John Bruton

John Gerard Bruton (born May 18, 1947) was the ninth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland. He was a senior Irish politician who served in the cabinet of Garret FitzGerald as Minister for Finance (1981-1982 and 1986-1987), Minister for Industry & Energy (1982-1983) and Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism (1983-1986). He became leader of Fine Gael in 1990 and served as Taoiseach from 1994 until 1997, leading the Rainbow Coalition government of Fine Gael-Labour-Democratic Left.

Early life

John Gerard Bruton was born in County Meath and educated at Clongowes Wood, a Jesuit public school, where, among others, James Joyce had been a student. He later went on to study at University College Dublin (UCD) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and he finally qualified as a barrister from King's Inns. Bruton was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1969 as a Fine Gael deputy. At the age of 22 he was the youngest member of the Dáil at the time. After four years on the opposition benches Fine Gael returned to power as part of the National Coalition with the Labour Party. During the four years of that government Bruton served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry & Commerce and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education.

Related Topics:
County Meath - Clongowes Wood - Public school - James Joyce - University College Dublin - Bachelor of Arts - Barrister - King's Inns - Dáil Éireann - 1969 - Fine Gael - National Coalition

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In 1977 Fine Gael lost power and Garret FitzGerald became the new leader of the party, following the resignation of Liam Cosgrave. Bruton was appointed to the new front bench as Spokesperson on Agriculture. Following the 1981 General Election Fine Gael were back in power in another coalition with the Labour Party with FitzGerald as Taoiseach. Bruton was appointed Minister for Finance, the most senior position in the Cabinet. The new government had to abandon its election promises to cut taxes in the light of overwhelming economic realities. The government collapsed unexpectedly on the night of January 27, 1982 when Bruton's controversial Budget was defeated in the Dáil. The Independent Socialist TD, Jim Kemmy, voted against the Budget, which proposed the introduction of VAT on childrens' shoes, thus causing the Dáil to be dissolved and Fine Gael to lose power.

Related Topics:
1977 - Garret FitzGerald - Liam Cosgrave - 1981 General Election - Labour Party - Taoiseach - January 27 - 1982 - Jim Kemmy

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The minority Fianna Fáil which followed only lasted until November 1982 when Fine Gael once again returned to power in a coalition government with the Labour Party. When the new government was formed Bruton was moved from the Finance portfolio to become Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce & Tourism. The following year (1983) the Trade and Tourism portfolios were removed from his brief. In 1986 the Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, carried out an extensive Cabinet re-shuffle which saw Bruton return to as Minister for Finance. Although he was Minister for Finance, Bruton never presented his Budget. The Labour Party withdrew from the government due to a disagreement over budget proposals. The government continued nonetheless with Bruton taking on the Public Service portfolio as well. However, the minority Fine Gael government couldn't last and it eventually collapsed after a few weeks.

Related Topics:
Fianna Fáil - 1982 - Labour Party - 1983 - 1986 - Garret FitzGerald - Fine Gael

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Following the 1987 General Election Fine Gael suffered a heavy defeat. Garret FitzGerald resigned as leader immediately, and a leadership contest erupted between Alan Dukes, Peter Barry and Bruton himself. Dukes was the eventual victor but, after only six years in the Dáil, he proved to lack political experience and judgement. His Tallaght Strategy, in which he offered his support to Fianna Fáil if they adopted sensible economic policies, proved to be good in the national interest but was a disaster for Dukes's authority on his own party. Another general election defeat in 1989 added to the mounting pressure on Dukes. However, it was the poor performance in the 1990 Presidential Election that proved to be the final straw for the party and he was eventually ousted shortly after. Bruton, who was the deputy-leader of Fine Gael at the time, succeeded in becoming leader of the party without a contest. He also assumed the largely nominal role of Leader of the Opposition.

Related Topics:
1987 General Election - Garret FitzGerald - Alan Dukes - Peter Barry - Fianna Fáil - 1989 - 1990 Presidential Election - Fine Gael - Leader of the Opposition

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