27 Facts About Joan Burton

Joan Burton was born on 1 February 1949 and is a former Irish Labour Party politician who served as Tanaiste and Leader of the Labour Party from 2014 to 2016, Minister for Social Protection from 2011 to 2016, Deputy leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2014, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1997 and Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare from 1993 to 1994.

Joan Burton served as a Teachta Dala for the Dublin West constituency from 1992 to 1997 and 2002 to 2020.

Joan Burton lost her seat at the 1997 general election, but was re-elected to the Dail at the 2002 general election.

Joan Burton was deputy leader of the Labour Party under Eamon Gilmore, between 2007 and 2014.

Joan Burton was Tanaiste from 2014 to 2016 and Minister for Social Protection from 2011 to 2016.

Joan Burton resigned as Labour Party leader in May 2016, following heavy losses by the party in the 2016 general election.

Joan Burton lost her seat in the 2020 general election on the 5th count.

Joan Burton is a native of the Stoneybatter area of Dublin.

Joan Burton was adopted by the Burton family as a baby and was brought up in Inchicore.

Joan Burton was educated at St Gabriel's NS, Cowper Street and St Joseph Sisters of Charity Secondary School, Stanhope Street and University College Dublin, where she graduated with a degree in commerce.

Joan Burton is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Joan Burton has worked as a lecturer in Accountancy in the Dublin Institute of Technology and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Joan Burton first stood for election at the 1989 general election, as one of two Labour Party candidates in the Dublin Central constituency; she failed to be elected.

Joan Burton was first elected to Dail Eireann at the 1992 general election as a Labour Party TD for the Dublin West constituency in the 27th Dail.

Joan Burton lost her seat at the 1997 general election, to Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party.

Joan Burton was re-elected to Fingal County Council in the 1999 local elections, on this occasion winning a seat in the Castleknock local electoral area.

Joan Burton was re-elected to the Dail for Dublin West at the 2002 general election.

Joan Burton was then appointed Labour Party Spokesperson for Finance.

Joan Burton became deputy leader of the Labour Party in September 2007.

Joan Burton was re-elected to represent Dublin West at the 2011 general election, topping the poll on the 1st count with 9,627 votes, and was the first TD in the country to be elected to the 31st Dail.

Joan Burton announced her candidacy for the leadership to replace him.

Joan Burton became the first woman to lead the Labour Party.

On 11 July 2014, Joan Burton announced the Labour Party cabinet ministers, with party deputy leader Alan Kelly appointed as Minister for the Environment, Alex White as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Jan O'Sullivan as Minister for Education and Skills and Gerald Nash as Minister of State for Business and Employment and Brendan Howlin remaining as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Joan Burton remained in her ministry at the Department of Social Protection.

At the Women in Media conference that took place in April 2016, following elections and during negotiations to form a governing coalition, Joan Burton discussed how women were excluded from the government negotiation process.

Joan Burton criticized what she called the misogyny and abuse female politicians faced during the election, and as well as the "vulgar, crude, and demeaning" Late Late Show broadcast during the election that offered Freudian interpretations of politicians' body language.

Joan Burton remained as Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection in an acting capacity during prolonged talks on government formation.