Pat Breen
Encyclopedia
Pat Breen is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. He has been a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Clare constituency since 2002.
Having been a member of Clare County Council
and the Vocational Educational Committee from June 1999 to 2002, Breen was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2002 general election
. He is the Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Human Rights and Overseas Development Aid. He serves on the Dáil European Affairs Committee and is deputy leader of the Irish Delegation to the Council of Europe
.
Breen has previously served as Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Transport and Enterprise, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Small Business. He has also served as a member of the Oireachtas
Transport Committee, the Privileges and Procedures Committee, the House Services Committee and the Committee on Enterprise and Small Business.
He is married to Ann McInerney and they have two sons.
In October 2006 he submitted a written Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on behalf of a constituent who wanted to know when a relative would be released from prison. The question asked when the person would receive early release - "To ask the Tánaiste
and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a prisoner (details supplied) will be eligible for early release". This attracted media criticism because the prisoner was a convicted paedophile
. In response Breen said that he was seeking information on behalf of his constituent, that he was not advocating early release, that he deplored the crimes, and that he should have phrased the question differently.
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,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
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 Clare constituency since 2002.
Having been a member of Clare County Council
Clare County Council
Clare County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Clare in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment....
and the Vocational Educational Committee from June 1999 to 2002, Breen 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 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
. He is the Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Human Rights and Overseas Development Aid. He serves on the Dáil European Affairs Committee and is deputy leader of the Irish Delegation to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
.
Breen has previously served as Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson on Transport and Enterprise, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Small Business. He has also served as a member of 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...
Transport Committee, the Privileges and Procedures Committee, the House Services Committee and the Committee on Enterprise and Small Business.
He is married to Ann McInerney and they have two sons.
In October 2006 he submitted a written Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on behalf of a constituent who wanted to know when a relative would be released from prison. The question asked when the person would receive early release - "To ask the 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 :...
and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a prisoner (details supplied) will be eligible for early release". This attracted media criticism because the prisoner was a convicted paedophile
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
. In response Breen said that he was seeking information on behalf of his constituent, that he was not advocating early release, that he deplored the crimes, and that he should have phrased the question differently.