Brian O'Shea
Encyclopedia
Brian O'Shea is a former Irish
Labour Party
politician. He served as a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Waterford constituency
from 1989 to 2011.
O'Shea was born in Waterford
and educated at Mount Sion
CBS
, Waterford and St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin. He worked as a teacher before entering politics. He was elected to Tramore Town Council in 1979, and in 1985 was elected to Waterford City Council
and Waterford County Council
. He served on these local authorities until 1993.
He first stood for election to Dáil Éireann
at the February 1982 general election but was unsuccessful. He stood again at the November 1982 and 1987
general elections but was not elected on either occasion. O'Shea was elected to Seanad Éireann
in 1987 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. Two years later, at the 1989 general election
he was first elected to Dáil Éireann for the Waterford constituency
.
In 1993 O'Shea became Minister of State
with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture
. In 1994 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health
(with special responsibility for Mental Handicap, Public Health and Food Safety). He was party spokesperson for Defence (1997–98); Education; Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Communications and Sport (1998–2002); Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (2002–07); and Defence and the Irish language
(2007–11).
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.
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,...
Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
politician. He served as 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 Waterford constituency
Waterford (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Waterford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
from 1989 to 2011.
O'Shea was born in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and educated at Mount Sion
Mount Sion Primary School
Mount Sion Primary School is a school in Waterford City, Ireland, founded by Edmund Ignatius Rice in 1802. The school site is an international visitor centre as it is the site where the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers began their mission over 200 years ago.The school is closely...
CBS
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, Waterford and St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin. He worked as a teacher before entering politics. He was elected to Tramore Town Council in 1979, and in 1985 was elected to Waterford City Council
Waterford City Council
Waterford City Council is the local authority which is responsible for the city of Waterford and its immediate hinterland in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment.The Chairman ...
and Waterford County Council
Waterford County Council
Waterford County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Waterford in Ireland. The remit of Waterford County Council includes some suburbs of the Waterford city not within the remit of Waterford City Council. The Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and...
. He served on these local authorities until 1993.
He first stood for election 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 February 1982 general election but was unsuccessful. He stood again at the November 1982 and 1987
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
general elections but was not elected on either occasion. O'Shea was elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
in 1987 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. Two years later, at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
he was first elected to Dáil Éireann for the Waterford constituency
Waterford (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Waterford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
.
In 1993 O'Shea became 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....
with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture
Minister of State (with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture)
The Minister of State for Food, Horticulture and Food Safety is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the Government of Ireland...
. In 1994 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health
Department of Health and Children (Ireland)
The Department of Health is a department of the Government of Ireland. The Department's mission is to "support, protect and empower individuals, families and their communities to achieve their full health potential by putting health at the centre of public policy and by leading the development of...
(with special responsibility for Mental Handicap, Public Health and Food Safety). He was party spokesperson for Defence (1997–98); Education; Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Communications and Sport (1998–2002); Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (2002–07); and Defence and the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
(2007–11).
He retired from politics at the 2011 general election.