1. Brendan Howlin was born on 9 May 1956 and is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as Leader of the Labour Party from 2016 to 2020, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2011 to 2016, Leas-Cheann Comhairle from 2007 to 2011, deputy leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002, Minister for the Environment from 1994 to 1997 and Minister for Health from 1993 to 1994.
Brendan Howlin was a Teachta Dala for the Wexford constituency from 1987 to 2024.
Brendan Howlin served as a Senator from 1983 to 1987, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.
Brendan Howlin secured election as a Labour member of Wexford Corporation, where he served for eighteen years, and was an election agent to Brendan Corish.
Brendan Howlin was raised on William Street in Wexford town with his three siblings.
Brendan Howlin grew up in Wexford town and was educated locally in the Faythe and at Wexford CBS.
Brendan Howlin later attended St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin, and qualified as a primary school teacher.
The chair of Nuclear Opposition Wexford, Brendan Howlin was involved in the organisation of a protest against the building of a nuclear power plant in Carnsore Point, which drew 40,000 protestors.
In 1979, Brendan Howlin was asked to run for Wexford Corporation and was selected in his absence, but declined to run to continue as chair of NOW.
Brendan Howlin contested his first general election at the November 1982 election.
Brendan Howlin ran as a Labour candidate in the Wexford constituency, but despite the existence of a large left-wing vote in the area, Howlin was not elected.
Brendan Howlin secured election to Wexford County Council in 1985 and served as Mayor of Wexford in 1986.
Brendan Howlin contested a seat in Wexford and was elected to Dail Eireann.
Brendan Howlin joined the cabinet of Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, as Minister for Health.
Brendan Howlin was targeted by anti-abortion groups after introducing an act which would allow abortion information.
In 2002, following Quinn's resignation as party leader after Labour's relatively unsuccessful 2002 general election campaign, Brendan Howlin again stood for the party leadership.
On 26 June 2007, Brendan Howlin was appointed the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireann.
Brendan Howlin said a new public spending review, on which he had briefed the cabinet in recent days, would not be a simple assessment of where to make cuts, but would consider the way public sector services were delivered.
Brendan Howlin reiterated the government's commitment not to cut public sector pay, "if the Croke Park Agreement works".
Brendan Howlin retained his seat in the Dail following the 2016 general election, though only six of his Labour colleagues did likewise and the party returned to the opposition benches.
In March 2018, Brendan Howlin criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for failing to personally invite him to accompany Varadkar as he met ambulance crews in Brendan Howlin's constituency of Wexford.
Brendan Howlin stated that Kelly's comments were a disappointing and unnecessary distraction.
Brendan Howlin said that there was not a single parliamentary party member who supported the challenge and that Kelly had the backing of a minority of councillors.
Brendan Howlin told The Irish Times that there was no formal proposition made to the Central Council.
In September 2018, Brendan Howlin stated that winning 14 seats in the 33rd Dail was a realistic goal.
Brendan Howlin announced his intention to step down as leader on the 12 February 2020.
Brendan Howlin said that the Labour Party should not formally enter government, a view that was backed by the parliamentary party.
Brendan Howlin stated that he would not back any candidate in the following contest.
On 15 February 2020, Brendan Howlin ruled himself out as a candidate for Ceann Comhairle of the 33rd Dail, with the polling day to elect his successor set for 3 April 2020.
On 6 October 2023, Brendan Howlin announced that he would not contest the next general election.