Barry Cowen | |
|---|---|
_2020.jpg) Cowen in 2020 | |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 17 July 2024 | |
| Constituency | Midlands–North-West |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2020 – 17 July 2024 | |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Laois–Offaly |
| In office February 2016 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Offaly |
| Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | |
| In office 27 June 2020 – 14 July 2020 | |
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Michael Creed |
| Succeeded by | Micheál Martin (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1967-08-28)28 August 1967 (age 57) Clara,County Offaly, Ireland |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Brian Cowen (brother) |
| Education | Cistercian College, Roscrea |
| Alma mater | University College Galway |
Barry Cowen (born 28 August 1967)[1] is an IrishFianna Fáil politician who has been aMember of the European Parliament (MEP) fromIreland for theMidlands–North-West constituency sinceJuly 2024. He previously served as aTeachta Dála (TD) representingLaois–Offaly from 2011 to 2016,Offaly from 2016 to 2020, and Laois–Offaly again from 2020 to 2024. He served asMinister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from June to July 2020.[2][3]
His fatherBernard Cowen was 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. He is the brother of formerTaoiseachBrian Cowen.
He is married with four children and is a full-time politician.[4]
He was a member ofOffaly County Council for theTullamore local electoral area from1991 to 2011.[2] He was elected to the31st Dáil at the2011 general election forLaois–Offaly, succeeding his brother Brian.
He has served in variousFianna Fáil Front Bench roles such asSocial Protection from 2011 to 2012, spokesperson forHousing, Planning and Local Government from 2012 to 2018 and spokesperson forPublic Expenditure and Reform from 2018 to 2020.[5]
He represented Fianna Fáil intalks on government formation in 2016 and 2020.[6]
In July 2020, it emerged that Cowen had a conviction fordrink 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 betweenDublin andMayo. Cowen apologised for his "serious lapse of judgement".[7][8] TheGarda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was asked by theGardaí to investigate the alleged leaking of information concerning Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen's drink driving arrest. Cowen accused gardaí of criminality for leaking allegations that he attempted to evade a garda checkpoint before he was caught drink driving. Cowen admitted receiving a ban for drink drinking but denied attempting to evade gardaí. He issued a statement that the garda record was "incorrect" and suggested he would take legal action against theSunday Times, which first reported the story. Cowen said that the leaks were a flagrant breach of criminal law and “my rights under data protection law” and that they were an "attempt to cause me the maximum personal and political harm."[9] Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne has denied that it was he who leaked news of Cowen's ban to the press.[10] Eamon Dooley, a long serving Fianna Fáil member of Offaly County Council, claimed that a party member with a "grudge" leaked it to the media.[11]
On 14 July 2020, after he refused to resign the role of Minister for Agriculture, Cowen was sacked byTaoiseach,Micheál Martin, due to the controversy surrounding his conviction for drink driving.[12][13] In November 2020, it was reported that a barrister was to be questioned by GSOC in relation to the leak.[14] In 2021, GSOC searched a Garda station in Munster in relation to the leak.[15]
In July 2021, Cowen called on Fianna Fáil to form a new "modern centre-left" alliance with the Labour Party for the next election.[16]
In March 2023, political news websiteThe Ditch reported that Cowen had failed to declare rental income from 32 acres of farmland, in breach ofStandards in Public Office Commission rules.[17] Cowen subsequently confirmed that he intended to correct his declaration to the Dáil Register of Interests.[18]
In 2023 he opposed extending the eviction ban put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing an extension to "making sweets free for children". These comments caused controversy and he subsequently apologised for the remarks.[19]
In 2024, Cowen won the Fianna Fáil nomination to stand in the2024 European Parliament election in theMidlands–North-West constituency, defeating senatorsNiall Blaney andLisa Chambers at the selection convention.[20] Blaney and Chambers were both added to the Fianna Fáil election ticket later.[21] Cowen was elected to the second of five seats in the constituency.[22] He took office on 17 July 2024.[23]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2020 | Succeeded by Micheál Martin (acting) |