Brendan Daly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Social Welfare | |
| In office 13 November 1991 – 11 February 1992 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Michael Woods |
| Succeeded by | Charlie McCreevy |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 5 February – 14 November 1991 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Charles Haughey (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Brady |
| Minister for the Marine | |
| In office 10 March 1987 – 12 July 1989 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Paddy O'Toole |
| Succeeded by | John Wilson |
| Minister for Fisheries and Forestry | |
| In office 9 March – 14 December 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Paddy O'Toole |
| Succeeded by | Tom Fitzpatrick |
| Minister of State | |
| 1992–1993 | Foreign Affairs |
| 1989–1991 | Finance |
| 1989–1991 | Taoiseach |
| 1980–1981 | Labour |
| Senator | |
| In office 12 September 2002 – 13 September 2007 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| In office 17 February 1993 – 6 June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Agricultural Panel |
| In office 3 December 1992 – 17 February 1993 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1997 – May 2002 | |
| In office February 1973 – November 1992 | |
| Constituency | Clare |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1940-02-02)2 February 1940 Cooraclare, County Clare, Ireland |
| Died | 6 July 2023(2023-07-06) (aged 83) County Clare, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Brendan Daly (2 February 1940 – 6 July 2023) was an IrishFianna Fáil politician. He was a long-servingTeachta Dála (TD) for theClare constituency, a government minister, andSenator.[1]
Daly was born on 2 February 1940 in Cooraclare,County Clare, and educated locally atCBSKilrush school.[2] His political career began at the1973 general election, when he was elected toDáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for Clare. When Daly ran in the next general election in 1977, Limerick-based journalist Arthur Quinlan described him in the Irish Times as “a 37-year-old bundle of energy who has concentrated all his efforts on making his career out of politics”. Quinlan was sceptical that Daly would top the poll, but in the end he did so, getting elected on the first count. His first-preference total of 11,933 was more than double the figure of 5,758 he got in 1973 although he said: “I worked for every single vote I got"[3] He held his seat at five further general elections before losing it at the1992 general election. He was returned at the1997 general election but was defeated again in the2002 general election.[4]
Daly was a strong supporter ofCharles Haughey during his period asFianna Fáil leader.[5] In 1980 Daly becameMinister of State at the Department of Labour. In 1982 he joined the Cabinet asMinister for Fisheries and Forestry. When Fianna Fáil returned to power after the1987 general election he once again became a minister, this time asMinister for the Marine in the20th Government of Ireland.[1]
Daly was not re-appointed a minister when Fianna Fáil entered into coalition with theProgressive Democrats after the1989 general election, but was appointedMinister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility for Heritage Affairs andMinister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for theOffice of Public Works.[6] He returned to the cabinet in February 1991 asMinister for Defence. In NovemberAlbert Reynolds andPádraig Flynn were sacked from the government and Daly was appointedMinister for Social Welfare. His time in cabinet was short-lived; in February 1992, Haughey resigned asTaoiseach and was succeeded by Reynolds, who did not appoint Daly to cabinet. He was appointedMinister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs from February 1992.[7]
Daly lost his Dáil seat in theelection that year, retaining his position as Minister of State until the formation of a new government in January 1993. He contested theSeanad election on theAgricultural Panel, and was returned to the20th Seanad.[4]
Daly was re-elected to theDáil at the1997 general election but lost his seat at the2002 general election. He stood for election to the22nd Seanad on theLabour Panel, and was returned to the Seanad for a second time. He was unsuccessful again at2007 general election, and did not contest the subsequent elections to the23rd Seanad. He then retired from public life.[4][8]
Brendan Daly was married to Patricia Carmody ofKilrush, County Clare, from the early 1970s until her death in 2014;[2] they had three children. Daly died on 6 July 2023, aged 83.[9]
In the Dáil, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin paid tribute to Daly as “an extraordinarily committed public servant” who had served in several departments.[10]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Minister of State at the Department of Labour 1980–1981 | Office abolished |
| Preceded by | Minister for Fisheries and Forestry 1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Paddy O'Toole | Minister for the Marine 1987–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Finance 1989–1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1989–1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Defence 1991 | Succeeded by Vincent Brady |
| Preceded by | Minister for Social Welfare 1991–1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |