Declan Breathnach (born 3 June 1958) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 2016 to 2020.[1][2]
Declan Breathnach | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Breathnach in 2016 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2016 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Louth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 June 1958 Knockbridge, County Louth, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Breathnach
(m. 1981; div. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | St Patrick's College, Dublin |
Early life
editA native of Knockbridge, Dundalk, Breathnach was educated at Dundalk CBS (now Coláiste Rís) and St Patrick's College (which has become a part of Dublin City University), where he earned a Bachelor of Education. He has worked within primary schools for 35 years as a teacher and principal.[3]
Political career
editBreathnach has been a member of Fianna Fáil since his early teens. He had served as a Cumann Secretary, member of the officer board of Louth Comhairle Dáil Ceantair (constituency council) and as the Louth constituency representative on the Fianna Fáil National Executive, a position held up until his election as a member of Louth County Council in 1991. Since Breathnach's first election to Louth County Council in 1991, he successfully retained his seat for 25 years, across 5 elections.[4]
Breathnach served as a Louth County Councillor until 2016 and was elected on two occasions as Cathaoirleach of the council. He also served as joint chairperson of the memorandum of association between Down Council and Louth Council from 2010 to 2015. In 2010 as Leas-Chathaoirleach (deputy chair) of Louth County Council he signed this memorandum in Brussels with representatives of Newry and Mourne District Council, Dundalk Town Council, Drogheda Borough Council and Ardee Town Council. This led to the creation of the committee of which he became the joint chairperson.[5] He also was a member of the East Border Regions committee, and served as the chairperson of the Louth County Council Special Policy Group on Infrastructure, European and Cross-Border Matters.[citation needed]
He successfully contested the Louth constituency at 2016 general election, receiving 9,099 first preference votes (13.5%).[2][6] He previously contested the Louth constituency at 2011 general election but was not elected.[7]
Recognising his particular interest in Cross-Border matters Breathnach was appointed as Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on North-South Bodies & Cross-Border Co-Operation and Vice-Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. He also served as Vice-Chairperson of the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly.[citation needed]
Breathnach lost his Dáil seat at the 2020 general election, leaving the Louth constituency without a Fianna Fáil TD for the first time in the history of the state. He also contested the 2020 Seanad election, but was unsuccessful.
Addendum
editOn 9 July 2020, Breathnach formally apologised to Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald regarding a tweet from 11 October 2018. The tweet, posted on the second anniversary of the murder of Garda Tony Golden, has been deleted since. The tweet accused McDonald of being a hypocrite and condoning the deaths of multiple Gardaí, the settlement included a formal apology to McDonald but other terms were kept confidential.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ "Election 2016: Declan Breathnach". RTÉ News. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ^ a b "32nd Dáil - Louth First Preference Votes". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Declan Breathnach TD". Fianna Fáil. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Declan Breathnach". IrelandElection.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Pact with Newry District 20 years in making". Irish Independent. 30 March 2011.
- ^ "Declan Breathnach". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "31st Dáil - Louth First Preference Votes". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ Phelan, Shane (22 December 2018). "McDonald sues Fianna Fáil TD for defamation over Twitter comment". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ O'Loughlin, Ann (9 July 2020). "Mary Lou McDonald settles with ex-Fianna Fáil TD over alleged defamatory tweet". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.