Brendan Smith (politician)
Encyclopedia
Brendan Smith is an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan
constituency since 1992. He previously served as the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (2008–11) and Minister for Justice and Law Reform (2011).
Born in Cavan
in 1956, Smith was educated at Bawnboy
national school, St. Camillus College (Killucan, County Westmeath
), and University College Dublin
where he gained a Bachelor of Arts
in Politics and Economics. For 15 years he worked as special advisor to the Fianna Fáil politician and former Tánaiste
, John Wilson
.
Smith was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1992 general election
for the Cavan–Monaghan
constituency and has been re-elected at every subsequent election. In the 28th Dáil
he was Government Whip on the Oireachtas
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. In Bertie Ahern
's 2004 cabinet reshuffle, Smith received the position as Minister of State
at the Department of Agriculture and Food with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture.
Following the 2007 general election Smith became Minister for Children at the Department of Health and Children. On 7 May 2008, he was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Brian Cowen
's cabinet. As Minister for Agriculture his most notable moment was his 2010 offer of free cheese to Ireland's poor via an European Union
scheme that had been around since the 1980s. The public received Smith's announcement poorly and it was reported outside Ireland as the country became "a laughing stock internationally". Smith was then forced to defend his own scheme.
Following the resignation of Dermot Ahern
in January 2011, Smith was also appointed as Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
Just before leaving office, Smith gave the go-ahead for GMO
foods to enter Ireland. He told media that Ireland had “altered its voting position” and will back proposals from the European Commission
“aimed at authorising the placing on the market of food, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize and cotton”. Smith also said that Ireland would now tolerate “the low-level presence of, as yet, unauthorised GMO varieties in imports of animal food”.
He is currently the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Education and Skills.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan
Cavan–Monaghan (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cavan–Monaghan is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency since 1992. He previously served as the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (2008–11) and Minister for Justice and Law Reform (2011).
Born in Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
in 1956, Smith was educated at Bawnboy
Bawnboy
Bawnboy is a small village in a valley at the foot of Slieve Rushen, between Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar, in County Cavan, Ireland). The current population is about 250. A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house...
national school, St. Camillus College (Killucan, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
), and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
where he gained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Politics and Economics. For 15 years he worked as special advisor to the Fianna Fáil politician and former Tánaiste
Tánaiste
The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...
, John Wilson
John P. Wilson
John Patrick Wilson was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected as a Teachta Dála for Cavan in 1973 and served in Dáil Éireann until 1992...
.
Smith was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
for the Cavan–Monaghan
Cavan–Monaghan (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cavan–Monaghan is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency and has been re-elected at every subsequent election. In the 28th Dáil
Government of the 28th Dáil
The 28th Dáil was elected at the 1997 general election on 6 June 1997 and first met on 26 June when President Mary Robinson, appointed Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, on the nomination of Dáil Éireann. On the nomination of the Taoiseach, and following the Dáil's approval the 25th Government of Ireland...
he was Government Whip on the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. In Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
's 2004 cabinet reshuffle, Smith received the position as Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
at the Department of Agriculture and Food with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture.
Following the 2007 general election Smith became Minister for Children at the Department of Health and Children. On 7 May 2008, he was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
's cabinet. As Minister for Agriculture his most notable moment was his 2010 offer of free cheese to Ireland's poor via an European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
scheme that had been around since the 1980s. The public received Smith's announcement poorly and it was reported outside Ireland as the country became "a laughing stock internationally". Smith was then forced to defend his own scheme.
Following the resignation of Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern
Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
in January 2011, Smith was also appointed as Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
Just before leaving office, Smith gave the go-ahead for GMO
Genetically modified organism
A genetically modified organism or genetically engineered organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one...
foods to enter Ireland. He told media that Ireland had “altered its voting position” and will back proposals from the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
“aimed at authorising the placing on the market of food, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize and cotton”. Smith also said that Ireland would now tolerate “the low-level presence of, as yet, unauthorised GMO varieties in imports of animal food”.
He is currently the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Education and Skills.