John Bruton

John Gerard Bruton (18 May 1947 – 6 February 2024) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997 and Leader of Fine Gael from 1990 to 2001. He held cabinet positions between 1981‍ and 1987, including twice as minister for finance. He was Leader of the Opposition from 1990 to 1994 and 1997 to 2001. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Meath from 1969 to 2004.

During his term as Taoiseach, he led a Fine Gael–

Early and personal life

John Gerard Bruton was born to a wealthy, Catholic farming family in Dunboyne, County Meath, and educated at Clongowes Wood College.

Oliver Coogan notes in his Politics and War in Meath 1913–23 that Bruton's grand-uncle was one of the farmers in south Meath who prevented the traditionally Anglo-Irish ascendency hunt from proceeding in the area during the Irish War of Independence.

Bruton later went on to study at

In 1978, Bruton married Finola Gill; and they had four children.^[3][4]

Shadow cabinet and in government

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Following Fine Gael's defeat at the

First leadership bid

The minority Fianna Fáil government which followed only lasted until November 1982, when Fine Gael once again returned to power in a coalition government with the Labour Party, but when the new government was formed, Bruton was moved from Finance to become Minister for Industry and Energy. After a reconfiguration of government departments in 1983, Bruton became Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism. In a cabinet reshuffle in February 1986, Bruton was appointed again 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 his budget proposals leading to the collapse of the government and another election.

Following the

Bruton, who was the deputy leader of Fine Gael at the time, was unopposed in the ensuing leadership election.

Leadership of Fine Gael

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Whereas Dukes came from the social democratic wing of Fine Gael, Bruton came from the more conservative wing. However to the surprise of critics and of conservatives, in his first policy initiative he called for a referendum on a Constitutional amendment permitting the enactment of legislation allowing for divorce in Ireland.

Fine Gael had been in decline for nearly a decade; from the high point of the November 1982 general election when it achieved 70 seats in Dáil Éireann (only five seats short of Fianna Fáil's total).^[c] The party had lost a considerable number of seats over the following ten years. Following the inexperienced Dukes' disastrous period of leadership, Bruton's election was seen as offering Fine Gael a chance to rebuild under a far more politically experienced leader. However, Bruton's perceived right-wing persona and his rural background was used against him by critics and particularly by the media.

By the 1992 general election, the anti-Fianna Fáil mood in the country produced a major swing to the opposition, but that support went to the Labour Party, not Bruton's Fine Gael, which actually lost a further 10 seats. Even then, it initially appeared that Fine Gael was in a position to form a government. However, negotiations stalled in part from Labour's refusal to be part of a coalition which would include the libertarian Progressive Democrats, as well as Bruton's unwillingness to take Democratic Left into a prospective coalition. The Labour Party broke off talks with Fine Gael and opted to enter a new coalition with Fianna Fáil. It was a humiliating blow to Bruton, as the Labour Party was always seen as a natural ally of Fine Gael rather than Fianna Fáil. Fine Gael, and Bruton personally, continued to perform poorly in opinion polls throughout 1993 and early 1994, Bruton narrowly survived a challenge to his leadership in early 1994. However, a couple of by-election victories, and a good performance in the 1994 European elections, coupled with a disastrous showing by the Labour Party, shored up his position.

In late 1994, the government of Fianna Fáil's Albert Reynolds collapsed. Bruton was able to persuade Labour to end its coalition with Fianna Fáil and enter a new coalition government with Fine Gael and Democratic Left. Bruton faced charges of hypocrisy for agreeing to enter government with Democratic Left, as Fine Gael campaigned in the 1992 general election on a promise not to enter government with the party. Nevertheless, on 15 December, aged 47, Bruton became the then youngest ever Taoiseach. This was the first time in the history of the state that a new government was installed without a general election being held.

Taoiseach (1994–1997)

Bruton's politics were markedly different from most Irish leaders. Whereas most leaders had come from or identified with the independence movement Sinn Féin (in its 1917–22 phase), Bruton identified more with the more moderate Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) tradition that Sinn Féin had eclipsed at the 1918 general election. He hung a picture of IPP leader John Redmond, his political hero, on a wall in his office as Taoiseach, in preference to other figures such as Patrick Pearse. Bruton also kept a picture of former Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Seán Lemass, which had been hung there by Reynolds, and which Bruton kept because he viewed Lemass as the best and most reforming Taoiseach in the history of the state.^{[citation needed]}

Continued developments in the

He also presided over a successful Irish Presidency of the European Union in 1996, and helped finalise the Stability and Growth Pact, which establishes macroeconomic parameters for countries participating in the single European currency, the euro. Bruton was the fifth Irish leader to address a joint session of the United States Congress on 11 September 1996,^[d] as the 30th^{[citation needed]} head of state or government of an EU country to do so since 1945.

Bruton's government suffered from some allegations of corruption, and political embarrassment. In 1996, the

Following the murder of crime journalist Veronica Guerin, his government established the Criminal Assets Bureau.^{[citation needed]}

Post-Taoiseach period

At the 1997 general election, Fine Gael won 54 seats, a gain of 9 seats. However, the Labour Party suffered considerable losses, falling from 32 seats to 17, while Democratic Left also lost two seats. This left Bruton far short of the parliamentary support he needed to retain office. A Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrat coalition led by Bertie Ahern entered office, with Bruton reverting to leadership of the opposition.^{[citation needed]}

Fine Gael became paralysed in opposition. Bruton was deposed from leadership in 2001, in favour of Michael Noonan, due in part to fears Fine Gael would suffer severe losses in the 2002 election. However, Noonan failed to live up to expectations and the party suffered an even greater collapse than had been expected under Bruton. Having hoped to make gains on its seat count of 54, it only won 31. This not only tied Fine Gael's second-worst performance in an election, but was 39 seats fewer than at its high point twenty years earlier in 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Bruton, a passionate supporter of

Bruton received an Honorary Doctorate from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2003,^{[citation needed]} and from the University of Missouri in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

He regularly lectured at national and international universities. In early 2004, he accepted a position as Adjunct Faculty Member in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University. In November 2008, he received the Order of the Polar Star award from the Government of Sweden.^[13]

His brother,

On 21 May 2010, it was announced that he would be the chairman of the newly formed financial services body, IFSC Ireland.[17] His main role was to promote Ireland as a location of choice for international financial services.

Bruton was widely discussed as a candidate for the 2011 presidential election and was approached by Fine Gael with the opportunity to become their candidate; on 28 May 2011, however, Bruton issued a statement that he was "flattered" to be asked, but would not be a candidate for the presidency.^[18]

From November 2011, Bruton acted as an advisor to Fair Observer focusing mainly on the areas of politics, finance and economics as well as on issues pertaining to Europe.^[19]

In September 2014, on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Government of Ireland Act 1914, Bruton said the 1916 Easter Rising was a mistake and an unjust war.^[20][21]

Bruton supported the "No" campaign during the 2018 Irish referendum on abortion.^[22]

Death

Bruton died aged 76 on 6 February 2024 at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, having had cancer for some time.^[4][23] A state funeral was held on 10 February at St Peter's and St Paul's Church in Dunboyne.^[24]

Governments led

Bruton led the following government:

• 24th government of Ireland (27th Dáil; December 1994 – June 1997)

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Bruton.

• Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Vol. 1049 No. 2
  • Video of proceedings
• Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy – Seanad Éireann (26th Seanad) – Vol. 298 No. 6
  • Video of proceedings
• Washington Diplomat Bio
• Official website
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices
Preceded by Jim Tunney	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education 1973–1977	Succeeded by Jim Tunney
New office	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce 1973–1977	Succeeded by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Preceded by Gene Fitzgerald	Minister for Finance 1981–1982	Succeeded by Ray MacSharry
Preceded by Albert Reynolds	Minister for Industry and Energy 1982–1983	Succeeded by Dick Spring
Preceded by Garret FitzGerald (acting)	Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism 1983–1986	Succeeded by Michael Noonan
Preceded by Alan Dukes	Minister for Finance 1986–1987	Succeeded by Ray MacSharry
Preceded by Ruairi Quinn	Minister for the Public Service 1987
Preceded by Alan Dukes	Leader of the Opposition 1990–1994	Succeeded by Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Albert Reynolds	Taoiseach 1994–1997
Preceded by Romano Prodi	President of the European Council 1996	Succeeded by Wim Kok
Preceded by Bertie Ahern	Leader of the Opposition 1997–2001	Succeeded by Michael Noonan
Party political offices
Preceded by Peter Barry	Deputy Leader of Fine Gael 1987–1990	Succeeded by Nora Owen
Preceded by Alan Dukes	Leader of Fine Gael 1990–2001	Succeeded by Michael Noonan
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Günter Burghardt	European Union Ambassador to the United States 2004–2009	Succeeded by Angelos Pangratis (acting)
Honorary titles
Preceded by Des Foley	Baby of the Dáil 1969–1975	Succeeded by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn