Seán Barrett (politician)

Seán Barrett (born 9 August 1944) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2011 to 2016, Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine from 1995 to 1997, Government Chief Whip from 1982 to 1986 and 1994 to 1995. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency from 1981 to 2002 and 2007 to 2020.

Early life
He was educated at CBS Dún Laoghaire, C.B.C. Monkstown and Presentation Brothers College in Glasthule, County Dublin. Before Barrett entered politics he was a partner in a successful Dublin-based insurance brokerage firm (Barrett, Hegarty Moloney, established in 1980). A fan of horse-racing, in 1987, he also established Seán Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Ltd.

Political career
He first became involved in local politics, serving on Dublin County Council from 1974 until 1982. He was a member of Dublin County Council between 1991 and 1993 and then served as a member of the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council until 1995.

At the 1977 general election, Barrett stood as a Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin County South, but failed to win a seat. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann when he stood in the Dún Laoghaire constituency at the 1981 general election, where he was returned at each subsequent election until his retirement at the 2002 general election. He came out of retirement to successfully contest the 2007 general election.

In December 1982, Garret FitzGerald became Taoiseach for the second time and Barrett was appointed Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence. Between February 1986 and March 1987, he served as Leader of the House with responsibility for Dáil Reform and Minister of State at the Department of Education with responsibility for sport.

John Bruton's Rainbow Coalition came to power in 1994 and Barrett was again appointed as Government Chief Whip, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Minister of State at the Department of Defence. In 1995, Hugh Coveney resigned from the cabinet and Barrett was then appointed Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine.. During his tenure Barrett dealt with the army deafness compensation issue that ultimately resulted in claims of approximately £300 million (€381 million) altogether against the State. Barrett's short ministerial career was blighted by critical remarks from Garda and army officers directed towards the Minister. His term as Minister ended when the government lost power at the 1997 general election.

In 1999, he announced that he would not contest the next election, saying "at this stage, I believe it is time to make way for the next generation who must be given the chance to make their own contribution."

When Barrett, Liam T. Cosgrave and Monica Barnes were each first elected in 1981, Fine Gael secured three of the five seats and 48% of the first preference vote in Dún Laoghaire. But this massive vote waned over the following years and when Barrett and Barnes retired at the 2002 general election, Fine Gael failed to win even one seat in Dún Laoghaire.

Return to politics
In February 2006, Barrett announced that he wanted to come back from retirement, and stand again as a Fine Gael candidate at the next general election. He insisted that he would stand only if selected by the local party members, and would not accept being imposed as a candidate by Fine Gael headquarters.

At a selection meeting in Dalkey in May 2006, Barrett and barrister Eugene Regan were chosen as Fine Gael's two candidates in the Dún Laoghaire constituency. With return of Barrett, the party was confident of winning two of the five seats, but at the general election in May 2007, Barrett was the fourth candidate returned to the 30th Dáil and Regan was not elected.

Barrett did not return immediately to Fine Gael's front bench, but became Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. He was subsequently promoted back to the front bench as Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs following an attempted heave against Enda Kenny.

He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Mahon Tribunal
In evidence to the Mahon Tribunal on 8 June 2006,

A report in The Irish Times in July 2006 said that a representative of Fine Gael had described the Tribunal "as an outrage and a disgrace" for allowing unfounded allegations to be made against Barrett. Fine Gael, through its solicitor, expressed regret to the Tribunal on 25 July for this remark, describing it as 'inappropriate'.