Sylvester Barrett | |
|---|---|
.png) Barrett in 1979 | |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 15 October 1980 – 30 June 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Pádraig Faulkner |
| Succeeded by | James Tully |
| Minister for the Environment | |
| In office 5 July 1977 – 15 October 1980 | |
| Preceded by | James Tully |
| Succeeded by | Ray Burke |
| Minister of State | |
| Mar.–Dec. 1982 | Finance |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office March 1968 – February 1987 | |
| Constituency | Clare |
| Member of European Parliament | |
| In office June 1984 – June 1989 | |
| Constituency | Munster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1926-05-18)18 May 1926 County Clare, Ireland |
| Died | 8 May 2002(2002-05-08) (aged 75) County Clare, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | St Flannan's College |
| Alma mater | University College Galway (did not finish) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ireland |
| Branch/service | Irish Army |
| Rank | Cadet |
Sylvester Aidan Barrett (18 May 1926 – 8 May 2002) was an IrishFianna Fáil politician.[1] He served underJack Lynch andCharles Haughey asMinister for the Environment (1977–1980) andMinister for Defence (1980–1981).
Sylvester Barrett was born in Darragh, nearEnnis,County Clare, in 1926.[2] His father Frank, who was a founder-member ofFianna Fáil, and his mother Delia Costello, both died in 1931. As a result, he was raised by an uncle and aunt.[2] His brother Fergus (Patrick) Barrett OFM, became a Franciscan priest, and founding rector of St John Vianney Seminary, Pretoria, South Africa. Barrett was educated at Ballyea National School andSt Flannan's College in Ennis. He studied engineering atUniversity College Galway, though did not complete his studies.[2] He was a cadet in theIrish Army and later worked as a rate collector and an auctioneer.[3]
He was elected toDáil Éireann on 14 March 1968 at theby-election in theClare constituency,[4] held following the death ofFine Gael TDWilliam Murphy. Barrett topped the poll at thegeneral election the following year. At the1973 general election Fianna Fáil lost office to a Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government underLiam Cosgrave, and Barrett was appointed to the party's front bench as spokesperson on Transport and Power. After Fianna Fáil's landslide victory at the1977 general election he was appointed to thecabinet asMinister for the Environment.
Barrett supportedGeorge Colley in the1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election. Charles Haughey was the eventual victor, but Barrett was retained in the cabinet in the Environment position. Following a reshuffle in 1980 he was appointedMinister for Defence. After theFebruary 1982 general election Fianna Fáil were returned to office, but Barrett was not appointed to cabinet. However, he was appointed aMinister of State at the Department of Finance.
In October 1982, whenCharlie McCreevy put down amotion of no confidence in Haughey's leadership, Barrett was the only Minister of State among the so-calledGang of 22 who supported it; Haughey survived, and did not dismiss Barrett from office.[2]
The following month he topped the poll at theNovember 1982 general election. Fianna Fáil were out of government again, and Barrett was appointed to the front bench as spokesperson on Defence. He remained there until 1984, when he won a seat in theMunster constituency at theEuropean Parliament election and was replaced on the front bench byNoel Treacy. He did not contest either the1987 general election or the1989 European Parliament election, and retired from politics.[2] He died on 8 May 2002.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for the Environment 1977–1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Defence 1980–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Finance Mar. 1982–Dec. 1982 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
