Darragh O'Brien
Irish politician (born 1974)
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Darragh O'Brien (born 8 July 1974) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment since January 2025. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2016, and previously from 2007 to 2011, for the constituencies of Dublin Fingal East (since 2025), Dublin Fingal (2016 to 2024), and Dublin North (2007 to 2011). He previously served as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage from 2020 to 2025 and a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2011 to 2016.[1]
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Darragh O'Brien | |
|---|---|
O'Brien in 2025 | |
| Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment | |
| Assumed office 23 January 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Eamon Ryan |
| Minister for Transport | |
| Assumed office 23 January 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Eamon Ryan |
| Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage | |
| In office 27 June 2020 – 23 January 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Eoghan Murphy |
| Succeeded by | James Browne |
| Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad | |
| In office 30 April 2011 – 26 February 2016 | |
| Leader | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Donie Cassidy |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Ardagh |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Fingal East |
| In office February 2016 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Fingal |
| In office May 2007 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North |
| Senator | |
| In office 25 May 2011 – 26 February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| In office 4 March 2011 – 25 May 2011 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 July 1974 |
| Party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse |
Susan Maxwell (m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Institute of Technology, Carlow |
| Website | darraghobrien |
Personal life
He was born and raised in Malahide, County Dublin, where he is an active member of St. Sylvesters GAA club, Malahide United F.C. and Malahide Rugby Club. As a child, O'Brien attended Pope John Paul II National Catholic School and then Malahide Community School (Pobalscoil Íosa). He is one of six children. His brother Eoghan O'Brien is a Fingal County Councillor, representing the Howth-Malahide local electoral area.[2]
Before entering politics, he worked in the Pensions sector with Friends First Assurance Company. He lives in Malahide with his wife and daughter.[3]
Political career
He was co-opted to a seat on Fingal County Council in March 2004. He was then elected to Fingal County Council on his own right at the 2004 local elections.
O'Brien was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election.[4] He was vice-chair of Public Accounts committee, Convenor on Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs during the 30th Dáil. He was also a member of Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
O'Brien was appointed to the Fianna Fáil frontbench as Spokesperson for Sport in January 2011.
He lost his seat in the 2011 general election.[5] He was nominated by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen to the 23rd Seanad on 4 March 2011 to fill a vacancy.[6] He was elected to the 24th Seanad on the Labour Panel in April 2011. He was the Fianna Fáil Seanad leader and spokesperson on Finance from 2011 to 2016.
He returned to the Dáil at the 2016 general election, winning a seat in the new constituency of Dublin Fingal. He was the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government until his appointment as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in June 2020.
O'Brien was re-elected at the 2020 general election.[7][8] As part of the coalition government, O'Brien was appointed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on 27 June 2020. In his time as Minister for Housing, O'Brien presided over what has been described as "the worst housing crisis in over 40 years" by Fr. Peter McVerry of the Peter McVerry Trust, a national housing and homeless charity committed to reducing homelessness and the harm caused by substance misuse and social disadvantage.[9]
On 13 December 2022, he survived a motion of no confidence in the Dáil by a vote of 86 to 63, with one abstention. On 17 December 2022, he was re-appointed to the same position following Leo Varadkar's appointment as Taoiseach.[10]
In June 2023, O'Brien was appointed as Fianna Fáil's director of European elections for the 2024 European Parliament elections.[11]
At the 2024 general election, O'Brien was re-elected to the Dáil for Dublin Fingal East. On 23 January 2025, he was appointed as Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport in the government led by Micheál Martin.[12]