton stated that he was "flattered" to be asked, but would not be a candidate for the presidency.[18]
From November 2011, Bruton acted as an advisor to Fair Observer focusing mainly on the areas of politics, finance and economics as well as on issues pertaining to Europe.[19]
In September 2014, on the 100th anniversary of the signing of theGovernment of Ireland Act 1914, Bruton said the 1916Easter Rising was a mistake and an unjust war.[20][21]
Bruton supported the "No" campaign during the2018 Irish referendum on abortion.[22]
Bruton died aged 76 on 6 February 2024 at theMater Private Hospital in Dublin, having had cancer for some time.[4][23] Astate funeral was held on 10 February at St Peter's and St Paul's Church in Dunboyne.[24]
Bruton led the following government:
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| New office | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance 1981–1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Industry and Energy 1982–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism 1983–1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance 1986–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for the Public Service 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition 1990–1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Taoiseach 1994–1997 | |
| Preceded by | President of the European Council 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition 1997–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Deputy leader of Fine Gael 1987–1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of Fine Gael 1990–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | European Union Ambassador to the United States 2004–2009 | Succeeded by Angelos Pangratis (acting) |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Baby of the Dáil 1969–1975 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
