Brendan Howlin

Brendan Howlin (born 9 May 1956) is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as Leader of the Labour Party from 2016 to 2020, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2011 to 2016, Leas-Cheann Comhairle from 2007 to 2011, deputy leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002, Minister for the Environment from 1994 to 1997 and Minister for Health from 1993 to 1994. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 1987 to 2024. He also served as a Senator from 1983 to 1987, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

Early life Born into a political family in Wexford, Howlin is the son of John and Molly Howlin (née Dunbar), and was named after Brendan Corish, the local Labour TD and later leader of the Labour Party. Howlin's father John was a trade union official who served as secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, in Wexford, for 40 years. He also secured election as a Labour member of Wexford Corporation, where he served for eighteen years, and was also an election agent to Brendan Corish. Howlin's mother was also strongly involved in local Labour politics. Howlin's brother Ted is a former member of Wexford County Council and Lord Mayor of Wexford. Howlin was raised on William Street in Wexford town with his three siblings.

Howlin grew up in Wexford town and was educated locally in the Faythe and at Wexford CBS. and qualified as a primary school teacher.

Early years (1982–1993) Howlin initially put his name forward to contest the February 1982 general election for the Labour Party, but withdrew his name from consideration before the selection convention. He contested his first general election at the November 1982 election in the Wexford constituency, but despite the existence of a large left-wing vote in the area, Howlin was not elected. Despite this setback, a Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition government came to power and he was nominated by the Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald to serve in Seanad Éireann as a Senator. For the second time in five years Howlin was defeated for the leadership of the party, this time by Pat Rabbitte, who was formerly a leading figure in Democratic Left. Howlin was succeeded as deputy leader by Liz McManus.

While having been publicly supportive of Rabbitte's leadership, he was perceived as being the leader of the wing of the party which was sceptical of Rabbitte's policy about future coalition with Fianna Fáil. Rabbitte explicitly ruled out any future coalition with Fianna Fáil, instead forming a formal alliance with Fine Gael in the run-up to the 2007 general election (the so-called Mullingar Accord).

Leas-Cheann Comhairle (2007–2011) On 26 June 2007, Howlin was appointed the Leas-Cheann Comhairle (deputy chairperson) of Dáil Éireann.

Analysis of budgets Budgets 2012 to 2016 - introduced in part by Brendan Howlin as Minister for Public Expenditure and supported by Labour - were described by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as "regressive".

It found that "Budget 2012 involved greater proportionate losses for those on low incomes: reductions of about 2 to 2½ per cent for those with the lowest incomes, as against losses of about ¾ of a per cent for those on the highest incomes".

By contrast, the ESRI found earlier budgets in 2008–2010 to be "strongly progressive" because before 2011 "Losses imposed by policy changes in tax and welfare have been greatest for those on the highest incomes, and smaller for those on low incomes".

However, it concluded "Budget 2014 had its greatest impact – a reduction of 2 per cent – on low-income groups". The ESRI described Budget 2015 as having a "pattern of losses in the bottom half of the income distribution, declining as income rises, and gains in the upper reaches", which "can clearly be described as regressive".

Labour Party leadership (2016–2020) Howlin retained his seat in the Dáil following the 2016 general election, though only six of his Labour colleagues did likewise and the party returned to the opposition benches. Following the resignation of Joan Burton, Howlin contested the 2016 Labour Party leadership election unopposed and was elected Leader of the Labour Party on 20 May 2016.

In March 2018, Howlin criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for failing to personally invite him to accompany Varadkar as he met ambulance crews in Howlin's constituency of Wexford. Varadkar replied that he had been far too busy dealing with the recent weather crisis and Brexit "to organise invitations to Deputies personally in order that they [Howlin] felt included". It was separately said of Howlin's complaint "It appears that the Taoiseach, the chief executive of the State, needs the imprimatur of local politicians when he enters their bailiwick, and needs to be accompanied and monitored by those same politicians while he is in their realm."

Leadership challenge Alan Kelly challenged Howlin for the party leadership in 2018, stating that he had failed to 'turn the ship around'. Howlin stated that Kelly's comments were a disappointing and unnecessary distraction. Howlin also said that there was not a single parliamentary party member who supported the challenge and that Kelly had the backing of a minority of councillors. Howlin told The Irish Times that there was no formal proposition made to the Central Council (which would deal with any formal leadership challenge).

2020 general election In September 2018, Howlin stated that winning 14 seats in the 33rd Dail was a realistic goal. During the campaign in 2020, Howlin stated that his wish to end the U.S.A's use of Shannon airport for military related activities. In the 2020 general election party first preference vote dropped to 4.4% of first preference votes and returned 6 seats - a record low. Howlin announced his intention to step down as leader on the 12 February 2020. He also said that the Labour Party should not formally enter government, a view that was backed by the parliamentary party. He also stated that he would not back any candidate in the following contest.

After leadership (2020–2024) In 2020, Howlin's legislation (Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill) was passed and signed into law by Michael D. Higgins. This bill made the distribution of intimate images or "revenge porn" a criminal offence, and made other forms of cyber-bullying and harassment punishable.

On 6 October 2023, Howlin announced that he would not contest the next general election.

Personal life Howlin is a single man. He has spoken publicly of receiving hate mail relating to his private life and questioning his sexual orientation. In an interview with The Star during the 2002 Labour Party leadership contest, in response to repeated speculation, he announced he was "not gay".