Seán Barrett

Seán Barrett (9 August 1944 – 6 April 2026) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2011 to 2016, Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine from 1995 to 1997, and a Minister of State from 1982 to 1987 and 1994 to 1995. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dún Laoghaire from 1981 to 2002 and 2007 to 2020.

Background Barrettt was born in Killiney, Dublin, Ireland on 9 August 1944. He was educated at CBS Dún Laoghaire, C.B.C. Monkstown and Presentation Brothers College in Glasthule, County Dublin. Before he entered politics, Barrett was a partner in a successful Dublin-based insurance brokerage firm (Barrett, Hegarty, Moloney Limited, established in 1979). A fan of horse-racing, in 1987, he also established Seán Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Ltd.

Political career Barrett first became involved in local politics, serving on Dublin County Council for the local electoral area of Ballybrack from 1974 until 1982.

At the 1977 general election, Barrett stood as a Fine Gael candidate in Dublin County South, but failed to win a seat. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann when he stood in the Dún Laoghaire constituency at the 1981 general election, where he was returned at each subsequent election until his retirement at the 2002 general election. Between February 1986 and March 1987, he served as Leader of the House with responsibility for Dáil Reform and Minister of State at the Department of Education with responsibility for sport.

He was elected at the 1991 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council election for the local electoral area of Glencullen (serving on Dublin County Council until its abolition on 1 January 1994).

John Bruton's Rainbow Coalition came to office in 1994 and Barrett was again appointed as Government Chief Whip, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Minister of State at the Department of Defence. In 1995, Hugh Coveney resigned from the cabinet and Barrett was then appointed Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine. During his tenure Barrett dealt with the army deafness compensation issue that ultimately resulted in claims of approximately €300 million (equivalent to € million in ) against the State. Barrett's short ministerial career was blighted by critical remarks from Garda and army officers directed towards the Minister. His term as minister ended when the government lost office following the 1997 general election.

Return to politics In February 2006, Barrett announced that he wanted to come back from retirement, and stand again as a Fine Gael candidate at the next general election. He insisted that he would stand only if selected by the local party members, and would not accept being imposed as a candidate by Fine Gael headquarters.

At a selection meeting in Dalkey in May 2006, Barrett and barrister Eugene Regan were chosen as Fine Gael's two candidates in the Dún Laoghaire constituency. At the 2007 general election, Barrett was the fourth candidate returned to the 30th Dáil for Dún Laoghaire and Regan was not elected. He was promoted to Fine Gael Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs in a front bench reshuffle following an attempted heave against Enda Kenny.

Ceann Comhairle

Following the 2011 general election, he was elected on 9 March as Ceann Comhairle of the 31st Dáil.

Barrett met Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

He was returned to the 32nd Dáil automatically at the 2016 general election, and did not contest the 2020 general election. Fine Gael, through its solicitor, expressed regret to the Tribunal on 25 July for this remark, describing it as 'inappropriate'.